If to err is human, then to assume everyone will use a product exactly as it was intended is one of the most human things you can do. It doesn't matter how smart we think we are. Eventually, we're going to make a mistake. Whether that's due to human error, a poorly designed product, or some combination of the two, the sooner you accept that use error is inevitable, the sooner you can attempt to counteract it.

Design research can shorten the development process by making your FDA submission quicker and easier. Plus, you are making it more robust by doing the work now as opposed to later. Too many people wait until later in the process for this work and end up guessing on things or adding “filler” to their required usability data, which oftentimes the FDA can easily sniff out and flag. But by then it takes more time and money.

Tests in your product development cycle represent key milestones to success. Getting a product to market is difficult whether you are a struggling startup or an established original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Understanding some of the tools available on the front end of product development will help you avoid downstream problems, before they become time and money wasters. Preclinical testing is not always viewed this way, but really is one such tool. Designing for learning from studies instead of succeeding in them will help you consider issues such as how people interact with your device so that the product is used correctly—every single time. This is “Successful Failure” thinking. It may include building in safe guards that prevent misuse, especially important with devices used in life and death environments.