User-Centred Design Flashcards
What is UCD?
A design philosophy prioritising user needs, usability and understanding
UCD key principles
- User Involvement: Engage real users (not just stakeholders)
- Iterative Process: Design > Test > Refine > Repeat
- Multidisciplinary: Combines HCI, psychology, design
Why UCD?
- 70-80% product failures stem from ignoring user needs
- prevents costly redesigns
- ensures effective, efficient, satisfying products
Issues with non-UCD approaches
- Waterfall: rigid, no user input until late
- Agile: focuses on functionality over usability
What are the 4 UCD Methodologies
- Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)
- Usability Engineering Lifecycle
- Star Lifecycle
- Participatory Design (PD)
Soft Systems Methodology (SSM)
- Used for complex system (7-steps)
- Views systems as holistic and interpretive
- Used for complex, fuzzy problems
- No guidance on implementation/evaluation
SSM example
A hospital having poor communication between doctors, nurses and admin causing delays with patients.
SSM 7 steps
- Identify problem situation
- Express problem situation
- Establish root definitions of relevant systems
- Build conceptual models
- Compare models with reality
- Define feasible and desirable changes
- Take action to improve situation
Participatory Design
Users co-design solutions (e.g. workshops, prototyping)
Pros and Cons of PD
Pros: High user ownership, meets real needs
Cons: Time-consuming, hard to manage stakeholder conflicts
PD example
Creating an app for elderly users or disabled users.
Star Lifecycle
Evaluation-centred, flexible ordering (opposite of waterfall)
Pros and Cons of Star Lifecycle
Pros: Adapts to context, ideal for iterative design
Cons: Hard to track progress
Star Lifecycle example
Continuously changing the design of an app based on feedback and evaluation
Design Thinking
User-centred, problem-solving approach focusing on understanding users, challenging assumptions & testing solutions through iteration
Stages of design thinking
Empathise: understand user’s needs
Define: clearly state core problem
Ideate: brainstorm creative solutions
Prototype: build simple versions of possible solutions
Test: try solutions with users and refine based on feedback
Double Diamond
Visual design process model that splits process into 2 diamonds: discover/define and develop/deliver
Diamond 1
Discover (research the problem) / Define (narrow down the real problem)
Diamond 2
Develop (explore possible solutions) / Deliver (implement, test and refine final solution)
Double Diamond example
Online shopping website redesign
Lean UX
Rapid iteration with MVPs, iterative and collaborative designs focusing on outcomes
Usability Engineering Lifecycle 3 phases
- Requirements: User/task analysis
- Design/Testing: Prototyping + evaluation
- Installation: Post-launch feedback
UEL vs SL
- UEL: structured phases, focuses on formal usability testing
- SL: no fixed order, evaluation drives next steps, focuses on flexibility
Pros and Cons of UEL
Pros: bridges gap between users + developers, metrics driven
Cons: less flexible than Star/PD, may not suit rapidly changing needs
