I too wonder about this.
Really good and experienced designers, I have found, are capable of creating designs with few user problems. That's not surprising we can employ the same process that we use in expert reviews to find problems and fix them. Nonetheless, usability testing is an important tool for everyone. Here is why: 1. Every now and then, even the best designer misses something. 2. You get a lot of good feedback from it. 3. Other stakeholders feel that the design has been validated. 4. The designer can feel secure about the usability of his or her design. I always recommend a usability testing whenever I can fit it in. Over the years, most of my tests have become less formal. I've abandoned the lab for all but the most persnickety clients and either test remotely with a webcasting product or use Morae on a laptop. As a designer I find it to be a really useful tool. I have been to companies where there are few design skills. These companies attempt to compensate for their lack of design by running lots of user tests. I guess the hope is that with enough tests, they'll figure out how to improve the design. It's a bit painful to watch. So, bottom line for me: 1. Usability testing is always a good idea, if only to validate the design. 2. Usability testing does not compensate for a lack of design skills. Best, Charlie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=25888 ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
