I'm reading this article on how people tend to be caught in their own "homophilic [perception] bubble" when working at tech companies. People are focused on what they are designing, they work in comfortable chairs, good light, they interact with other smart people from similar demographics.
This leads to making assumptions about design which appear completely natural, but may be totally off for the general public. These mistakes are not caught until the product is put in the hands of an actual customer, way later down the line.
How can I step out of my perception bubble when designing or thinking about user experience?
I heard about techniques like "hallway testing", and am trying to implement them. I thought about using the app when I'm not focused, or lighting is bad, or I'm in a hurry, but what else can I do?