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Usability

Usability is a measure of how well a specific user in a specific context can use a product to achieve a defined goal.
Usability is part of our Design Career Leveling Framework. Explore next steps in your career from this industry-standard model.

  1. Intro to Usability

    Usability is the measure of how easy and effective a product is to use. It encompasses a wide range of factors, including learnability, efficiency, memorability, and error prevention. A product with good usability is more likely to be adopted by users and achieve its intended goals. Usability is a critical aspect of user experience design and should be considered throughout the development process.

  2. Usability Testing

    Usability testing is a method for evaluating a product's usability by observing users as they interact with it. It involves creating realistic scenarios and tasks for users to complete and collecting feedback on their experience. Usability testing can reveal areas of a product that are confusing or difficult to use, as well as identify opportunities for improvement. It is an essential part of the Design Process and should be conducted regularly to ensure a product's usability remains high.
    • Adobe logo
      Remote Usability Testing 101 & How to Get Started

      Justin Morales, UX Writer, Adobe

      Remote usability testing has become more popular as it allows companies to test users who cannot come onsite due to scheduling conflicts or geographic dispersion. Though less insightful than in-person tests, remote tests can still provide valuable insights when done properly. There are two main types: moderated tests where a facilitator guides the participant, and unmoderated tests where participants complete tasks alone. Moderated tests allow for deeper clarification but lack body language cues, while unmoderated tests are cheaper but provide limited insights. To run effective remote tests, companies must recruit the right participants, write a thorough test script, and use tools that allow for video calls and screen sharing. With proper planning and execution, remote usability testing can yield useful results for improving products.
    • RingCentral logo
      How to Test Your Design’s Learnability

      Nick Babich, UX Specialist , RingCentral

      Nick explains what learnability is, why it matters and how to measure it in application design.

  3. Advanced Techniques

    There are several advanced techniques that can be used to improve a product's usability. These include heuristic evaluations, cognitive walkthroughs, and user Surveys. Heuristic evaluations involve experts evaluating a product against a set of usability principles to identify potential issues. Cognitive walkthroughs involve experts simulating user behavior to identify areas of confusion or difficulty. User Surveys can provide valuable feedback on a product's usability and user experience. These techniques can be used in combination to provide a comprehensive evaluation of a product's usability.