“Usability doesn’t have to be complicated and almost anyone can do it says” Steve Krug, Author and Web usability consultant at Advanced Common Sense.
“Anyone who’s ever watched a usability test knows that they work remarkably well. Sitting someone down and having them use what you’re building while you watch is the best way to ensure that it will actually be usable. And yet very few organizations do usability tests. And the ones that do don’t do them very often. Why? It’s simple: most people think usability tests are expensive, time consuming, and hard to do” says Krug.
In this eight minute interview, Steve shares is views on the benefits of Usability and offers up several how to’s for Web professionals.
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A special shout out to Steve for his support for the Web professional community and for being the great guy that he is.
More About Steve Krug
After a decade writing computer manuals, in 1989 Steve Krug (pronounced “kroog”) moved up the food chain to usability testing and interface design so he could fix the problems instead of explaining them.
Since then, he’s evaluated and improved interfaces for a wide variety of clients, primarily in online services and the Web, including Apple, AOL, Netscape, the late, lamented Excite@Home, BarnesandNoble.com, Lexus.com, and Circle.com (originally Interactive Bureau).
His consulting firm, Advanced Common Sense (“just me and a few well-placed mirrors”) is based in Chestnut Hill, MA.
He currently spends most of his time reviewing existing sites and designs for new sites, conducting usability workshops, and helping clients resolve thorny interface problems. Check out Steve’s website at http://www.sensible.com/
Steve’s Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug: Usability Demo YouTube.com
It’s encouraging to hear “just do it” when it comes to user testing, even for people without expertise in testing protocols, etc. Watching the 20-minute recorded test (and hearing Steve’s comments afterward) was confidence-inspiring. Much more helpful than reading about how to do a test.
P.S. A quick typo note: “Socail Media” category at right.