Reason 3: Designing Usable Products Is Difficult

The desing of usable systems is a difficult, unpredictable endeavor, yet many organizations treat it as if it were just “common sense.”

While ,uch has been written about what makes somethings usable, the concept remains maddeningly elusive, especially for those without a background in either the behavioral or social scients.

When this book was first published in 1994, few systems designers and developers had knowledge of the basic principles of user-centered design Today, most designers have some knowledge of-or at least exposure to — user-centered design practices, whether they are aware of them or not.

However, there are still gaps between awareness and execution. Usability principles are still not obvious, and there is still a great need for education, assistance, and a systematic approach in applying so-called "common sense" to the design process.