When things and places are molded according to how humans think and function, it makes life a lot simpler and more fun for everybody. This idea is called “human-centered design.” It’s about making things that work well for everyone.
Imagine a large company. It’s crammed with tables, workers, and computers. The boss sits all the way at the top, far away from everyone else. He usually is not aware of what his workers are going through down below.
But a good boss is someone who knows their team members well. If they do, they can design an office that would better suit everyone who works there. It would make the workers feel happy and comfortable because they are heard and understood.
However, when some people hear “human-centered design,” the first thing that comes to their mind is technology—such as apps on phones or websites. That’s understandable because technology is a big part of our lives. But human-centered design is actually a mindset. A mindset is like a habit of thinking.
In human-centered design, the most important thing is understanding the people who will use what you create. You need to know what they like, what they don’t like, what they need, and what they don’t need.
This is not a new idea, though. Way back in the past, people create things based on what other people need. For instance, if a farmer needed a tool to help him in his work, a blacksmith would create that tool.
Therefore, human-centered design is about empathy. Empathy is understanding and sharing the feelings of others. It means putting yourself in their shoes. It’s about listening and understanding people so you can create things that will answer their needs and problems.
There is more to learn about human-centered design. It’s a very useful idea, especially for people who like to create things. But remember, it’s not all about making a product. It’s about understanding people.
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