The role of usability and user experience

US News and World Report publishes an annual review of 'best careers' for a changing job landscape. The outlook for 2008 rates usability and user experience work as one of the important areas and best choices. Here is what US News and World Report thinks why:

Usability specialists make sure that products, especially technical ones, are easy and pleasurable to use. How? First, they observe and interview potential users to identify their needs and preferences. After a prototype is developed, they watch and interview potential users again and suggest revisions. Not surprisingly, the job outlook for usability specialists is strong. The number of new, complex products is proliferating, and many of them demand a usability specialist.

A potential downside of this career is that shortsighted companies believe they can make products without a specifically trained usability expert, so you may have to spend considerable time justifying your service's value. Another drawback is that you may need to make efforts to avoid being typecast as someone who can help design only one kind of product.

If you do not want to employ your own usability and user experience specialist, talk to D-LABS about their user research services!

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