Depends on the task, but if it's for a big project we'll go through multiple rounds of usability lab testing before a design gets built.
Then, after launch we'll do rounds of optimisation based on the data we get back. This bit doesn't happen as much as we'd like as newer projects take priority, but it does happen and we're working on ensuring the Build > Measure > Learn loop is an integral part of the process.
We're lucky as senior management understands the benefit of testing and iteration. One place I used to work, the chief exec thought they knew everything, so didn't understand why we wanted to research and test stuff all the time. So we ended up having to do what they wanted, rather than what we knew the customer needed.
Then, after launch we'll do rounds of optimisation based on the data we get back. This bit doesn't happen as much as we'd like as newer projects take priority, but it does happen and we're working on ensuring the Build > Measure > Learn loop is an integral part of the process.
We're lucky as senior management understands the benefit of testing and iteration. One place I used to work, the chief exec thought they knew everything, so didn't understand why we wanted to research and test stuff all the time. So we ended up having to do what they wanted, rather than what we knew the customer needed.