Luto Research

Luto Research, originally known as the Leeds University Testing Organisation, is a United Kingdom-based specialist in health communications and usability testing. Founded in 2004, the company has built its reputation on a simple but rigorous proposition: that health information — from Instructions for Use (IFUs) and patient education materials to interactive digital tools and animations — should be written, designed and then tested with real people to ensure it is clear, accessible and easy to use. The company describes itself as having a team of world-leading experts and positions its work at the intersection of scientific evidence, real-world testing and decades of communication expertise. Luto's services span two broad areas. The first is creation: writing and designing clear health communications through an evidence-based approach and a proprietary 'Audience Design' service. The second is testing: evidence-based user experience enhancement, using a range of study methods and tools to help clients understand how users interact with their communications or devices. The company also offers creative services including motion graphics, digital signage, wayfinding, digital screens and CMS, web and app development, brand strategy, and translation into other languages. Luto serves a client base that includes pharmaceutical companies, regulators, charities, medical device manufacturers and government organisations. It operates flexible usability testing environments at facilities in the United Kingdom, Switzerland and the United States, and actively recruits research participants from a wide range of demographics to give clients the inclusion and diversity required for broad insight. Its stated mission is to deliver high-quality, evidence-based research and user testing that improves the clarity, accessibility and effectiveness of health information worldwide. The company is headquartered in the United Kingdom, with an office address in Skipton, North Yorkshire, and contact numbers in the Leeds area. It is a private company. Its work is largely behind the scenes — the company emphasises 'complete discretion' — supporting global health and life sciences organisations in communicating clearly and confidently with patients, carers and healthcare professionals.

Luto Research was founded in 2004 under the name Leeds University Testing Organisation, from which its short name 'Luto' derives. The organisation was established to bring academic rigour to the testing of health information, building on university-linked research expertise to assess whether patient-facing and professional-facing materials could actually be understood and used by the people they were designed for. From its origins in Leeds, the company developed a dual service model. On the creation side, it built expertise in writing and designing clear health communications, developing an evidence-based approach and a distinctive 'Audience Design' service intended to make communications easier for users to understand and act on. On the testing side, it developed a range of study methods and tools for evidence-based user experience enhancement, helping clients understand how users interact with their communications or medical devices. The company has consistently emphasised its academic links, which it says allow it to design studies to meet specific client needs. Over the years Luto expanded its physical footprint beyond the United Kingdom. It now offers flexible usability testing environments at facilities in the UK, Switzerland and the United States, reflecting a client base of global pharmaceutical companies, medical device manufacturers, regulators, charities and government organisations. Its headquarters and principal operations remain in the United Kingdom, with an office in Skipton, North Yorkshire, and contact points in the Leeds area. The company's service range also broadened into creative and digital production. Alongside its core health communication and testing work, Luto now provides motion graphics, digital signage and wayfinding, digital screens and content management systems, web and app development, brand strategy and development, values building and implementation, and translation into other languages. These services are marketed for healthcare, corporate, retail and education environments. Luto describes its mission as delivering high-quality, evidence-based research and user testing that improves the clarity, accessibility and effectiveness of health information worldwide. It positions itself as working behind the scenes with 'complete discretion' to deliver clarity, compliance and confidence for its clients, and it actively recruits research participants across a wide range of demographics to ensure the inclusion and diversity its clients need for broad insight.

• 2004

  Luto is founded as the Leeds University Testing Organisation.

• Luto establishes usability testing facilities in the UK, Switzerland and the USA.

• Luto expands its service range into creative and digital production, including motion graphics, digital signage, web and app development, and brand strategy.

A specialist, evidence-based partner for health and life sciences organisations, combining clear health communication creation with rigorous usability testing with real people, delivered with complete discretion.

• Usability testing studies

  Flexible usability testing environments at facilities in the UK, Switzerland and the USA, using a range of study methods and tools.

• Instructions for Use (IFU) development and testing

  Creation and user testing of Instructions for Use, recognising that no two IFUs are alike.

• Audience Design service

  A unique evidence-based service intended to make health communications easier for users to use.

• Patient education materials

  Health information designed and tested for clarity and accessibility for patients and carers.

• Interactive digital tools and tailored animations

  Digital and animated health communication formats grounded in scientific evidence and real-world testing.

• Creative services

  Motion graphics, digital signage and wayfinding, digital screens and CMS, web and app development, brand strategy, and translation.

1. 1Luto | Usability Testing | User Testingluto.co.uk
2. 2About | Luto Researchluto.co.uk
3. 3Creative Services | lutoluto.co.uk
4. 4Luto Research (United Kingdom) - Wikidatawikidata.org