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No.6 Usability Consultants (May 16, 2001)
Having a usability consultant on board in a website construction project can be a great help in resolving any problems that come up along the way.
 Problem-solving ability
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How can a usability consultant resolve problems that might actually occur?
Case 1: Problems with design sense
<Problem>
The designer and client have different opinions and just can't seem to agree on the design. As a result, the project is running behind.
<Solution>
A usability consultant can help you differentiate between problems that are related to usability and those that have to do with design sense. Doing so will help to nail down the points of the argument and make it easier to have a more level-headed discussion. Usability itself will become the guideline for decision-making, which will enable each side to make a decision with which they are satisfied.
Case 2: Problems with design guidelines
<Problem>
There are no reliable and clear guidelines for the design of a site map or for issues such as screen layout, and as a result the design depends solely on the skill of the designer. If multiple designers are involved, overall site quality cannot be maintained at a consistent level.
<Solution>
A usability consultant will lay out the design guidelines from a usability perspective, keeping the overall quality above a certain level.
Case 3: Problems with unclear solutions
<Problem>
Some vague complaints have been received from users about a website that is up and running, but it is hard to tell what should be improved and how to do it.
<Solution>
Employ a usability test or specialist to evaluate the site, uncover the problems, and offer specific suggestions for improvement.
Having a usability consultant participate in your project as described above will enable you to speed-up the development process and improve the quality of your site.
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Skills required
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A usability consultant needs to have a broad range of skills, and the ones listed below are absolutely essential.
Skills necessary for a usability consultant
- Usability (including testing techniques, information architecture, cognitive psychology, behavioral characteristics of web users)
- Consulting (problem-solving ability, communication ability, project management)
- Design(including color, graphics, and layout)
- System (including HTML, JavaScript, server-side applications, RDB, networks)
Although the number of people who possess all of the skills listed above is still relatively few, usability consultants will certainly play a role in the development of the Internet in the future.
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