Introduction to Human Centered Design (HCD)

Human Centered Design (HCD) is a design and management framework that develops solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process. Human involvement typically takes place in observing the problem within context, brainstorming, conceptualising, developing, and implementing the solution. (Source)

Most Discussed Principles of the Human Centered Design (HCD)

Focusing Upon The User Type

Whatever or whenever starting to design always think of the User type or may be you can say always think of the people who’s gonna use your product. And always keep a thing Pinned that the product you are designing is not more than a tool that will help your user to achieve some goal (Product, Service, Solutions, or Support) 

Identify the Problem

Conducting research and finding the real problem takes time to signify the needs and the solutions. On skipping this phase this may lead a designer to work on the wrong problem.

Think of everything as a system 

One of the most common mistakes done my designers is that they focus on one part of the project. Never focus on the vertical part always try to think about the entire picture don’t forget the rest of the part of the product always focus on the final product or result you want to achieve, or else the final product would give a bad user experience.

Always test your design decisions 

Never think that your Idea or the Prototype is fully ready without testing it with the real peoples. Always take feedbacks and suggestion to detect the area of the product which needs the improvement. This will give you a defect free result at the end.

5 Stages of Human Centered Design

Empathise (Observation)

Understanding the feelings of the users by doing a lot of User research. Which includes knowing your user better

We can use a lot of methods to do so, Here is one of the best tool to Empathise, we can create Empathy maps by using UXem

Define (The Need)

Start framing one problem at time and convey your product owner (you are the client) towards better understand of their needs, assets and opportunities towards that one problem.

Ideation (Implementation)

Now you can come-up with some Solutions to the Problem in a very productive way by keeping the product expenses and user needs in mind. 

Rapid Prototypes (Deployment)

After the whole user research and thinking process it’s time to deploy the whole Idea(Includes: Designing and Development) by getting regular feedbacks and suggestions.

Test (User Feedbacks + Iteration)

This is one of the most Venerable stage of the process which ensures the product is defect free and match the result to the expectations which may include repetition of the process to to generate a final result.

I hope you got the basic Idea of what a the Human Centered Design (HCD)..

Thank you for giving your precious time.