This is an interesting question Parag. User-centred design is perhaps
convenient shorthand for saying that the design process will prioritise
the needs, expectations and capabilities of the people who are, in some
sense, expected to use the final designed product. "Use" may be
interpreted in many different ways: "open", "assemble", "read", "wear",
"repair", etc. Not all designed products are necessarily used by people
but it seems to me that if they are, then it is appropriate to
prioritise human requirements since the purpose of design is arguably to
improve the human lot in some way and technical requirements, when
probed, often turn out to be surrogates for more fundamental human ones
anyway.
Stephen
Professor Stephen Brown
Director, Knowledge Media Design
http://kmd.dmu.ac.uk
tel: 0116 257 7173
mob: 07989 948230
-----Original Message-----
From: PhD-Design - This list is for discussion of PhD studies and
related research in Design [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf
Of Parag Deshpande
Sent: 14 October 2008 12:10
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Is design always user-centred?
Dear members of the list,
While I know that knowing users ( i don't agree with the term though)
and
their needs are important for design, I always question if it is
necessary
that that design should always be user-centred?
If not, then what does it mean for the design process?
Any thoughts?
parag deshpande
PhD candidate,
IDC, UL, Ireland
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