Prototypes are best for ensuring your design idea solves real problems and offers excellent value to people. You may think your design idea is incredible and worthy of acceptance, but until you build something and get feedback from people, your idea is, at best, your own opinion.
Prototype testing must be done correctly to get the needed results. Putting your product out there without a defined strategy for testing it among prospective users is risky.
Hence, there are tips you can follow to guide you.
How to Test Prototype with Users
Test usability with people who know nothing about the product
Test the prototype with those who have no prior knowledge about the product but are in your target audience. Test based on the instructions you have created for the product's usability, but remember, the lesser the instructions needed, the better the user experience will be. If you can get the experience by a natural user recorded, it will provide helpful feedback on how to improve the design's user experience.
Write tasks for users to complete with your prototype.
Creating a list of crucial tasks the prototype can help users complete makes getting feedback easier. Once you have this, write out the instructions for the task and see if your newbie tester can comprehend and finish them. This can immediately assist you in determining whether the prototype can genuinely assist individuals in achieving the goals you believe it should attain.
Give opportunity for your testers to communicate.
Users should be able to state their challenges and the "what ifs" that have occurred to them. Unexpected insights have resulted in many unique businesses that have created new and different goods than initially anticipated.
Use heat maps
These will show you where your users are clicking, swiping, or attempting to modify your product rather than where you assume they should be. If you can create a heat map for the test you want to run, do so because the results could be pretty exciting and unexpected.
Test your product in all the environments your user will use it
Test the product on all platforms and devices your user will probably use. If it is for mobile, make sure it's responsive and easy to use on all screen sizes.
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