Designers are trained to discover the real problems.
A brilliant solution to the wrong problem can be worse than no solution at all: solve the correct problem.
The human-centred design is to ensure that the result fits human desires, needs, and capabilities. After all, why do we make products? We make them for people to use.
Human-centred design (HCD) is the process of ensuring that people’s needs are met, that the resulting product is understandable and usable, that it accomplishes the desired tasks, and that the experience of use is positive and enjoyable.
The human centred design process
- Observation
- Idea generation
- Prototyping
- Testing
Initial research to understand the nature of the problem itself is the part of the discipline of design research. Go to potential customers, observing activities, understanding interest, motives and true needs.
Problem definition of the product design comes from deep understanding of the goals. People are trying to accomplish the impediment they experience.
Observe would-be customers in their natural environment, normal lives whether the product or service are actually used.
It is essential to understand the real situation they encounter, not some pure isolated experience.
It’s important that the people being observed match those of the intended audience. Note that traditional measures of people, such as age, education, and income, are not always important: what matters most are the activities to be performed.
Even when we look at widely different cultures, the activities are often surprisingly similar. As a result, the studies can focus upon the activities and how they get done, while being sensitive to how the local environment and culture might modify those activities.
The Design of Everyday Things. Pg 221.