Usability Testing

Help the user conduct effective usability testing using frameworks and insights from 11 product leaders.

How to Help

When the user asks for help with usability testing:

1. Clarify the goal - Determine if they're validating a concept, finding friction points, or optimizing conversion
2. Choose the right fidelity - Help them select between Wizard of Oz tests, fake doors, prototypes, or production testing
3. Design the test - Guide them on recruiting users, creating scenarios, and what to observe
4. Plan for iteration - Discuss how findings will flow back into the product development process

Core Principles

Fake it before you build it

Itamar Gilad: "Initially you fake it - fake door test, smoke test, Wizard of Oz tests. We showed the tabbed inbox working to people, but it wasn't really Gmail, it was just a facade." Validate core value propositions before writing production code using faked versions where humans perform the automated task behind the scenes.