Usability Testing - Getting It Right

I owned a usability lab and consulting service for five years, so this topic is near to my heart. I've seen money blown and money saved. The article below has good insights as to why the blowing or saving happens.

Personally, I think the recognition that usability testing is a back-end device goes a long way toward understanding its limitations and value. Usability testing can tell you what is or is not working. The earlier in the process it occurs, the better.

Paper prototype tests at the conceptual design stage and first draft wireframe stages are much more valuable, and less expensive, than late stage (beta) usability testing. The earlier testing quashes the really bad design decisions before millions are spent implementing them. The late stage test merely shows you what you've done wrong after the money is already gone.--David Orr