A mission is a task for participants to complete. Create missions to learn what actions users perform in your prototype. In missions, you can test either a prototype or a live website.
This article teaches you how to set up a prototype test. To learn more about website tests, check out this article.
In this article:
- Add a prototype block
- Define your task
- Add a prototype
- Set the task type
- Enable session recordings
- Define conditional paths
- Preview & publish
- Troubleshooting
Step 1: Add a prototype block
To create a new prototype test, open your draft maze, or create a new maze.
In the blocks list, click Add block, then select a Prototype test block from the drop-down.
Step 2: Define your task
Type the Task and add an optional Description.
The task should set the mission goal, i.e. what you want your testers to do. The description should include any instructions or other information required for the task.
Read best practices for writing tasks and descriptions
Step 3: Add a prototype
- Adding a prototype
- Refreshing a linked prototype
- Unlinking a prototype from a maze
- Change the start screen
Adding a prototype
It’s only possible to import one prototype per maze. After importing, the prototype will be linked to all prototype blocks across the maze.
If you create other mazes within the same project, you can import other prototypes.
To import a prototype into Maze, add a new prototype block and click Add Prototype.
Maze currently supports Adobe XD, Figma, Marvel, Sketch, and Axure prototypes. Maze supports prototypes designed for desktop, tablet, or mobile.
Once you have a prototype ready in a tool we support, follow the instructions below to import your prototype into Maze.
- Importing a Figma prototype
- Importing a Sketch prototype
- Importing an Adobe XD prototype
- Importing a Marvel prototype
- Importing an Axure prototype
Refreshing a linked prototype
You should refresh the prototype in your draft maze every time you change your prototype.
This will fetch the latest version of the prototype, while maintaining all blocks and paths in the draft maze.
Learn more about refreshing your prototype in Maze
Unlinking a prototype from a maze
You can unlink your prototype from the maze. This allows you to use a different prototype on that maze.
To unlink a prototype, click the ••• menu next to the start screen. This will open the prototype settings.
Under ‘Prototype options’, click the Unlink prototype button.
Change the start screen
The start screen is the first screen that your testers will see at the beginning of the mission.
To change the start screen, click the Edit start screen button. This will display all imported screens. Click a screen to select it as the start screen.
Step 4: Set the task type
Prototype tasks can either be Goal-based, or Free explore.
Goal-based tasks
In goal-based tasks, you set up predefined paths to use as a benchmark for measuring the success of the mission. Establishing concrete success criteria gets you more quantitative metrics in the results, such as the usability score and misclick rates.
You can define one of the following success criteria for goal-based prototype tasks:
- Reach a specific screen: The mission is considered successful when participants reach a specific screen in the prototype.
- Follow an exact path: The mission is considered a direct success when participants follow a specific path.
Learn more about setting success criteria in goal-based prototype tests
Free explore tasks
Conversely, the free explore option allows you to set up prototype tests with no defined goals/paths.
This option gives you more flexibility in prototype testing, allowing you to conduct effective concept testing and gather meaningful attitudinal data.
It may also be a better fit when dealing with more complex prototypes, where setting up success paths would be more time-consuming, or lead to errors.
Learn more about free explore tasks
Step 5: Enable session recordings (optional)
If needed, enable Clips to capture participant cues as they go through the mission.
Step 6: Define conditional paths (optional)
If needed, enable Conditions to apply logical routes based on actions your testers take during the mission.
Step 7: Preview & publish
You can see how this block will appear to testers on the right-side Preview panel.
Learn more about previewing your mazes
Please note that when you hover over a hotspot on the screen, the cursor will change from the default cursor to a pointer showing that it’s clickable. At the moment, it’s not possible to disable this behavior. If this is something you’d be interested in, please let us know.
Once you’re ready, send the maze live to start testing it.
Troubleshooting
Occasionally, you might run into errors that prevent you from publishing your maze. Learn more:
- Why am I getting an "Invalid mission path" error when I try to launch my maze live?
- Why am I getting a "Duplicated pages" error when I try to launch my maze live?
- Why am I getting a "Missing page" error when I try to launch my maze live?
- Why am I getting an "Invalid blocks" error when I try to launch my maze live?
Still need help?
If you have any questions or concerns, please let our Support team know — we'll be happy to help!