In Part V, we put our functional prototype in front of living, breathing users in order to focus our iteration. The last possible day for getting credit for this milestone, or any of Parts I-V, is the final studio day of the quarter.
Find representative users for your design and bring them in for a user feedback session. This should involve at least five different users. (If the nature of your design means that your user group is extremely difficult to connect with, coordinate with your studio staff to decide on a realistic goal.)
For each user, set the stage and make sure they understand that you are testing the prototype, not them. Lay out tasks or goals that they are trying to achieve, and let them interact with your prototype. Make sure one of your team members is taking notes and recording any relevant media (e.g., photos, video). Another team member should guide the process. Encourage the user to follow a think-aloud protocol — you likely learned this technique in CS 147. Try your absolute hardest not to intervene. Watching helplessly as someone struggles to use your interface is one of the hardest, but most valuable, things you can do.
Afterwards, it's time to synthesize. Convert your observations into sticky notes and start clustering them on a whiteboard. Identify themes, re-cluster, and discuss until your main reflections have settled.
Write up a brief report detailing your method, results, and reflections.
Based on your feedback from your users and in your studio, iterate on your prototype. Sketch the redesigned elements that your group has decided to pursue as a result of the user study. You'll be reimplementing these before the final presentation. This is your last chance to pull out the stops!
Pull everything together into your submission folder labeled "P3-5". This includes:
Bring full-page color printouts of your core observations and redesigns to studio.
Each milestone is worth five points. You will receive five points for completing the assignment satisfactorily, submitting it, and your whole team bringing your sketches to class for feedback.