When is the best time to integrate usability into a product development cycle?

Integrating usability from the initiation of the project is essential because it ensures that user experience is considered at every stage of development. This proactive approach allows for identifying user needs and expectations early on, guiding product requirements, design decisions, and feature prioritization. By embedding usability into the foundation of the project, teams can create a product that not only functions well but is also intuitive and user-friendly, ultimately leading to higher user satisfaction and a better product.

Waiting until later stages—such as after functionality has been implemented or user stories assessed—can lead to costly revisions and missed opportunities to align the product with user requirements. Emphasizing usability from the beginning positions the product for success and aligns the entire team around a shared vision of the user experience.