Testing is an essential step in design as it provides an opportunity to refine solutions that have been created. It involves remodelling the prototype to make them right for the problem at hand. Testing is an avenue through which a designer gains another opportunity to understand their users. By interacting with the users, a designer gains a pathway into the users’ perception regarding the prototype and its extent or magnitude of usefulness. For this reason, testing the tote bag made from recycled materials in university bin is crucial.
Measuring whether the tote bag is successful involves allowing users to utilize the prototype in their daily lives. Given the purpose of testing is to acquire feedback the tote bag will be handed out to different people to use the bag in their normal routine for a period of three days (Plattner). After the three days have elapsed, users will be interviewed on several aspects of the bag such as its portability, strength, physical appearance, ability to carry diverse things, and possible lifespan among other aspects. It is also important to measure the user expectations prior to using the tote bag and whether they have been met after using the prototype (Plattner). Comparison between the tote bag and other prototype is also significant which may require providing users with different bags and require them to measure their experiences.
After interviewing users, the feedback acquired can be utilized to make different adjustments to ensure that the tote bag meets their needs. If the tote bag meets the expectations of majority of the users then the prototype can be deemed successful and unsuccessful if they are unsatisfied. However, even if the tote bag is considered successful, a designer should be keen to use information acquired from the testing process to readjust the prototype and realign it towards perfection.
Work Cited
Plattner, Hasso. “An Introduction of Design Thinking; Process Guide.”Institute of Design of Stanford.