USABILITY TESTING

Notion templates for usability testing (script + report)

How to conduct sessions with users and summarize insights if you are a “UX team of one”

Slava Shestopalov 🇺🇦
Design Bridges
Published in
2 min readJul 1, 2020

All design books say, “Crash-test your design with users.” But how to get started if you’ve never done it before? So, I decided to share free templates for moderated qualitative testing for newbies. You can use them to test a design prototype (Figma, Axure, Framer, etc.) or a live digital product (site, web app, or mobile app).

1. Testing script

Notion template of a usability testing script.

Disclaimer. These templates are best suited for “UX teams of one.” A dedicated UX researcher will always deliver the highest quality; however, good enough testing, I believe, is better than none.

Designers often underestimate the value of a fully written script for usability testing. But there is no shame in always having one — in fact, an elaborate and well-thought-through script is the expert habit. Inspired by a classical template, which Steve Krug composed ten years ago, I created another one to reflect my testing experience.

Template structure

  • Facilitator’s part: not shared with a user but essential to keep in mind.
  • Intro: an explanation of the goal and “rules of the game.”
  • Mini-interview: ideas for getting acquainted with a user.
  • Tasks with a prototype or live product: task hierarchy and examples.
  • Closing: session closing and the next steps.

Further reading

2. Report

Notion template of a usability testing report.

A report template should mirror the script so that you or your colleague, “co-pilot,” can fill it in on the fly and you won’t run the risk of twisting initial data. The template structure is an “inverted pyramid”: the key information tops the page. As a result, non-designers from your team who might see the report will grasp it more easily.

Template structure

  • Executive summary: the most significant findings and conclusions after the whole usability testing iteration.
  • Detailed results: users’ answers to the script questions and the results of performing tasks with a prototype or live product.
  • Further actions: a to-do list for the team to address discovered issues.

Sign up to discover human stories that deepen your understanding of the world.

Free

Distraction-free reading. No ads.

Organize your knowledge with lists and highlights.

Tell your story. Find your audience.

Membership

Read member-only stories

Support writers you read most

Earn money for your writing

Listen to audio narrations

Read offline with the Medium app

Design Bridges
Design Bridges

Published in Design Bridges

Practical articles on all aspects of software design + dank memes

Slava Shestopalov 🇺🇦
Slava Shestopalov 🇺🇦

Written by Slava Shestopalov 🇺🇦

Design leader and somewhat of a travel blogger. Author of “Design Bridges” and “5 a.m. Magazine” · savelife.in.ua/en/donate-en

Responses (6)

What are your thoughts?