SXSW Coming Up! Design Metrics: Better Than 'Because I Said So'

I'm greatly looking forward to SXSW 08 in a couple of weeks. I'll be doing a "core conversation" with Micah Alpern:

Core Conversation: Design Metrics: Better Than 'Because I Said So': Too often designers are put in a position of defending design decisions based on personal preference or an unarticulated sense of expertise. We'll discuss how to use metrics to understand user and business goals. Then how these metrics can be used to evaluate design decisions, make tradeoffs, and shape strategies.

While design efficacy can be treated as a contributor to overall site success, there are some more subtle metrics which can reveal specific strengths and weaknesses of design. I'll post a recap following the gig.