User Centered Design
What is User Centered Design?
User-centered design (UCD) is a philosophy that places importance on the intended user’s experience of a product, interface, or event. You can implement a user-centered design approach for any product – a camera, a mobile phone, a display on an automobile dashboard, or a web site. User Centered Design is both an approach and a process; it informs and guides the design of the product or interface. User-Centered Design Principles are a cornerstone of our approach to interface design.
When user centered design is considered in more than one instance, the term 'user experience' is often used. In a web page or software application, user experience can be defined as the perception of the interface from the point of view of the user. A design apporoach that stresses user experience is one that views the user as an active, thinking participant.
Benefits of User Centered Design
The benefits of UCD are evidenced where the goals of the user and the site owner intersect. A thoughtfully conceived and well designed web site will be designed so as to afford the user the opportunity to achieve the mutual goals of both the site owner and the site user. Or, put more simply, the user can accomplish what they set out to do.
When an e-commerce site offers a product for sale, the goal of both the site owner and the site visitor is for the visitor to be able to purchase a product easily and confidently; UCD facilitates this goal by increasing the chances of that positive outcome.
For more information on UCD, see our article on UCD and our services page to learn how we implement UCD for our clients.
