iStart Learning & Consultancy provides training and consultancy services to implement the HCD practices for corporate/organizational clients.
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a creative approach to
problem-solving that starts with the people you’re designing for and ends with
new solutions that are tailor-made to suit their needs. HCD involves three main
phases: Inspiration, Ideation, and Implementation, focusing on understanding
people’s needs, generating ideas to meet these needs, and developing prototypes
to bring these ideas to life.
Inspiration Phase
The Inspiration phase is about understanding the context and
needs of the people you’re designing for. This involves conducting research to
gain insights into their lives, the challenges they face, and their unmet
needs. Methods used in this phase include observations, interviews, and
immersion in their environment.
Ideation Phase
In the Ideation phase, designers synthesize their findings
from the Inspiration phase to define the problem spaces and ideate possible
solutions. This phase involves brainstorming sessions, sketching out ideas, and
refining concepts. The goal is to generate a wide range of ideas that can
address the users’ needs identified earlier.
Implementation Phase
The Implementation phase is where ideas are transformed into
tangible solutions. This involves prototyping, testing, and iterating based on
feedback from the target users. Prototyping can range from simple paper models
to more sophisticated digital or physical prototypes. Testing with real users
is crucial to understand the viability of the solutions and to make necessary
adjustments.
Principles of HCD
Empathy for the user: Understanding the people you are
designing for is fundamental in HCD. This involves empathy and a deep
understanding of their experiences and needs.
Collaboration: HCD thrives on the collective creativity and
perspectives of multidisciplinary teams, ensuring a holistic approach to
problem-solving.
Iterative process: Design solutions are not found on the
first try. HCD involves iterating based on continuous learning and feedback
from users.
Prototyping: Making ideas tangible through prototyping is
key to exploring potential solutions and testing their validity.
A focus on solutions: The goal of HCD is to create
innovative solutions that are desirable, feasible, and viable.