Test

Welcome to the Testing Zone: Let’s Validate Your Ideas!

Hey, future business legend! So, you've nailed your problem statement, unleashed a torrent of brilliant ideas through ideation, and now you’re ready to bring those ideas to life. But wait…before you dive headfirst into building your next big thing, it’s time to hit pause and do one of the most crucial steps in Human Centred Design: Testing.

Testing is where you separate the "meh" ideas from the "wow" ones, ensuring you’re on the right track before you invest your time, energy, and money. Think of it as your business's secret weapon for minimising risks and maximising success. Ready to get your ideas in front of the people who matter most? Let’s go!

Why Testing is the Hero Your Business Needs

You’ve got the ideas, but how do you know if they’ll fly? That’s where testing comes in. Testing isn’t just about checking if something works—it’s about validating that your idea solves the right problem, resonates with your customers, and can actually be implemented in the real world.

Here’s why testing is your business’s best friend:

Saves Time and Money:

Why build the whole thing if it turns out nobody wants it? Testing lets you spot potential pitfalls early, saving you from costly mistakes.

Refines Your Ideas:

Testing helps you tweak, refine, and improve your ideas, turning good concepts into great ones.

Builds Confidence:

With testing, you can move forward knowing you’re on the right track, armed with real customer feedback.

The Challenges of Testing (And How to Rock It)

Testing might sound daunting, but with a little know-how, you can make it quick, cost effective, and incredibly valuable. Here’s how to overcome the hurdles and get the most out of your tests.

Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Time:

You’ve brainstormed a million ideas—now what? Don’t worry! You don’t need to test them all. Prioritise by asking, "Which ideas have the most potential impact? Which ones are easiest to test quickly?" Focus on the sweet spot where feasibility and potential collide.

Limited Budget:

You don’t need a huge budget to test effectively. Look for low cost, high impact methods that give you quick, actionable insights.

Fear of Negative Feedback:

Let’s face it, not all feedback will be sunshine and rainbows. But remember, constructive criticism is your best friend in this phase. Embrace it, learn from it, and use it to make your idea even better.

Case Study: How Dropbox Validated Its Big Idea

When Dropbox was just an idea, the founders didn’t dive straight into building a complex product. Instead, they created a simple explainer video that showcased the concept of Dropbox… a seamless way to store and share files in the cloud. The video resonated so well that it drove thousands of people to sign up for a service that didn’t even exist yet!

This simple test validated that there was massive demand for their solution. Armed with that confidence, Dropbox went on to build the product, secure funding, and become a household name in cloud storage. Their success story is a testament to the power of testing and validating ideas before going all in.

Guided Activity: Test Your Way to Success

Let’s get hands-on with testing your ideas!

1 Step 1: Prioritise with ICE

List your top 3 ideas and rate them on Impact, Confidence, and Ease. Total up the scores and pick the one with the highest ICE score to test first.

Prioritise Like a Pro with the ICE Score:

ICE stands for Impact, Confidence, and Ease. Rate each of your ideas on these three factors (1-10),then calculate the total score. The higher the score, the higher the priority. This simple framework helps you zero in on which ideas to test first.

Example

‍Idea 1: New Feature A (Impact: 8, Confidence: 7, Ease: 5) = ICE Score: 20
Idea 2: New Feature B (Impact: 6, Confidence: 9, Ease: 8) = ICE Score: 23
Focus on testing Idea 2 first!

2 Step 2: Build a Rapid Prototype

Create a quick version of your idea. This could be a simple sketch, a wireframe, or a landing page. The goal is to have something tangible to test with real users.

Rapid Prototyping:

Create a quick and dirty version of your idea using tools like paper sketches, wireframes, or digital mockups.

Tools like Figma or InVision are great for digital prototypes, while good old-fashioned paper and markers work wonders for physical products.

3 Step 3: Run a Guerrilla Test

Take your prototype out into the world and get feedback from at least 5 people. What do they like? What confuses them? Use their insights to refine your idea.

Guerrilla Testing:

This is testing in its most raw and real form. Take your prototype to a public place (like a café) and ask strangers to try it out. It’s quick, free, and gives you direct feedback from potential users.

Lean Testing with Fake Door:

Want to test demand without building the whole thing? Use a "fake door" test. Create a simple landing page or button on your site that teases the new feature or product. Track how many people click it—if there’s interest, you’ve got a winner! Tools like Unbounce can help you set this up in no time.

Pro Tip: Keep your testing sessions short and sweet. Aim for 30 minutes per session, and always have a clear goal—whether it’s validating a specific feature or understanding user behaviour.

Tools, Tricks, and Hacks for Fast and Effective Testing

Hack it with online surveys

Ready to test like a pro? Here are some awesome tools, tricks, and hacks to get the job done on a tight timeframe and budget.

Hack It with Online Surveys: If you need feedback from a broader audience, online surveys are your best friend. Tools like Typeform or Google Forms let you quickly create surveys that can validate your ideas with real users. Pair it with a small incentive (like a discount or entry into a giveaway) to boost participation.

Test, Test, Test: The Power of Validation in Human Centred Design (HCD)

Gain confidence that your solution solves the right problem and resonates with your audience​, validating before you dive in. You will:

1

DEFINE

2

DISCOVER

3

CREATE

4

TEST

5

DO

Welcome to the Testing Zone: Let’s Validate Your Ideas!

Why Testing is the Hero Your Business Needs

Saves Time and Money:

Refines Your Ideas:

Builds Confidence:

The Challenges of Testing (And How to Rock It)

Too Many Ideas, Not Enough Time:

Limited Budget:

Fear of Negative Feedback:

Case Study: How Dropbox Validated Its Big Idea

Guided Activity: Test Your Way to Success

1

Step 1: Prioritise with ICE

Prioritise Like a Pro with the ICE Score:

Example

2

Step 2: Build a Rapid Prototype

Rapid Prototyping:

3

Step 3: Run a Guerrilla Test

Guerrilla Testing:

Lean Testing with Fake Door:

Pro Tip: Keep your testing sessions short and sweet. Aim for 30 minutes per session, and always have a clear goal—whether it’s validating a specific feature or understanding user behaviour.

Tools, Tricks, and Hacks for Fast and Effective Testing

Hack it with online surveys

You’ve completed the Test Section: It’s Time to Do!

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Gain confidence that your solution solves the right problem and resonates with your audience, validating before you dive in.

You will:

You’ve completed the Test Section:
It’s Time to Do!