Design and Usability Center

The Design and Usability Center (DUC) offers you up-close exposure to the field of information design and the creation of information technology products. In the center, you'll gain experience with the same high-end applications employed by technical communicators, web developers, user interface designers, and usability specialists. Here, you will learn to analyze user and task requirements, build prototypes to meet those needs, and test the usability of your designs.

Features

In the DUC, you'll find:

  • Two usability labs: a three-room testing suite with test room, control room and observation room with capacity for 24 people; and a two-room testing suite with workstation designed for one-on-one sessions
  • Live streaming of test sessions and focus groups, providing remote viewing via the web
  • Post-production video editing of research findings
  • Eye-tracking technology from SMI Vision
  • 25 networked workstations for large-scale testing and focus groups
  • Control room for focus group research, which features state-of-the-art monitoring and recording equipment in both standard and high definitions
  • Screen-capturing software and webcams for conducting research in the user's natural environment

Corporate Resources

Leading organizations regularly turn to the DUC for its expertise in information products. Just some of the center's past clients include:

  • Amtrak
  • Arnold Worldwide
  • Boston Consulting Group
  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • EMC
  • Fidelity Investments
  • Liberty Mutual Insurance
  • Raytheon
  • Sprint
  • Staples
  • Volkswagen