How We Work
Peak Usability prefer to work collaboratively with our clients as part of the project team and demonstrate how user centred design techniques can be incorporated into your own organisation and development methodology. We also work with our client project sponsors to ensure management and key stakeholders are committed to your project and understand our approach.
Some clients prefer us to do much of our research or testing externally and provide recommendations which we are also happy to do. It can sometimes be useful to have an 'external expert' provide independent and impartial advice.
Where feasible, we also try to train our clients during projects by involving them in key activities and sharing knowledge. We also encourage our clients to attend our courses and to put us out of a job in the future.
What is User Centred Design
User Centred Design "seeks to answer questions about users and their tasks and goals, then use the findings to drive development and design...User-Centred Design cuts costs and increases user satisfaction and productivity" (source: STCSIG site)
Our approach
Peak Usability's approach to user centred design involves a number of key activities throughout the design and development of the website or application. Our favourite motto is "Test early test often". Key activities we typically use include:
- involving users throughout the design and development process
- working with users to understand their needs
- getting users to categorise content for the information architecture through exercises such as card sorting
- testing prototypes with users and re-designing in light of user feedback and comments
- obtaining user feedback on the final design of the website or application
"But we don't have budget to use this approach"
We commonly hear this from clients. However, in the long run, we believe the benefits outweigh the initial costs.
We can also tailor the user centred design approach and apply the basic principles to your organisation regardless of the size and budget. We have even applied user centred design principles and activities to small community organisations with no budget.
"But we have to stick to our own development methodology"
Many of our clients have established methodologies and development approaches that their organisation requires them to use. In these cases we can work with you to incorporate user centred design principles and activities into your existing approach.
Benefits of user centred design approach
Applying a user centred design approach and involving users throughout the design process has significant benefits:
- Development of more usable websites and applications that are easy to use, efficient and meet user needs
- Encourages users to use online channel rather then more expensive channels
- Can reduce development and maintenance time and costs as problems areas are discovered early when they are easy to fix
- Can increase productivity and enhance quality of work
- Can lower support costs such as telephone support
- Produce websites and applications that are easier to learn and reduce or eliminate training costs