There is a new building coming up in Pen. It is located on a lakefront. Instead of paint, the external walls are lined up with red tiles. The building looks impressive from the outside. But, whom is this building designed for? The design has many intruding columns and beams in the forefront. They obstruct the view of the lake for its dwellers. So, while the onlookers may admire the impressive design, the occupants will crane for a better view.
This is a prevalent problem with many designs. People view their product/service as a static object and refine it. However, they ignore how the customers would use it. The factors that would impair its usability are rarely thought of by the designer.
A friend runs a dance studio. She wanted me to help her with digital marketing to increase the registration. The class is barely 300-400 sq. ft in dimension. She already had a batch of 10-12 students. At best, she could accommodate another 10. Beyond, people would have to jostle for space. Imagining the product in action helped us to reschedule the batches and avoid customer wrath.
There are various steps of testing the design for usability.
Consider the way the customer will use the product and design accordingly.
Observe a focus group use the product. The more instructions you need to give for using the product, the worse is the design.
After the product is placed on the market, passively observe the challenges faced by the users. Also, look for the shortcuts and hacks adopted by them. Modify design based on these inputs.
Metrics:
Have you considered conducting usability testing for your product/service?
If not, please follow the three steps mentioned above to modify the design.
Subodh
PS: Subscribe to these blogs by clicking here - Big Small Metrics
Comentarios