How can you test your product's navigability for users with mobility impairments using UI prototypes?

3 How to design UI prototypes for navigability testing?

Designing UI prototypes for navigability testing requires considering the purpose and scope of the prototype, the target users and their needs, and the accessibility best practices and guidelines. The goals and tasks that you want to test with your prototype should be determined, as well as how detailed and realistic you want your prototype to be. Additionally, the characteristics, preferences, and pain points of users with mobility impairments should be taken into account. It is also important to consider the accessibility principles and standards to make the prototype accessible and usable for those with mobility impairments. This includes applying them to the layout, content, navigation, interaction, feedback, and error handling of the prototype.

4 How to test UI prototypes for navigability?

To ensure a user-friendly UI prototype for navigability, you should conduct usability testing with users that have mobility impairments. Usability testing is a method of evaluating how well your product meets the needs and expectations of your users by observing and analyzing their behavior and feedback while using it. To do this, you must recruit and select users that match your target audience and persona criteria. This can be done through online platforms such as UserTesting or UserZoom, or local organizations such as disability centers or support groups. You should then prepare and conduct usability testing sessions with your participants, either remotely or in-person depending on availability. During the sessions, you can ask participants to perform specific tasks and scenarios that reflect the purpose of your prototype, while also observing and analyzing how they navigate your prototype using their preferred input devices and assistive technologies. Finally, you should identify and prioritize any navigability issues or opportunities that emerge from your testing sessions, using tools such as Miro or Trello to organize your findings.

5 How to improve UI prototypes based on navigability testing results?

To improve UI prototypes based on navigability testing results, you need to iterate and refine your design solutions based on the feedback and insights that you gathered from your users. To do this, review and evaluate your navigability testing results and findings with tools such as Airtable or Google Sheets. You can also use Tableau or Power BI to create and present your reports and dashboards. Generate and prioritize design ideas and alternatives based on the navigability issues and opportunities that you identified with tools such as Mural or Jamboard, then Dot Voting or Affinity Diagrams to prioritize and select them. Implement and test your design changes and improvements using UI prototyping tools such as InVision, Figma, or Adobe XD. Conduct and monitor testing sessions with Lookback, UserTesting, or UserZoom. Repeat the process until you reach a satisfactory level of navigability for your users with mobility impairments.