[Sigia-l] Web Developers

[Bill Killam]

>Geez. Show where I said "a usability test SHOULD BE FOLLOWED with
>recommendations for how to fix the problems noted".

>Here's what I said:

>"However, it's nearly impossible, given the nature of the business, to
>simply point out the failings of the design and not offer (at least
>strategic) indications in the direction of remedies, just as you have
done:"

Well.  That " at least remotely resembles" it.

>This highlights the somewhat difficult position usability people find
>themselves in: they see a problem and often are either asked to offer a
>remedy or feel themselves compelled to do so, just as Jared (naturally)
>did.
>Because they are not designers this remains a dilemma, for them.

This is only a difficult position if they are not designers, which many are.


>I don't know how you jump from that to this:

>> And someone who tests but never designs shouldn't be
>> allowed to test.

Because that is, I presume, the origin of your biased position.  If you
happen to know people who are only capable of facilitating a test and cannot
"offer (at least strategic) indications in the direction of remedies", then
I can see where you have developed such a jaundiced view of "usability
people" - though extending that to an entire community of people is
inappropriate.

>Now that we've run the course on this little experiment, you seemed to have
>caught on to the absurdity of dissecting Design, a holistic discipline,
>into >myriad disjointed fiefdoms of titles and deliverables.

Didn't know this was an experiment, however...

I see nothing remotely absurd about an awareness that initial design
followed by testing and refinement is the core of a UCD process.  And that
some people are capable of initial design and even refinement but not good
test facilitators while others are good test facilitators and re designers
but have difficulty coming up with a design "from scratch" while still
others are quite capable of both.  Therefore, I submit the one making the
absurd dissection into fiefdoms would be you :-).

Bill