I have made this point before. I really don't in general see the usage of testing during the design process.
I see great benefit in testing before starting on the actual design process in order to figure out what kind of problems, issues and tasks users want. But testing usability in an environment that is not final is IMO a waste of both time and money. Only if we are dealing with entire new paradigms do I see any reason to test. Most people who call them selves either information architects or UX'ers or designers should be able to deliver their part without needing to involve the users once the problems, tasks and purpose have been established. It is my claim that you can't really test usability before you launch the final product and that you should factor this in instead. I find the current state of UCD troubling to say the least. Jakob Nielsen is to me someone to read to get an understanding of users in general. But i just need a look at his website and then look around at other sites and applications to understand that his work as great as it is is only a fraction of the whole story. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=46278 ________________________________________________________________ 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
