Course Summary
This course introduces the history, process and uses of the human centered design (HCD) framework.
What is Human-centered design? HCD is a methodology that emerges from several disciplines: cognitive psychology, art & design, and user design. It is a creative approach to problem solving and the method used by many companies and organizations to design products and services that relate directly to the people they serve.
Over the course of 6 weeks design methods and tools are introduced, and the student's design ability is developed in a capstone design project or equivalent. The course is organized around the following concepts: design research, analysis & synthesis, concept generation & creativity, prototyping, communication & visualization. Students will be expected to use tools and methods of professional practice and to consider the social, economic and environmental implications of their products, services or systems.
HCD is a process that starts with building an understanding of the people you are designing for and exploring new solutions that are made specifically to fit their needs. We will therefore look at the Why? We will learn design considering ethics, inclusivity, sustainability and access by designing a project.
Methodology
This short course is a project-based introduction to design, structured as a hands-on studio course. There is an emphasis on hands-on innovative thinking and professional practice. Students will learn key methods of design innovation and will work in teams to apply those methods, learning how to uncover opportunities, explore ideas, prototype solutions, and interact with users. Students are given the freedom to develop specific design skills which suit their interests and contribute to their team projects over the course of the class. At the end of the quarter, student teams present their design concepts, showcasing prototypes in engaging and thoughtful ways.
This course introduces the history, process and uses of the human centered design (HCD) framework.
What is Human-centered design? HCD is a methodology that emerges from several disciplines: cognitive psychology, art & design, and user design. It is a creative approach to problem solving and the method used by many companies and organizations to design products and services that relate directly to the people they serve.
Over the course of 6 weeks design methods and tools are introduced, and the student's design ability is developed in a capstone design project or equivalent. The course is organized around the following concepts: design research, analysis & synthesis, concept generation & creativity, prototyping, communication & visualization. Students will be expected to use tools and methods of professional practice and to consider the social, economic and environmental implications of their products, services or systems.
HCD is a process that starts with building an understanding of the people you are designing for and exploring new solutions that are made specifically to fit their needs. We will therefore look at the Why? We will learn design considering ethics, inclusivity, sustainability and access by designing a project.
Methodology
This short course is a project-based introduction to design, structured as a hands-on studio course. There is an emphasis on hands-on innovative thinking and professional practice. Students will learn key methods of design innovation and will work in teams to apply those methods, learning how to uncover opportunities, explore ideas, prototype solutions, and interact with users. Students are given the freedom to develop specific design skills which suit their interests and contribute to their team projects over the course of the class. At the end of the quarter, student teams present their design concepts, showcasing prototypes in engaging and thoughtful ways.
- Profesor: Ronah Harris