process
Human-centered design includes active observation (needfinding, ethnographic research), synthesis of data gathered, brainstorming of ideas(often in a group), prototyping coming up with powerful solutions based on the previous processes, then re-doing any part of the process to make the design solution better.
Projects included in this section demonstrate implementation of these processes.
Needfinding
A powerful toolkit that helps the designer identify what people really need - so that the final design solution can respond. Always look beyond the surface and the direct answer coming from interviews. People don't always say exactly what they mean. The central notion of needfinding is that "people make sense." By understanding them from their point of view, the designer can create effective and powerful solutions.
Prototyping
Iterations, iterations, and iterations.
By prototyping many ideas, and by trying out rough versions before a final full-resolution product, the designer can discover ways to improve or modify the current plan.
Brainstorming
Never settle for the first idea.
With some brainstorming guidelines to keep the group in synergy, groups of designers brainstorm and come up with as many solution ideas as possible. One important rule is to say, "Yes! And," This means that one builds upon someone else's crazy wacky idea and thereby encourage a creative growth of ideas, rather than be critical and stymie a potential solution. In this part of the design process, nothing is wrong.
Synthesizing
So much data is gathered from background and field research.
In order to make sense of the jumble of information, designers review the enormous amounts of data- and figure out the key points.