When Development Companies Don't Have Usability Experts...

One of the projects that I had been working on (part-time) in the past few months was to replace the visual interface and functionality of an internal web-based application. The application was developed in .NET around a framework developed by an external IT company. The software had a lot of bugs that needed to be ironed out, and there was also a problem with a lack of a user interface expert in the external IT company. The application was being designed by programmers. Eek!

Now, I am a firm believer that most core programmers do not have knowledge in visual design and usability, and most probably wouldn't bother to learn or be any good at this area. That is why User Interface Developers come in to review the work being carried out, understand the client's needs, and assist the developers in getting it 'right'.

The application was mainly centred around data forms and workflows. Improvements consisted of:

·         Form layout was improved; data became more concise and grouped coherently to make the most of the screen real estate.

·         Auto-completion and validation was introduced to prevent data entry errors and saving employee time by filling in data that the system already had access to.

·         The 'home' page was set up to display user-centric data with specific views, such as how many tasks are outstanding and which forms have been approved or not approved.

·         Visibility of data was greatly improved.

·         Reduction in the number of clicks.

·         Users found the new system easier to learn and easier to use.

One of the other features that I introduced was a colour-coded overview of which tasks were due/nearly due/overdue, so the user could immediately see areas of concern.

The most ludicrous change that I suggested quite early on when I first saw the redesign that the programmers had put together was the removal of a cartoon 'wizard' from the main screen. My colleagues and I still joke about this to this day.

In short, every Development company needs a User Interface expert to work with the clients and to nicely tell the programmers not to include cartoon wizards in corporate software.