Rapid Iterative testing and Evaluation(RITE)
Just like we’ve learned during class, Design research is a critical component to root our design decisions into human needs. Out of four design research methods — Descriptive, Generative, Evaluative, and Casual — I’m going to talk about one of the Evaluative researches, the Rapid Iterative testing and Evaluation(RITE). RITE is a method that involves updating the prototype after a usability issue surfaces by participants — rather than waiting until the study is complete.
When?
Like with other usability testings, there is a right time, right place scenario for RITE. When one wants to have a prototype, quick feedback, and have the ability to keep tweaking the design, this particular method will be useful.
Who?
After 1–3 participants encounter a usability issue, they come up with feedbacks so that the prototype can be updated before the next test. Participants are anyone who can be related with customers/audiences (anyone who wasn’t part of creating the prototype/who is not familiar with the process)
How?
How is it formed? After few prototype participants(usually 1–3) encounter a usability issue, the prototype can be updated before the next test and goes through the same process again and again until it is finalized. At the beginning stage of RITE, researchers should use low- to mid-fidelity prototypes so that designs and contents can be updated quickly depending on feedbacks they receive. Coded prototype will be less R (rapid) and more ITE (iterative testing and evaluation) because it involves designers and developers. That is why coded prototypes/ high-fidelity visual prototypes are developed later in the process.
Why?
Most of the main reasons people decide to adopt RITE is thanks to its high confidence in the designs due to prior usability testing. RITE would allow for quick user feedback with only incremental changes so that the development team could begin estimating and building the foundation of the journey in the background. This method can be useful because of its powerful formative usability inspection method that helps teams identify and remove major problems in an interface early in the design process before costly prototypes are built. For example, RITE can be used for web Home page. In this case, researchers can test whether the content and the visual design are proper enough to catch one’s attention. In case of Web design aspects, researchers need non-professional third-party to give non-bias feedbacks. RITE is a best way to check whether the website is catchy and attractive at a glance.
What to be careful?
Just like other research methods, RITE should not be used just to cut the time spent on user research or to save money. Nor should be used to replace other usability testing or as a ‘we’ve done some usability testing’ card to please clients.
