How to plan a usability test

Getting recurring feedback from the end users of your product is a critical component of iterative design and development. During a usability test, designers ask participants to think out loud while they complete tasks using a prototype or test site. This method allows teams to identify and validate assumptions about how users will interact with their product or service, ensure that the product or service is user-centered, and improve inclusivity and accessibility by engaging directly and frequently with end users, particularly those from less-represented communities. 

This toolkit is the first in a series of two focused on usability testing. This toolkit covers all of the steps that lead up to conducting a usability test, while the second toolkit in the series covers the steps involved in implementation, synthesis, and analysis. The process described here was developed and streamlined through Nava’s work with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Paid Family and Medical Leave program.