Translating User Testing insights into impact

Diet & Nutrition
User Research
Product Validation
Mobile phones are transforming how we collect data — faster, cheaper, and far more scalable than traditional in-person surveys.
In Rwanda, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA) had brought a Global Diet Quality Questionnaire (DQQ) directly to peoples' hands via USSD,  a technology that enables simple, text-based interactions on mobile phones without requiring internet access. Our challenge: ensure people not only understood the questions but enjoyed the experience. Because better experiences mean more user generating better data — and ultimately better opportunities to make data-based governance decisions for food-security.
?
How might we improve the user experience of
a mobile phone survey focused on
diet quality?
1
Testing Lab in Kigali
120
Usability testing studies
2
offices

SOLUTION


Testing Lab in Kigali

APPROACH

Over two weeks in Rwanda, we took a hands-on approach — part of the time based at the IITA office in Kigali, and part of the time right inside respondents' homes.
Our team blended local expertise and global design thinking: a human-centered design (HCD) specialist, a local scientist deeply familiar with the tool, and four trained enumerators.
We tracked usability progress live through our service partner, VIAMO, carefully monitoring data quality and drop-off rates before and after each design improvement.

Heuristic Evaluation

An expert tested the USSD survey for interface
standards using 10 heuristics set up by Jacob Nielsen

Usability Testing

Users new to the survey were observed and
questioned in real time while completing predefined tasks
in a lab setting

User Interviews

Users who had previously completed the survey were
interviewed in their homes about the experience of
completing the survey

Key Results

Awarded for a reason

Research Questions
Award
Year
Can respondents easily complete the questionnaire via USSD on their mobile phones?
Awwwards SOTD
2023
Lost in dance
Awwwards SOTD
2022
Lost in dance
CSS Design Awards
2022
Lost in dance
Webflow Showcase
2022
Zwee
Awwwards SOTM
2021
Kaili Swimwear Website
Awwwards Developer Award
2020

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