- What is Human-Centered Design? design process + empathy
- The Design Process Phases:
- Inspiration: How do I ask questions and stay human-centered? What key constraints can I use to set benchmarks and objectives? How can I balance concrete constraints while staying open to exploration? What research studies can I conduct to identify what my clients truly need?
- Ideation: How to I interpret what I’ve learned in order to develop concrete ideas and prototypes? How can I keep my mind open to generate many ideas? How can I evaluate ideas to determine best solutions?
- Implementation: How can I develop sustainable solutions? How can I assess whether or not solutions are working? How can I use prototypes to reveal unforeseen consequences and constraints?
- Design Process Implementation:
- Phases often overlap
- Cycling between convergent and divergent thinking is normal
- Find solutions that relate to needs of community
- Postive deviance – use positive outliners for inspiration
- Do not forget to consider distribution systems while designing sustainable solutions
- Mindsets of a Human-Centered Designer:
- Learn from failure
- Make it – tangibility is good
- Creative confidence – everyone has ideas and the power to implement them
- Empathy – clients are roadmaps to innovative solutions
- Embrace ambiguity – not knowing creates opportunities to explore
- Be optimistic – the solution exists
- Iterate often – use feedback to revise often
Human-centered design (HCD) is an approach that can be used to develop projects that engage students AND teach content & 21st Century skills. This approach is also a problem solving model that can be scaffolded for students to develop better products. The HCD phases can be used to organize projects into phases – especially projects aimed at designing products for specific clients. The mindsets of a human-centered designer can be cultivated within teachers and students in order to make them better problem solvers.
Preparation Steps
- HCD Applied to Designing & Implementing Projects:
- Use multiple data sources to identify needs of students
- Use needs of students to develop criteria/constraints for evaluation of project design
- Design assessments based on student needs for assessing success of project activities
- Develop ideas based on constraints for scaffolding content and 21st century skills
- HCD Applied to Developing Project Scaffolding:
- Develop scaffolding ideas and empathy by going through HCD cycle first – can apply it to designing and implementing a project
- Research methods for teaching phases of HCD process. See Design Process articles for ideas.
- Develop activities and tools that scaffold student application of HCD phases. See Design Process articles for ideas.
- Design activities and tools that focus on HCD mindset(s) that will be honed and applied in upcoming project
- Develop assessments for determining whether or not students are successfully learning content and applying HCD steps
Early Implementation Steps
- HCD Applied to Designing & Implementing Projects:
- Implement project and use assessments and constraints to measure success of project and make adjustments as needed
- Use student input throughout the project to assess project effectiveness and to fine tune project
- HCD Applied to Developing Project Scaffolding:
- Implement scaffolding tools and activities that guide students to apply HCD processes
- Use assessments to determine if HCD is helping students develop better understandings and better products
Advanced Implementation Steps
- HCD Applied to Designing & Implementing Projects:
- Uses experiences from implementing HCD to design scaffolding that helps students apply HCD
- Reuse effective HCD practices to design other projects
- HCD Applied to Developing Project Scaffolding:
- Use student input to refine HCD tools and processes
- Use programs such as Ignite by DiscoverSTEAM to connect students with corporate clients to make HCD applications more relevant
- Develop routines that give students opportunities to deliberately practice HCD steps