[Sigia-l] Usability Testing comments from Giga

[Richard_Dalton at vanguard.com]

Daniel R Drop wrote:
> This discussion is resurfacing a related question I have about
> information architecture.  Will the field of information architecture 
get
> to a point where we have developed sufficient theory with supporting
> practical frameworks that usability testing will becoming less 
important?
> 
> We often compare IA with building architects.  I am under the impression
> that building architects do not have usability testing for their
> structures. Surely there are building architects who design horribly
> unusable spaces. On the other hand, there are very experienced building
> architects who can design pleasant, usable spaces without having to
> resort to usability testing. Can our profession get there?

Good question. I think a lot of buildings would have benefitted from some 
usability testing - but how do you do it? You can ask users for their 
opinions or how they "think" they'd use a building - but without building 
it its difficult to actually observe them. Its much easier in the field of 
I/A to build a prototype and watch them use it, this might account for the 
fact that usability testing is more prevalent in I/A than Building Arch.

 - Richard Dalton