Human-centered Design (UCD)

User-centered Design (UCD) or Human-centered Design (HCD) is an iterative methodology. It puts the user at the center of all design decisions. It is mainly a design approach which is enabled by wealth of design methods and disciplines. It is a development which can give the guarantee that software, products and web sites will be easy to use by the users. This program can be defined as a multi stage process for the purpose of problem solving. Sometimes it might be difficult for the designers to testify the product and also understand its validity which can be better understood by a user who is experiencing the product or design in real life. HCD helps in such cases and plays some vital role as well. It is the process of designing tools like a website or the user interface of an application basing upon the fact that how the users will use this one or how this one will be better understood by them. HCD offers more satisfying, efficient and reliable performance to its users as it is a very user friendly system to design. Thus, it helps to increase the sales of the product. Besides, it helps to gain the loyalty and reliability of the customers.

Goals of HCD

The ultimate goal of the HCD is to optimize a user’s experience of a system, product or process. HCD also looks to realize this goal by considering the user perspective during all phases of the development lifecycle. The notable user perspectives are needs and wants; goals, motivation and triggers; obstacles and limitations; tasks, activities and behaviors; geography and language; environment and gear; work life and experience. Understanding the perspective a user brings to a system enables us to design that system to meet their needs.