UCD And Web Development

UCD, or User Centred Design, is a methodology of website design and development that is centred around the user. The principle is such that the end users, or visitors, of the website are involved in each stage of the development progress so that they can give feedback, suggest possible changes, and generally help form the final design of the website. In practice, of course, this requires a lot of work and project management to attain the best results.

A focus group would consist of a number of intended user for the finished site. Consulting with a focus group of your target market enables you to discern the features and requirements that they have for your website. They can list their goals when visiting your site and how they would be best achieved.

Following an initial development period, users will then be called upon to help conduct usability testing. Data is collected from the user, either automatically or via some form of feedback delivery; that information is then collated and used to help further the website design and development until a near complete site is created.

User Centred Design is not always an option in website design and development. Small businesses and startup websites may find it an impractical use of their budget but for the larger organisation that needs to hit the virtual ground running it offers the most complete solution to generate a website that is both useful and will prove popular with its visitors.