You should hire me if...
- you need an expert opinion on a website or product design in any stage of completion (from sketches on a napkin to finished websites).
- you have a functioning website (beta version or launched) and want to test it for usability problems.
- there is disagreement in your team whether a design works and you need an outside opinion.
- you somehow know there is a problem with your website and you don't know what it is.
- you generate a significant amount of revenue with your website or application.
- the main focus of your website is to provide information.
- you just want to make sure that everything is all right.
Usual trouble zones
In general there are two main problems:
- visitors have a hard time completing a certain task
- visitors can't tell whether you've got what they are looking for
The causes are often one or more of the following:
- feature overload (lack of focus)
- information overload (lack of... focus!)
- sensory overload (too much blinkenlight)
- confusing navigation (where am I? how did I get there? how do I get where I want?)
- key information buried or missing (let's go back to Google)
- irrelevant search results (don't you hate that?)
- dubious web forms (everything in its right place and time!)
- ambigous heading text (huh?)
- fluffy copy (too much blah)
- font faces and sizes (squint squint)
- poor performace, load times, page buildup, query times, etc. (yawn!)
- bugs (I think I just destroyed the interwebz!)
How do we do it?
Usually the best approach is to meet me.
You can tell me all about your project, what issues you think you have and what you would like to accomplish. This is much like a therapy session.
I will give you a verbal review of whatever you show me.
Sometimes your issues will be resolved in just this one session. Sometimes I will give you an idea of what I think needs to be done and how I would approach the matter.
Then, if that makes sense to you, you can hire me some more.
What does it cost to hire me?
My usual rates are:
- I charge EUR 200 per session of usability therapy (approx. 1 hour).
- Expert reviews: You give me access to your website or send me whatever you have (sketches on a napkin, templates, Photoshop images, whatever) and I'll tell you how much it will cost (usually EUR 1000+). I'll have a look at it and identify the key issues of your interaction design. The result is a verbal review. If you need a written report with all bangs and whistles, it will usually cost double.
- User tests start at EUR 400 per test (less if there are more and iterative tests). The result of a round of testing is a verbal report. If required I will provide audio and video recordings of the test session. Again, written reports are charged extra.
- Workshops: I will gladly give workshops at your company to show you how you can do your own in-house user testing. Hint: it's very easy. Workshops start at EUR 3000 (travel expenses are extra).
- Pro bono: I am doing a limited amount of charity work. (Just ask.)
3rd party services
Together with my friends, we can provide you with the following additional services:
- accessibility
- performance optimization
- server and web site security
- design
- localization
- programming
- search engine optimization
- copy text writing
- project management
- social media marketing
Recommended reading
- Don't Make Me Think by Steve Krug
- Rocket Surgery Made Easy by Steve Krug
- The Inmates Are Running The Asylum by Alan Cooper
- The Design of Everyday Things by Donald A. Norman
- Interface Culture by Steven Johnson
- Information Architecture for the World Wide Web by Louis Rosenfeld & Peter Morville
- Bone by Jeff Smith
- Design for the Real World by Viktor Papanek
- Death March by Edward Yourdon
- Peopleware by Tom DeMarco & Timothy Lister
- Getting To Yes by Roger Fisher & William Ury
- Magic the Gathering Comprehensive Rules by Wizards of the Coast
Some legal info about my company can be found here:
