User>Driven was created by Bruce McCarthy to promote the concept of user-driven product development to the business community.
The most expensive and time-consuming way to develop a product or service is to develop it, ship it, and then start getting feedback. User-driven development involves the actual buyers and users of a product or service in its creation and ongoing development through open-ended customer interviews, problem definition, paper prototyping, user testing, rapid iteration and continuous feedback.
Companies that do not understand user-driven development assume that if they hire good developers and designers, they will get good products from scratch. Successful companies know that user feedback must be incorporated early, rapidly, and continuously to maximize success. Such companies employ user-driven development to ensure customer satisfaction, product acceptance, and long-term customer loyalty. User-driven development also saves money by eliminating costly redesigns and re-launches after the product has shipped.