Formal usability tests in a lab setting are an excellent tool to evaluate whether users can complete tasks. Many clients have asked us whether they should use usability lab—a special set of rooms dedicated to usability testing, often with a one-way mirror and sophisticated AV equipment for their usability studies.

We tell them, well…it depends.

Though we do several usability tests every year. In fact we do most of our testing in conference rooms and offices. This doesn’t mean we disagree with people who place great value in usability labs.

There’s little question that a usability lab is a good place to test systems. There are clear advantages to having everything in one place and ready to go whenever testing is scheduled. Having the lab on-site also makes it easier for the whole team to attend testing sessions.

While we don’t have a lab, but we are partners with a few organizations in the area who do have one and we can book a lab with short notice if you desire.