Usability Plan
Design rigorous usability test plans with screeners, tasks, and success metrics
What You Can Do
You can translate research objectives into executable test protocols that recruit the right participants, ask the right questions, and measure outcomes clearly. This skill helps you design moderated or unmoderated tests that validate interaction patterns, test information architecture, evaluate new features, or compare design alternatives—with structured analysis frameworks built in.
Features
specify demographics, behaviors, experience levels, and exclusion criteria tailored to your research goals
generate logic-based participant screening questions that ensure you recruit the right users
create realistic, measurable task flows with estimated timings and cognitive load considerations
define completion rates, error counts, time-on-task, and SUS scores tied directly to research questions
produce moderated test scripts with guided prompts, think-aloud instructions, and probing questions
structure data collection and synthesis approach (quantitative metrics, qualitative themes, comparative analysis)
compile all elements into a stakeholder-ready test plan that aligns with research objectives
Example Output
Example 1: Mobile App Feature Test Plan
- Participant Criteria: Ages 25–45, monthly app users, iOS primary, smartphone-dependent
- Screener: 5 questions confirming usage frequency and device preference
- Tasks: (1) Find and add a saved item (2:00 estimated), (2) Share item with a friend (1:30 estimated), (3) Modify notification preferences (1:45 estimated)
- Success Metrics: ≥80% task completion, avg. time-on-task <5 min, System Usability Scale (SUS) >70
- Facilitator Script: "Without clicking anything yet, tell me what you'd do next to save this item"
Example 2: Information Architecture Test
- Participant Criteria: New users to product category, diverse tech comfort levels
- Screener: 3 questions on prior category experience
- Tasks: Locate product category, navigate to comparison tool, complete filter workflow
- Success Metrics: Task completion, clicks to completion, navigation confidence ratings
- Analysis Approach: Heatmap analysis via Maze, qualitative theme coding from think-aloud transcripts
What's Included
- SKILL.md: core instruction file for usability test plan design
- Participant Criteria Template: structured worksheet for defining demographics, behaviors, and experience levels
- Screener Logic Worksheet: question library and conditional branching guide for recruitment
- Task Design Framework: checklist for realistic task creation with timing and success criteria
- Facilitator Script Template: moderated test script with prompts, transitions, and probing questions
- Success Metrics Mapping Sheet: worksheet linking metrics to research questions and analysis methods
Who It's For
- UX Researchers — planning and structuring usability tests from recruitment through analysis
- Product Managers — validating design decisions with participant feedback and quantified success metrics
- UX/UI Designers — preparing prototypes for testing and understanding participant workflows
- Research Teams — creating standardized, repeatable test protocols across projects and stakeholders
- Startups & Scaleups — bootstrapping rigorous user research without large dedicated research budgets
Best For
- Designing moderated or unmoderated usability tests at any stage (discovery, validation, comparison)
- Creating participant screeners to recruit representative users from target segments
- Defining task flows and success metrics that align with product or feature research objectives
- Documenting facilitator scripts and analysis approaches for team alignment and reproducibility
- Building stakeholder-ready test plans that justify research investment and guide decision-making
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