7.1 User-centred design (UCD)

A designer must consider the needs, wants and limitations of the end user within every element of the design cycle. The ability to identify how users will interact with a product, service or system is vital for its success. To achieve this, designers must be able to acquire and analyse valid data without making assumptions about how the product may be used. (3.1)

Resources

• 5 Stages of UCD

7.2 Usability

A design team should be “user” driven and frequent contact with potential users is essential. To understand how a product, service or system may be used, the designer must consider the prior knowledge and experience of the users, as well as their typical psychological responses. Evaluation methods that utilize appropriate testing and trialling strategies must be used to determine these aspects. (1.5, 1.16, 1.18)

7.3 Strategies for user research

Designers should select research strategies based on the desired user experiences in the context of the product, service or system. The purpose of user research is to identify needs that reveal the complexities of personae. Real-life scenarios that simulate “actual” user experiences can generate new findings. (3.4, 3.5, 3.6)

7.4 Strategies for user-centred design (UCD)

For designers to successfully integrate usability into the design process, they require a holistic understanding of how a product, service or system is used. Designers must identify user requirements through the use of careful observation and interviews. A clear strategy for UCD will improve acceptability and usability, reducing costs and effort, while fulfilling user requirements. (1.6, 3.5)

7.5 Beyond usability—designing for pleasure and emotion

A designer’s ability to provide satisfaction through aesthetic appeal and pleasure can greatly influence the success of a product, service or system. Understanding attitudes, expectations and motivations of consumers plays a significant role in predicting product interaction. Designers need to be empathetic and sympathetic to user emotion, which acts as a critical component to determine how he or she interprets and interacts with a product, service or system. (3.8)