Method

We synthesize the results, prioritize the integrated list, and deliver solutions, so that you get a single report that lists the recommended improvements for your design.

Because we are not part of your project, we don't care about your internal politics or who originally suggested what design feature. As independent, outside experts we deliver an unbiased verdict that purely depends on what's best for your users.

Reviews are based on our extensive experience as the founders of the Web usability and intranet usability fields. We have tested 1,039 websites and intranets as well as hundreds of email messages with thousands of users in the United States and Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Switzerland, and the U.K. (We have 2,037 usability guidelines from this research, but you don't have to worry about that: we focus your report on those that are important to your design.)

We know what works and what doesn't work with users based on researching a much broader set of designs than you would ever have time to consider yourself. 

Who Should Purchase?

Reviews can be conducted in any stage of the design process as long as there is some form of the design that can be inspected:
> Existing designs (e.g., live websites): review to set priorities for future work
> Design specifications, storyboards, or wireframes: review for feedback on the task flow and to make sure you have not overlooked major usability issues
> Prototype designs: review for independent feedback on all the main interface elements
> Ready-to-release designs: review to polish up before inflicting on users

We can review a live interface, a rough paper-based specification, or an early prototype. Independent usability assessment is valuable at any stage.

Intranets can be reviewed if a version of the design can be shipped outside your firewall (e.g., on CD-ROM), if we can log in remotely, or if you can let us borrow an office at your location (travel costs may be extra in this case).

Competitive reviews are only available for websites and applications, not for intranets. You nominate up to 3 competitors and get your user experience scored against theirs. You also get recommendations for redesigning your site based on usability insights integrated across these other designs.

Schedule

Confidentiality

Our publications and speaking engagements are purely based on research we fund ourselves, where we test large numbers of non-client websites and intranets. As a client you gain the added benefit of being benchmarked against this vast amount of additional data that we have invested almost $3M to collect, but your own data is never published (except for a few cases where a client has agreed to publish limited information about a project for PR reasons).

Deliverable

The reports address two levels of issues:
> Specific usability problems in the design are identified together with recommended changes that will improve usability. We typically find between 50 and 100 design elements that we recommend changed even in the best designs (the most we've found was 231 usability problems for a website and 228 for an intranet).
> High-level analysis of the usability directions for the design and the recommended strategy for achieving significant advances in the user experience.

Frequently asked question: Can I see a sample report?
Answer: No, the reports are client-confidential. They contain highly strategic advice and analyses of not-yet-released designs. To assess our analytical skills and insightfulness, please read one of our public research reports.

How to Order

Please contact Nielsen Norman Group at info@nngroup.com if you would like more information or are interested in this service.