"The best way to improve the effectiveness of your company's web site is to let your site's users lend you a hand (quite literally) through the process of paper prototyping. Paper prototyping is a fast, low-cost method of testing web site designs. It involves creating rough sketches of a web site design and inviting some of your users to take the design for a test drive using their pen, instead of a mouse, to complete important tasks. As users explore the site on paper, they are asked to describe their experience aloud to a facilitator who explains the tasks to be completed. Although a typical paper prototyping session takes less than an hour of a user's time, the amount of time it saves your company can be invaluable. ...It only takes 6-8 customers using a paper prototype to identify prevent more than 80 percent of these kinds of high level problems that occur within web sites. Since the goal of paper prototyping is to achieve the most effective, customer-friendly site, it's not surprising that sites employing paper prototypes earn a higher user satisfaction rating. However, customers aren't the only ones who benefit. Companies using paper prototypes can implement sites more efficiently, allowing them to complete projects faster at a lower cost. ... Like any useful tool, though, its greatest potential can be reached by placing it in the hands of the nonspecialist along with instructions for its proper use." If you have not yet tried it, here you will find a clear explanation of some the major benefits and positive consequences of using this interface design approach. In my experience, this not only saves tons of time, but it really makes your design process much more cost-effective.