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Essential idea:
Essential idea:
The fundamental principle of UCD is that understanding the needs of the users is the key to designing the best products and services.
The fundamental principle of UCD is that understanding the needs of the users is the key to designing the best products and services.
Nature and Aims of Design
Nature and Aims of Design
Nature of Design
Nature of Design
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)
Aims
Aims
Aim 5: The ability to put aside one’s own ideas and bias is essential for UCD. Designers must act with integrity and not project their own ideas of what the user requirements are when trying to create technological solutions to their problems.
Guidance
Guidance
As DP Design Technology student you should:
The designer needs to have a deep understanding of the user, task and the environment.
The process is iterative, led by the user and developed through user-centred evaluation.
The product must address the whole user experience.
UCD design teams are multidisciplinary.
The five stages of UCD: research, concept, design, implementation, launch
Inclusive design
Guidance:
UCD design teams may include anthropologists, ethnographers and psychologists.
Inclusive design requires designing universally accessible products for all users including those with physical, sensory, perceptual and other challenges and impairments.
Concepts and Principles
Concepts and Principles
Principles of Human-Centered Design
Principles of Human-Centered Design
Design for How People Think
Design for How People Think
Resources
Resources
Intro to the Design of Everyday Things; Online Course through Udacity led by Don Norman. In depth introduction to the principles and thinking behind UCD.
Check out these books by Don Norman in our Design Library
Fundamental Principles of UCD
Fundamental Principles of UCD
User, Task, and Environment
User, Task, and Environment
The design is based on an understanding of Users, the Task(s), and the Environments (Space): These three domains guide how UCD designers approach the design problem.
User
User
UCD considers how the user will use the product and pays close attention to the needs of the users.
Design teams need to empathize with the needs of the users.
Task
Task
UCD should consider how the task needs to be carried out.
The functions should be accessible, recognized, and easily implemented.
Environment
Environment
UCD considers how the product is used in a particular environment (space).
When selecting a topic for investigation for your IA, researching an existing product from the perspective of the User, Task, and Environment, can help you identify gaps in the market.
When selecting a topic for investigation for your IA, researching an existing product from the perspective of the User, Task, and Environment, can help you identify gaps in the market.
Iterative Process
Iterative Process
iterations of the design of the handle for the Oxo Good Grips peeler
Iterative Process반복적 인 과정迭代过程
The process is iterative and driven by user-centered evaluation and feedback: The process prioritized prototyping and user feedback, especially in the early stages, to learn about and respond to the user's needs. The iteration of the design is driven by user feedback as the design team comes to better understand the user's needs. This is very similar to the MYP and DP design cycles.
UCD places a great emphasis on research in order to understand the users, task and environment.
User involvement
User involvement
Users are involved throughout the design and development phases: Rather than market research of large groups, UCD seeks to engage with smaller groups and individuals to understand the nature of the design issue; Through ongoing feedback with users, the design is iterated.
Addresses the whole user experience
Addresses the whole user experience
The design seeks to address the whole user experience: Rather than just focusing on the product, UCD focuses on the experience of using the product.
The Hippo Roller is an example of a design that addresses the whole user experience. Learn more here
UCD seeks to understand the whole user experience by doing research into all aspects of the user experience.
Designers might ask questions such as:
Who are the users of the product?
What task does the user need to accomplish? What is their goal with accomplishing this task?(i.e. Why do they do it?)
What other stakeholders are impacted by the product?
What are the technical and environmental constraints?
Resources
Multidisciplinary teams
Multidisciplinary teams
The design team is multidisciplinary: Designers, engineers, marketers, users, ergonomic experts, etc., each play an important role in the design iteration
UCD design teams are multi-disciplinary, drawing on the skills, perspectives, and insights of each person. Depending on the scope of the design problem, UCD design teams might include:
Anthropologists
Ethnographers
Engineers
Neurologists
Biologists
5 Stages of UCD
5 Stages of UCD
Inclusive Design
Inclusive Design
Inclusive design is about designing universally accessible products for all users regardless of age, physical, sensory, perceptual functioning levels (disability).
It’s putting the person, the human at the centre of what you do. Because no matter what industry or sector you’re in, there’s a human in there somewhere, so just anticipate and consider their needs.
Kathryn Townsend, Head of Customer & Client Accessibility, Barclays UKsourceInclusive Design: From the pixel to the city
Inclusive design is defined by a design that is:
Welcoming to everyone: Any user, regardless of age, physical ability, etc., can use the design
Responsive to people's needs: it solves a genuine need for users
Intuitive to use: The function and use of the design is immediately apparent. No manual or detailed instructions are required in in order to understand how to use it.
Flexible: Can be used in different ways or by different users to accomplish the goal.
Convenient: Can be used without extra effort, energy, cost, or time.
OXO Good Grips vegetable peeler
OXO Good Grips vegetable peeler
The Good Grips is a well-known example of UCD and inclusive design coming together to solve a problem - and in the end create a very successful product that meets the needs of many users.
Learn more about the history and development the Oxo Good Grips peeler at OXO's website and in the excerpt from the documentary Objectified below:
Examples of prototype handles that were used by the designers and users to refine the handle design.
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