RITE Testing (Rapid Iterative Testing and Evaluation)

Progress UX has used RITE Testing as a fast-paced usability testing method designed to identify and resolve issues quickly through multiple iterations.

During RITE testing (often called Lean Usability Testing), users are asked to perform tasks with a prototype or product while observers note any usability problems. After each session, the design team makes immediate, incremental changes based on user feedback and then tests the updated version with new participants. This cycle of testing and refinement continues until the major usability issues are resolved.

When to use RITE testing

• RITE testing is particularly effective in early design stages, allowing teams to make quick, data-driven improvements that enhance the user experience efficiently.

RITE Cautions

• Because design decisions are being made quickly using smaller datasets, RITE projects must be entrusted to an extremely attuned and seasoned UX Researcher. Otherwise, incorrect deductions and decisions can have outsized downstream consequences.

• Viewed in sum, several ongoing iterations of Lean/RITE testing can establish a foundational basis of research evidence, but one round of testing does not.

When not to use Lean/RITE

Lean/RITE is not an advisable method, when:

• There is no foundational research/market evidence from which to create the initial designs, i.e. iterating on an idea that no one wants or needs or there’s no hypothesis to test against and one wishes to test to “prove” it works.

• Because the research cycles are short (3 or 4 people at a time), it can be challenging to extrapolate trends/patterns from the data. This is especially salient when the design is in or near a production state, where we look for more data points to feel confident before shipping. This is also true when trying to understand the holistic, comprehensive experience.