Article - Conducting a UX test? Don’t forget people with disabilities (duplicate)

Research isn’t a one-time event – build it into a steady rhythm

Customer insights fuel the development of digital products and services. Research isn’t something you do once; if done well, it becomes a consistent rhythm. But what does that look like? How often should you conduct research? Do you always need to go into a lab, or can insights be gathered in other ways?

The power of a “heartbeat”

Researching in a steady rhythm is called a “heartbeat.” It ensures you stay in touch with customers throughout development, helping you avoid decisions based solely on business goals or gut feeling—a recipe for costly adjustments later. By investing extra time upfront, you avoid issues down the road.

How often should you test?

It depends. If your team is small, researching 2-4 times per year is fine. For larger teams managing continuous updates to websites or apps, monthly testing makes sense. In short, your team’s size and development speed dictate the rhythm of your heartbeat. Testing monthly has no benefit if your product doesn’t change often. If you conduct frequent research—2 to 4 times monthly—consider establishing an in-house UX lab.

Your development speed and team size dictate your heartbeat rhythm. If your product or service doesn’t change often, there’s no need to head to the lab every month.

Why is regular research so essential?

If you’re always developing and only speak to customers once a year, you risk missing important insights. Relying on assumptions can lead to a misaligned product and expensive fixes. Without regular user input, the gap between your team and end-users grows. Four benefits of frequent testing:

1. Fewer major surprises.

2. Regular customer feedback keeps the team inspired.

3. Opportunities to test ideas at different stages: concept, prototype, and development.

4. The chance to involve specific target groups in your design process.

When you continue developing a product without speaking to the people it’s for, the distance between you and your users grows significantly.

You don’t always need a labit can be simpler

A heartbeat rhythm doesn’t mean going to the lab every time. Budget or time constraints might not allow it, but that’s okay. Research can be adapted to fit within your resources.

For instance, guerrilla testing—taking your app or site to people on the street—or online unmoderated tests are flexible options. There’s always a way to include end-users in the rhythm of your digital product’s development.

A heartbeat testing rhythm doesn’t mean going to the lab each time. Sometimes, guerrilla research is a great option—heading out and showing your app or site to people on the street for quick feedback.

We’d be happy to discuss how research fits into your development process. Feel free to call or email us with your questions.