Usability research for AAA games, websites, and applications.
Before and alongside academia, Dr. Schaffer ran usability studies inside studios and consultancies. That work is the practical counterpart to the research he now leads.
Designed and ran 5 games usability studies across 3 AAA titles: Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell: Blacklist, Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, and WATCH_DOGS (single-player and multiplayer modes)
Managed a team of 4 trained observers for playtest data gathering and analysis
Produced usability and player experience reports combining qualitative and quantitative analysis, and followed up on issues found in the playtests by working with the development team
Lead Usability Analyst Human Factors International, Fairfield, IA & Shanghai, China
Feb 2012 – Jul 2016
Designed and taught advanced UX training courses on design for persuasion, emotion, and trust to practicing UX professionals
Led international user research studies across the US, UK, India, Mexico, Spain, and South Africa for financial and telecom clients
Mentored junior usability specialists on research methodology and study design
User Researcher Kaiser Permanente Internet Services Group, Pasadena, CA
Mar 2011 – Aug 2011
Ran regular usability testing sessions for the redesign of KP.org, Kaiser Permanente's website
Performed heuristic evaluations that reduced a key task flow from 27 to 7 steps