Testing: Guerrilla

Conceptualization / PrototypingqualitativeBeginner

TL;DR

Quick and economical version of usability testing, conducted in informal settings with users not necessarily from target audience.

Detailed description

Guerrilla Testing is an agile and economical technique that consists of conducting quick usability tests in informal environments, such as cafés or public spaces, with users who do not necessarily represent the target audience. It allows obtaining immediate feedback on prototypes or initial ideas.

Main objective

Obtain quick and informal feedback on prototypes or ideas in early stages.

Use cases

Startups with limited budgetEarly prototype validationMobile appsConcept testing

When to use it

When quick validation is needed with limited budget and in very early phases.

Effort level

Low

Recommended number of users

5-10 users in public spaces

Advantages

✓Very agile and economical
✓Useful in early phases

Disadvantages

✗Less control and rigor
✗Not always working with key users

When to use

•In sketch or initial idea phases
•When quick validation is needed

Metrics

Task success rate (%)
Average time to complete tasks
Number of errors per task
Severity of detected problems (Nielsen scale)
SUS (System Usability Scale)

How results are presented

Qualitative report with findings, usage patterns, quotes, and recommendations. May include session recordings, interaction heat maps, and visual synthesis of detected problems.

Practical example

Test paper app prototype in university café, asking students about registration flow.