USER MANUALS

User publications are sometimes given short shrift in design development plans and processes.

Consider the following carefully:

• how well does the author need to know the product?
• at which stage should the author(s) be brought into the design process?
• what does the reader (user) really need to know, as opposed to what the author thinks is a good idea?

Bring the author in at the earliest possible stage –  the earlier the better: in fact, as soon as the design process is under way, at preliminary design stage.