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Discovery, Usability, and Accessibility Lab

Scenario​

Choose one real workflow in the Semester 3 project. You have incomplete information: the implementer’s assumptions are documented, but no user evidence or accessibility evidence exists.

Part 1: Discovery​

  • Write the user, task, obstacle, current behavior, success condition, and riskiest assumption.
  • Collect at least one observation or interview grounded in a recent concrete event.
  • Record evidence separately from interpretation.
  • Reject or revise one proposed feature.

Part 2: Usability Test​

  • Write three task prompts without interface instructions.
  • Run the protocol with someone who did not implement the feature.
  • Record completion, critical errors, assistance, time, hesitation, and recovery.
  • Change one important interaction and retest it.

Part 3: Accessibility Verification​

  • Complete the flow using a keyboard only.
  • Inspect semantic names, roles, headings, labels, errors, and focus.
  • Test zoom/reflow and contrast.
  • Run an automated scanner, then manually verify its most important findings.
  • Record applicable WCAG 2.2 criteria and before/after evidence.

Independent Transfer​

Repeat the audit on a second flow without using the first checklist’s ordering. Explain which risks transferred and which were specific to the original interaction.

Evidence Contract​

  • discovery brief and raw observation notes
  • task protocol and anonymized results
  • before/after design record
  • WCAG 2.2 audit with manual and automated evidence
  • AI-use declaration
  • five-minute oral defense covering the rejected alternative and remaining limitation