Should I run a field visit or usability test?
Should I run a field visit or usability test?
A field visit tells you if you're designing the right thing (big picture). A usability test tells you if you've designed the thing right (microscope). For example, your product might perform fine in a usability test but it will fail if people don't really care about the tasks you've asked them to complete.
• Is there a user problem to be solved? (If unsure, carry out field research).
• Have we solved it? (If unsure, carry out usability testing).