Test

Testing Is Understanding How Your Solution Works In the Real World

Before you engage in this method, review what Testing is in the Design Thinking process.

Ask yourself:

• How do users respond to your solution?
• What are the strengths of your solution?
• What are the weaknesses of your solution?
• What will you try next?

Testing Methods

• Experience Map by DIY Toolkit for recording what users experience during a test.
• Improvement Triggers by DIY Toolkit for figuring out what to change after gathering test data.
• Stage 5 In the Design Thinking Process: Test by Rikke Dam and Teo Siang. An overview and guide.
• Test Your Prototypes: How to Gather Feedback and Maximize Learning by Rikke Dam and Teo Siang. A great how-to with helpful explanations.
• Method: Testing With Users by IDEO. 1-pager on why and how to test with users.

Sticking Points

Here are some common challenges and tips for testing.

• Q: We're not sure how to gather user feedback as they test our prototypes.
  • A: Try Test Your Prototypes: How to Gather Feedback and Maximize Learning by Rikke Dam and Teo Siang. A great how-to with helpful explanations.
  • A: Try out how to Get Feedback by IDEO for some steps to try.
• Q: We're not sure what to do after gathering feedback from our users.
  • A: Try Integrate Feedback and Iterate by IDEO for some next steps.
  • A: Try to Create Insight Statements by IDEO for next steps.

References

Dam, Rikke, and Teo Siang. “Stage 5 in the Design Thinking Process: Test.” The Interaction Design Foundation, 2017, https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/stage-5-in-the-design-thinking-process-test.

Dam, Rikke, and Teo Siang. “Test Your Prototypes: How to Gather Feedback and Maximise Learning.” The Interaction Design Foundation, 2018, https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/test-your-prototypes-how-to-gather-feedback-and-maximise-learning.

Design Kit. “Create Insight Statements.” Design Kit, ideo.org, http://www.designkit.org/methods/62.

Design Kit. “Get Feedback.” Design Kit, ideo.org, http://www.designkit.org/methods/57.

Design Kit. “Integrate Feedback and Iterate.” Design Kit, ideo.org, http://www.designkit.org/methods/4.

DIY Toolkit. “Experience Map.” DYI Development, Impact & You, http://diytoolkit.org/tools/experience-map/.

DIY Toolkit. “Improvement Triggers.” DYI Development, Impact & You, http://diytoolkit.org/tools/improvement-triggers/.

Stanford D.school. “Method: Testing with Users.” Stanford D.school, https://dschool-old.stanford.edu/sandbox/groups/dstudio/wiki/2fced/attachments/2ad84/Testing-with-Users-Method.pdf?sessionID=a4c32167e58dc598ac57b770de7cb0f4f838ac50.