There are many benefits of usability testing, including evaluating the usability of a system during and after design.

Usability testing should be an iterative practice, completed several times during the design and development life-cycle.

The end result is an improved product and a better understanding of the users that you are designing for.

Functional & Design Usability

We understand that modern web ‘users’ are now ‘consumers’ or ‘customers’, and judge more harshly than before.

Poor design can affect the user experience from the first point of entry, and functionality can make basic actions overly complex, or just plain confusing.

This is not always clear at analysis or development stage - that is where testing can contribute.

Putting the user first in the functionality and design process results in greater efficiency, learning time, and satisfaction.

Web Accessibility Audit (WCAG)

Increasingly, usability and accessibility are coming head-to-head with each other and rich interactive interfaces often can’t be made fully accessible.

While it is not necessary to fully compromise your site, it is advisable to conform to as many accessibility standards as is practically possible.

The main benefit of using an Accessibility audit to evaluate your website is that Accessibility audits are significantly cheaper and quicker than lengthier accessibility testing.

Web 2.0

Web 2.0 signified a shift in the way websites were developed, and the web site assumed role of contributor, rather than a viewer.

It’s fashionable, attracts the Nathan Barley crowd, but most importantly it is a very testable set of technologies to empower the user, pushing your website beyond just a static billboard.

Aggregation, syndication, networking and microformats are sound future-proofing principles when approaching website design, and will improve SEO rating.

Identifying web 2.0 technologies that are relevant to you and your business is part of the service.