Testing, validating, and refining

In this stage of the project, you might have already sketched, wireframed, or prototyped a few solutions for the UX issues you have identified through UX research and different analyses. It is important to validate and refine them before delivering them to the Dev and Design teams.

Remember that it can be up to 100 times more expensive to change a coded feature than a prototype, according to Web Usability, and the IEEE Why Software Fails report points out that about 50% of the reworking time could have been avoided if the tests had been run in the early stages of the project.

There is not a single best time to run usability tests; some propose first-step testing with paper prototypes, while others speak of high-fidelity prototypes complete with interaction, animation, and test capabilities on the device.

It is also possible, and sometimes desirable, to run several rounds of testing as you move through loyalty prototypes. Wireframe usability testing can ensure...