Usability Views Article Details  home | timeline | recent | popular | e-reports | userati | books | about  When Norman Meets Chinese (07 Jul 2005) In China, usability study always sounds a luxury to senior managers. What solutions can you suggest for them so that they can buy the 'luxury' at an affordable price? Badly done usability tests are not a luxury – they are a waste. But well run tests, done quickly and efficiently are not a luxury, they are a necessity. They will decrease costs, decrease service calls, and increase sales. Note that not all usability people know how to do tests efficiently. Often, they take too much time, study too many people, and concentrate on non-essential problems. In addition, the most effective (and cheapest) tests are those done BEFORE the product is designed – so that the findings can be used by the designers and engineers. If you test when the product is finished, it is a waste of money. The most important aspect of “usability” – and of good design in general -- is empathy and understanding of the people who will be using your products and services. This is not a luxury, this is a necessity for any successful business person. And it is not a matter of cost –it is a matter of attitude. Article URL: http://uigarden.net/english/reviewsandinterviews.php/2005/07/07/when_norman_meets_chinese Read 74 more articles from Don Norman sorted by date, popularity, or title. Next Article: Accessible Design Guidelines can be Simple     This site is a labour of love built by Chris McEvoy