Usability and the user experience

usability testing facilities User experience testing of a printer Probe cards used for exploring requirements during user experience testing

We follow a user-centred design process based on ISO 13407 (which we helped develop) to integrate usability and accessibility into your projects in order to:

  • improve the user experience
  • improve customer satisfaction and brand value
  • increasing your sales
  • reduce your development times and costs.

We tailor our approach to meet your project requirements. Some examples of our user experience consultancy services are described below:

Expert usability reviews

Using our own checklists based on industry recognised best practice and standards, our experts can review your design at an early stage to identify navigation, content and accessibility issues which are likely to cause problems that may reduce usability and impair the user experience.

Usability testing

Testing with real users is the key to usable and accessible systems. Even early prototypes and mock-ups can be tested under controlled conditions to trap usability problems and barriers, and identify ways of improving the user experience. Testing may take place in our own usability test facilities in central London, onsite or in mobile contexts.

Usability testing facilities

Our central London facilities are designed for usability and accessibility testing of a wide range of products and systems including PC and Mac based websites, TV and other digital media.

Website accessibility and accessibility audits

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) requires service providers to ensure that disabled users are not disadvantaged by designs which fail to take account of their needs. We have extensive experience of assessing and testing websites and other digital media, and providing practical solutions for improving their accessibility.

User research and requirements capture

Understanding the user's context (tasks, skills, needs, environment etc) is a pre-requisite for designing a usable and satisfying system. It is vital that designers and developers are able to empathise with the potential users of their product or service and understand the contexts in which they function.

Our profiling and contextual analysis tools will help you identify appropriate effectiveness, efficiency and user satisfaction targets for your new designs. These tools include:

  • empathic research and contextual enquiry techniques
  • participative design approaches
  • ethnographic studies
  • focus groups
  • workshops.

User-centred design

As experts in the user-centred design process we can work with your design teams to transfer skills and provide support at several points in the process. We can also provide customised design courses.

For more information on any of our services, please contact us

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