What does informal testing involve in product design?

Informal testing in product design involves using casual feedback methods to evaluate a product. This approach allows designers to gather insights and opinions from users in a more relaxed setting, which can lead to genuine reactions and more candid feedback. Informal testing can occur through methods such as user observations, casual discussions, or quick prototypes being shared with friends or family.

This type of evaluation is beneficial as it typically encourages open dialogue and can reveal user preferences, usability issues, or other insights that might not surface in a more structured testing environment. It is particularly useful in the early stages of design, where understanding user needs and refining concepts is essential before moving to more formalized testing methods. In contrast, the other options focus on more structured and rigorous testing methodologies that may not provide the same breadth of spontaneous user insights.