Is it too late? : Investigating implications of late introduction of a user-centered approach in design processes

Abstract: With the increasing number of digital applications being developed today, the demand on smooth processes and satisfied end users increase along with it. In software development the focus on functionality is central in any process and is the factor determining whether or not the application is functional. However, even if a product is functional it does not mean that it is easy to use, hence providing a satisfying user experience. The purpose of this paper is to study whether or not there are any implications regarding the user experience when a user-centered approach is not applied from the beginning of any give process, taking the variety of methodologies available in regard. The paper is supposed to provide an initial insight into the problems regarding application of user-centered design in the development of digital artifacts. This is a qualitative study where six practicing interaction designers where interviewed regarding their experiences in processes where they had been involved from the start and projects where they had been involved at a later stage, and what, if any, differences there were. The results showed that there is in fact a difference in how the respondents viewed the different scenarios, with the most significant difference being that the impact they had decreased the further down the line they were introduced to the project, as well as the value of user tests drastically decreased. Budget and deadline were two important aspects that were pointed out as being the deciding factor when dealing with changes in a project where late introduction of user-centered design had occurred.