A Toolkit

I often get asked what tool I would use for completing a specific task. For that reason, I thought it may be useful to share some of the tools I have used in the past. 

I would also like to invite you to add to this blog post if you have used any other tools. Email me or tweet me.

Survey tools:

An online survey tool allows you to gather insight or feedback from people quickly by creating, running, and interpreting surveys.

• Typeform,
• SmartSurvey,
• Surveymonkey.

Card sorting:

Card sorting is a UX research technique in which users organise topics into groups. 

• Optimalworkshop,
• Trello,
• Miro,
• Google Jamboards,
• Mural.

Tree testing:

Tree testing is a UX research method that allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of a website or app’s navigation hierarchy and better organise the content. 

The goal of tree testing boils down to answering the question, “Can users find what they are looking for?”. 

• Treejack on Optimal workshop.

User testing: 

User testing, usability testing, or UX testing is often conducted in a session where a researcher (or a “facilitator” or a “moderator”) asks a participant to perform tasks, usually using one or more specific user interfaces. While the participant completes each task, the researcher observes the participant’s behaviour and listens for feedback.

• Zoom,
• Microsoft Teams,
• Google Meet,
• Lookback.

Eye tracking:

Eye tracking is when you track a person’s eye movement during a research session. It helps to see where their eye is drawn or the motion of an eye relative to the head. This can help design decisions. 

• Hotjar,
• Crazy Egg (Thanks Jon, Neath Port Talbot)

Browser testing:

Browser testing is a type of non-functional testing that lets you check if and how your website works as intended when accessed through different browsers, on different devices or with assistive technology.

• Realtime Browser Test (lambdatest.com).

Accessibility testing:

Accessibility testing is the process of testing how your product, service, website or application considers the experience for all users, regardless of ability or disability. 

• NoCoffee Chrome extension,
• WAVE accessibility evaluation tool,
• aXe,
• WAVE colour contrast checker,

• Colour Contrast Analyser,
• Coblis — Colour Blindness Simulator,
• Funkify – Disability Simulator.

Prototyping and wireframing:

• If it’s on a screen (website, app, software, etc) use Keynote, Powerpoint or a website building tool like Squarespace or Marvel.
• If it’s on paper (report, brochure, flyer, etc) use Keynote, Powerpoint or a word processing software like Word or Google Docs.
• If it’s a service (customer support, client service, medical care, etc) write a script and use your sprint team as actors.
• If it’s a physical space (store, office, lobby, etc) modify an existing space, use lego, or make a model.
• If it’s an object (physical product, machinery, etc) modify an existing object, make a prototype, or prototype the marketing using Keynote or Powerpoint and photos or renderings of the object.

Plain English and readability:

The readability and language of your content can be scored and measures to make it easy to understand to all. These tools help to understand ways to make your content more inclusive and improve written communication. 

• Readability Guidelines
• The Plain English Campaign free guides
• Grammarly
• The Hemmingway App
• Microsoft Word document readability

Resources

It wouldn’t be right to have a toolkit without some resources and ways to find out more!

Tech and code best practice resources:

• WAVE accessibility evaluation tool
• aXe

Training resources:

• Digital Accessibility Experts Live
• Aus Gov accessibility toolkit
• W3C accessibility (intro to accessibility training)

Legal resources:

• Accessibility Regulations