[Sigia-l] Testing your own sites

[Jared M. Spool]

On Feb 4, 2007, at 4:27 PM, Will Parker wrote:

> On Feb 4, 2007, at 12:31 PM, Arthur Fink wrote:
>
>> If "usabilty testing" = validation, then there's good reason for an
>> outside group to perform that role.
>>
>> But if "usability testing" = part of an iterative development
>> process, then it's integral with what you're doing.
>
> Seems to me one of the big tasks for people involved in usability
> work is getting the client to understand and embrace the latter usage.

I've not worked in a design shop, but it seems to me you shouldn't  
have to sell it to do it. After all, there are probably many aspects  
of your work you don't have to sell, like doing sketches, thinking  
creatively, learning about the customer's problem and existing  
systems, holding meetings, and using computers. Conducting user  
research to learn about the needs of the customer should just be a  
given in the process.

But it's not my world and I won't claim that I understand how the  
sausages are made.

Jared