User-centered design

The user-centered design aims to create interactive products so that they have a high usability (usability). This is mainly achieved by the (future) users of a product with its mandate, objectives and properties at the center of the development process.

In English, this procedure is referred to as user-centered design. This term has grown since the 1990s and gradually replaced the concept of usability engineering.

The user-centered design process

The user-centered design process is an iterative procedure, which goes through several phases. In most process models (such as the DIN EN ISO 9241-210 or the ISO / PAS 18152 ), these are the following four phases:

  • Analysis of the context of use
  • Definition of requirements
  • Conception and design / prototyping
  • Evaluation

Analysis of the context of use

During the analysis of the context of use information about the future users are collected and summarized in user profiles. Similarly, the tasks and goals of the users, work processes and the work environment, which includes the technical conditions are analyzed.

Definition of requirements

Based on the findings of the analysis of the context needs to be defined, which will be implemented during the design process.

Concept and design

In this phase of the process, first concepts for the future product to be developed. These are further elaborated until a complete draft exists. As a result of this phase design documents, mockups or paper prototypes may arise.

Evaluation

The concepts and designs created are repeatedly discussed with users, mockups and prototypes are tested. All this serves to ensure that the user requirements are to be satisfied.

Principle

In order for the user-oriented design results in products with a high performance, the following principles should be observed:

  • Iterative procedure
  • Early focus on users and tasks requirements
  • Empirical examination of the drafts by user

These principles were named in 1985 by Gould and Lewis. Another principle of user-centered design is the participatory design and participatory software development.

Methods of user-centered design

In the context of user-centered design of different methods can be used ( inter alia in the field of Human Factors ). Among the best known and most commonly used methods include:

  • Interviews with users for requirements elicitation
  • Context analyzes ( Contextual Inquiry )
  • Online surveys
  • Personas
  • Use Cases (specification of use cases )
  • Structure laying technique
  • Paper prototyping
  • Usability testing
  • Heuristic Evaluation (also called Expert Review )
Human factors and ergonomics Interaction Design User Experience Design Thinking
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