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Test UX on elementary students.
Let’s become mind-readers of our audience by learning from smaller humans and how they experience life.
Children are amazing for testing user experiences.
They're honest.
Tech-savvy.
Still figuring out the benefits of reading (but prefers to headline glance instead)
Easily distracted.
Like to throw fits when things don't go their way.
It's your audience! …but in microform and easily swayed with tiny pieces of candy after giving their opinion on wireframes.
This is a perfect group to test complex user engagements on! If you have a 7-year-old child at home (those in their 70’s also work and usually enjoy the company more).
We can sum up the process into 5 steps which will take 5mins to deploy 🧐:
Simplify headers and buttons wording. Use the vocabulary of a caveman to find brevity and simplicity (ok to grunt, and get into character as a part of the creative process).
Explain to them like they're 5 years old (they'll remind you they're 7 and understand life, just nod).
Watch their facial expressions as they navigate the interface and capture it.
Take note of their questions. Reply with simpler questions — avoid giving answers and explaining.
Record them with your phone and capture their tap sequences. Ask questions and don’t problem-solve or defend choices made.
If a 7yo can do it, a capable adult can also, right? Wrong. But now you have made your product simple enough to test both 🤯.
Use it on your audience and return to your team with Jedi-like abilities to read your user’s minds.
At the minimum, you'll create a fan that noticed you care about the experience you're providing them.
ps - this works even better when it's a group of children. Just bring parent-approved snacks to get the juicy insights. Mirror it on TV to find to liven things up.