How different is the design process when usability is a factor in site or document design?
In a perfect scenario, a usability specialist is included in all design team meetings. They have valuable input from the get-go on information architecture and the needs and habits of target markets. They may have case study findings dancing in their heads, ready to bolster a designer’s suggestion or adjust a programmer’s method of coding a form. They can aid in documentation of requirements and help gather valuable information for stakeholders, as well as developers. User testing with real people during the wire frame and/or staging process adds enormous value. It’s not done in situations where cost is an issue, or time. It takes longer to build and test as you go. But, the advantages to a process that includes usability along the way, is less defects at the end and increased customer satisfaction on roll out. 17. Does usability make a difference to search engine spiders? I’ve written several articles in the past about how easy it is to meet the needs of both humans and search engines
