I find the responses of most on this thread a little surprising.
Many seem to hark back to the old reactions to UCD and other, similar processes
- that it stunts creativity, makes it a slave to process etc etc.
Then of course there are the anecdotes that are getting thrown in as if they
somehow disprove the theory and understanding behind the UCD approach. They're
just that - anecdotes. I have plenty of anecdotes about poor design decisions
taken in non-UCD projects, but they don't prove design "doesn't work"?
User centred design is an approach based on gaining genuine insight from
potential or existing users of a system, to ensure that the planned system
meets their needs. The exact methods and techniques used in that process vary,
but the fundamental point here is that it facilitates design based on genuine
understanding of what users need. If you're creating a software application for
airline pilots isn't it a good idea to conduct some first-hand research with
airline pilots to understand their particular circumstances or limitations? Or
should we all just go home and knock out some software based on our personal
"genius"?
Another common misunderstanding is that UCD means asking users what kind of
system they want - this isn't UCD. We use contextual research to understand how
users behave, then designers are still needed to develop a system that fits
those needs. So the creativity is still there, but the research aids that
creativity.
UCD is a process that aids creativity and avoids waste, no-one has ever claimed
it's a guarantee of brilliant products - just the same as employing a designer
doesn't guarantee good design.
__________________________________________________________
Sent from Yahoo! Mail.
A Smarter Email http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/nowyoucan.html
________________________________________________________________
Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)!
To post to this list ....... [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe
List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines
List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
