Instead of creating a real product or feature, a mockup or description is presented to potential users. This helps gauge their interest and measure responses before investing resources in actual development. It's a way to test the waters and validate ideas before committing to the real thing.
A customer requested validation of assumptions regarding implementing collaborative documentation and tracking of investigations in Instana. However, gathering test participants was challenging due to that specific product's area has low usage among customers, constituting only 1% of our overall user base.
We initiated the process by collecting key information such as our feature goals and identifying potential opportunities and assumptions. After establishing a clear goal path, we began with a discovery plan, researching competitors and analyzing how their flows benefit users. From there, we outlined the main flow and sub-features within the requirements, delving into the details.
Subsequently, we reached out to customers via email for user testing and interviews to gain insights into their journey and requirements. However, due to a low response rate, we decided to utilize a fake door test within the product to engage users with our ongoing work. We brainstormed placement options for the fake door test and ultimately decided to integrate it into the Header UI within the product.
Solution
The proposed design focuses on highlighting the key aspects of the new feature, Journals. Rather than delving into detailed animations that might create false expectations, we opted for a minimalist approach to demonstrate what users can expect from this new feature.
The pop-up window includes three GIFs for users. The first GIF illustrates the overall flow of the feature, providing an overview. The second and third GIFs demonstrate how seamless collaboration is within a team and showcase the Archive feature, where users can download recorded journal documents.
Additionally, we included an "upcoming" tag in the popup window to indicate to users that it's still under development. Towards the end, we incorporated buttons to gather data from interested users for user interviews, aiming to gain a deeper understanding of their journal journey within Instana.
Key takeaways
By utilizing mockups and descriptions, we were able to effectively gauge user interest and measure responses before committing resources to full development. This approach allowed us to validate ideas, mitigate risks, and make informed decisions based on real user feedback and market demand. Through the creation of realistic prototypes, we efficiently tested concepts and optimized our product development strategies. This project highlighted the importance of risk mitigation, data-driven decision-making, and prioritizing the user experience to drive successful innovation within IBM.