A prototype test examines whether someone can understand and complete a workflow. Describe the situation and desired outcome without revealing the interface path.
Write a task in the user's language
For a fictional purchasing tool, say “You need your manager to approve this equipment request.” Avoid “Click New Request.” The first instruction reveals how the participant understands the product; the second mostly checks whether they can follow directions.
Prepare a consistent starting point and explain the prototype's limitations. Make it clear that the product is being evaluated, not the participant's ability. Use realistic but non-sensitive example data.
Keep an observation sheet
| Moment | Record |
|---|---|
| First action | Where the participant naturally looks |
| Hesitation | Missing information or unfamiliar wording |
| Mistake | What they believe has happened |
| Completion | How they know the request was sent |
Allow time to explore before intervening. Record any assistance so an assisted completion does not become evidence of independent success. If the prototype lacks a reasonable action, treat that as a prototype limitation rather than a user error.
Prioritise findings by consequence
Separate blocked completion, consequential mistakes and minor friction. Fix the most serious issues and repeat the task. A preference survey about colours cannot replace evidence about whether someone submitted the right request to the right person.
Can task time be trusted?
Use it cautiously. Incomplete interactions and thinking aloud affect timing. Early prototype tests are better suited to finding misunderstandings; operational speed needs evaluation in a functioning product under representative conditions.
Testing unfamiliar domain terminology
Recruit someone who knows the workflow but has not seen your internal vocabulary. Ask them to explain a label before acting on it. A familiar English word may mean a different operational state in another industry or region.
Sources and further reading
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