INTRODUCTION
Google's CEO presents a daunting yet exhilarating challenge: build, test, and launch a first-of-its-kind generative AI app experience from scratch in a mere eight months.
This once-in-a-lifetime opportunity demands not only innovation but also rapid execution.
GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Establishing order and efficiency through a dynamic testing approach.
To ensure the product's success, we embarked on a flexible testing strategy that seamlessly adapted to the accelerated development pace, prioritized evolving user needs, and upheld rigorous testing principles.
The product's immense scope demanded swift and efficient research practices. We quickly established a global research program, collecting, prioritizing, and executing research needs across EMEA, APAC, and the US.
THE TEAM
As the project's lead researcher, I spearheaded the research program strategy, cross-functional stakeholder alignment, and overall program management.
My team, a collaborative ecosystem of researchers, product managers, engineers, and designers, help to elevate my efforts.
THE PROCESS
Part 1: Scoping the research
Faced with an immense scope and a tight timeline, we meticulously compared business priorities with user needs to prioritize our testing efforts. We utilized existing data and conducted in-depth interviews across regions to gain a comprehensive understanding of the problem space and the target audience's requirements. This collaborative approach allowed us to focus our testing efforts on the areas that would have the most significant impact on product success.
Part 2: Rapid execution and iteration
With aligned priorities, we mapped out an iterative testing schedule that preceded Design and Engineering timelines.
Concept reviews: Incorporating user feedback early
We leveraged an early working concept to gather user feedback, shaping design principles and deprioritizing or rescoping certain features.
Iterative usability testing: Keeping pace and guiding development
We established a rapid testing cadence, scoping, planning, executing, and analyzing full studies within a week. This enabled us to stay ahead of the cross-functional team and guide development with the voice of our future users.
Part 3: Collecting enduring insights
The dynamic testing approach we implemented was not only reactive to the rapid development pace but also proactive in anticipating future user needs and product challenges. We recognized the importance of continuous improvement and sought to establish a longitudinal study to track user behavior and gather insights over time.
Longitudinal Study: Unveiling user habits and product impact
We conducted a diary study, enlisting a select group of users to document their interactions with the app over an extended period. This method allowed us to capture real-time feedback and track changes in user behavior as they adopted and integrated the product into their daily routines. The study unveiled user motivations, identifying factors that encouraged continued use and habit formation. We observed patterns in user interactions, pinpointing features and functionalities that resonated with users and contributed to satisfaction. By closely monitoring user interactions, we also identified potential usability issues that may not have surfaced during traditional testing methods. These early detections enabled us to swiftly address these problems and refine the product experience before wider adoption.
THE IMPACT
The combination of dynamic testing and longitudinal study formed a comprehensive approach to the app’s development, balancing rapid iteration with long-term user observation. This holistic methodology exemplified our commitment to user-centricity and continuous improvement, paving the way for app’s success in the competitive AI landscape.
Key impacts
Dynamic testing: We quickly designed and implemented a new testing program, prioritizing user needs and ensuring quality without sacrificing speed. By streamlining our testing process, we brought order to the chaos, ensuring that our cross-functional team remained aligned and focused on delivering a truly user-centric product..
Early user feedback: We embedded user feedback into the core of our development process, shaping our product and accelerating our ability to deliver in the given timeframe. By incorporating user feedback early, we empowered our team to prioritize and scope features based on the needs and preferences of our target audience. This proactive approach ensured that our time and resources were invested in the areas that would have the greatest impact on user satisfaction and product success.
Longitudinal insight: We unearthed the hidden truths of user behavior and product impact, illuminating the path to enduring success. The diary study unveiled a treasure trove of insights into how users interacted with our product over time, empowering us to refine our offering, address user concerns, and ensure its lasting relevance and engagement.