Outsourcing User Research and Usability Testing

There is much to be said about the importance of design firms and their clients obsessing over doing user research themselves instead of outsourcing the responsibility. A few too many clients place a lesser importance on the feedback and results from user research, much to the product—and even the company’s—detriment.  The argument is made that design teams should be obsessed with user research and usability testing in order to have a direct impression of their product’s user experience value. “Obsession” can’t be outsourced, and accurate user testing analysis should not be left to others who have no direct stake in the product’s success or failure.