Expert Reviews Vs Usability Testing- Which One To Do First?
What is an expert review?
Got an expert in your time? Or, would you prefer inviting an expert and asking their opinion on the product? Either way, it is always a good-to-go option when you want to go for a second opinion from the experts. They are the mavericks who know the ins and outs of the product design. The primary objective of an expert review is to understand and fix if there are any UX issues.
The expert would readily spot any design issues and let you know if you have to make any changes in order to improve your usability. There would be times when your timescales and budgets do not let you perform any user research. The inspection method in website audit or expert review can let you identify if there are any usability issues pertaining to your online product. A set of usability experts are going to carry out the expert review. They can analyse your product or service for identifying if there are any possible usability issues. With usability review, users can roll out more user-centric design process. This would not include any direct contact with your end-users.
Why you should take up expert reviews?
The formal method of usability testing is not going to be as simple as it is. The result of the review is going to be extremely sophisticated. The evaluation method is extremely old and not as per the current standards. It might not match up well with the method that is currently followed. Majority of the guidelines are not misleading. They can pave the way for poor usability decisions when the designer is not going to consider their users as well as the goals and vision of the product. Following the guidelines alone is not advisable. You need to take the expert reviews into consideration.
You must be wondering what is the difference between usability testing and expert review. Here is the demystification:
With an expert usability review, a usability specialist is going to inspect your website for identifying if there are any potential problems with usability. Usability testing is going to get your target audience to evaluate the website while you are performing more tasks. It is always advisable to go for expert reviews when you need more elaborate advice.
3 reasons to do expert reviews before you do usability testing:
Usability testing can get your stuff right and allow you to create a stellar product. You get these three advantages when you opt-in for usability testing.
- They familiarise the researcher with the user journey: Your researcher is not going to get distracted with the design process.
- They provide a chance to look at competitors: Competitors can be your greatest mentors and gurus at times. With the expert review, you can analyze what your competitors are up to.
- They prompt you to form testable hypotheses: Forming the right hypotheses is easier than ever when you have conducted your expert reviews.
Always remember these 3 techniques to make the best out of expert reviews:
- You should start the process with your end-user as the primary target
- Get to solve the user problem
- Try to empathize with your user
Advantages of expert review:
You get to experience more low cost, fast and independent feedback from the experts. With proper feedback, you get to track your user journey in a smart manner. You need to focus on the strategies more keenly and fulfil your customer requirements.
Got to work on your expert review? You have Pattem Digital by your side, right from the time you carry out your documentation to the maintenance process! Let’s connect to chat more on your requirements!
