Human-centered design
An approach that designs from the people who will use something: understand their context, involve them, test with them and repeat until it works.
What it’s for
It avoids designing from what the team assumes and discovering the flaws once it is already built.
Principles
Understand the context
Who uses it, what for and in what situation.
Involve people
Throughout the project, not just at the start.
Evaluate and repeat
Test with them and improve in cycles.
A diverse team
Several disciplines and points of view.
How it’s done
Understand people and their context.
Propose ideas and prototypes.
Test with them and start again.
Applications in design
When to use it
In any project that other people will use or feel the effects of, from the start and in every round.
Avoid
Calling a project human-centered when nobody has talked to the people it serves.
Don’t fall for it
It is not only users who count: also think of those who are affected by the product without using it.
Connections
Authors and works
- 1999
ISO 13407
The first international standard on human-centered design for interactive systems.
- 2019
ISO 9241-210
Its current version sets out its principles: understand the context, involve people, evaluate with them, iterate, consider the whole experience and work in multidisciplinary teams.
- 2015
IDEO.org
Spread it as a practical method in three phases: inspiration, ideation and implementation.
Sources
Original sources
- International Organization for Standardization (1999). ISO 13407:1999. Human-centred design processes for interactive systems. ISO. View source: International Organization for Standardization (1999)
- International Organization for Standardization (2019). ISO 9241-210:2019. Ergonomics of human-system interaction, Part 210: Human-centred design for interactive systems. ISO. View source: International Organization for Standardization (2019)
Secondary sources
- IDEO.org (2015). The field guide to human-centered design. IDEO.org.
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