Human-Centered Design (HCD) is an approach and framework that creates empathetic and intuitive solutions by placing users' expectations, needs, and desires at the center of the design process. Through thorough research, innovative ideation, and continuous user feedback, HCD ensures that products and services are meaningful and user-friendly, leading to higher customer satisfaction and success across various fields.

Theory to be learned:Human-Centered Design
Field of Science:Computer Science, Human-Computer Interaction, Psychology
Prerequisites:Basics for design.
Relations to Super* Theory: Super* Project adapts HCD framework in project life-cycle.
Level of Difficulty
★★

Summary

Human-Centered Design (HCD) is an innovative approach to problem-solving and product development that places humans' expectations, needs, and desires at the center of the design process. The core principle of HCD is to create solutions that are empathetic, intuitive, and tailored to enhance the user experience. In many contexts, the term HCD is often confused with User-Centered Design (UCD), and they generally refer to the same concept.

The HCD process typically begins with thorough research and user observation to gain a deep understanding of their motivations, challenges, and desires. This information helps define the problem and identify potential solutions. Iterative ideation, design, and prototyping allow designers to quickly test and refine concepts.

Continuous feedback from users is crucial throughout the HCD process. This ensures that the final product or service meets the actual users' expectations and requirements as effectively as possible. The iterative, cyclical nature of the process enables the development of highly user-centric solutions and encourages innovation.

HCD is widely applied across various fields, from technology and product design to healthcare and public services. By emphasizing people's needs, preferences, and values, HCD promotes the creation of products and services that are more meaningful, accessible, and enjoyable for users, ultimately leading to higher customer satisfaction and business success.

According to industry professionals, the most commonly used HCD methods include prototyping, user testing, user journeys, and various workshops.

Connections to the Super* Project

The Super* Project is committed to following and developing its activities in accordance with HCD methods. The website and concept are being built together with willing humans – precisely for us, for the Humanity. Practical examples of the HCD process include spiritual personas.

References

From science perspective:

Cajander, Å., Larusdottir, M. and Geiser, J.L. (2022). UX professionals’ learning and usage of UX methods in Agile. Information and Software Technology, 151, p. 107005. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infsof.2022.107005. 

Giacomin, J. (2014). What is human centred design? The Design Journal, 17(4), 606–623. https://doi.org/10.2752/175630614x14056185480186

Example of field practitioner:

Ideo.org. (n.d.). Tools. Retrieved February 27, 2023, from https://www.ideo.org/tools