The article discusses the author's experiences testing unreleased features for major brands like FAANG and IKEA. The tests not only involved interacting with prototypes but also real-time conversations with product designers, offering a unique perspective on design decisions. The author reflects on the differences between junior and seasoned designers in conducting user sessions, observing how experienced designers adapt their questioning for deeper insights. Key takeaways include the importance of screening questions for participation and the necessity of double-checking test settings to maintain user engagement and satisfaction.
Even when it wasn't a live session, I could still observe their prototypes and try to reverse-engineer their design thinking. It felt like a rare kind of design exchange.
After a while, I could feel the difference between juniors and more seasoned designers just by how they ran a session. A junior designer might just follow a script word-for-word.
Most tests I did had screening questions, and honestly, they're super helpful. It's the easiest way to make sure you're getting the right people in.
It's easy to overlook minor details like incorrect test settings, which can frustrate users and lead to an incomplete session.
Collection
[
|
...
]