Definition:
User Centered design (UCD) is a process where designers, developers focuses on gaining deep understanding of the users. This is not only from interfaces and technology perspective but at each step keen attention is given for usability goals, context of the use, user characteristics, workflow of the product and usability testing with actual users.
This creates highly usable products which not only analyzes the way user consumes a product but also validates the behaviour of the user in real world. Tests conducted with or without actual users during requirements, pre-production and post production stages ensures development is user centric.
Below are the Principles that will ensure a User-centered design:
- The design is based upon an explicit understanding of users, tasks and environments
- Users are involved throughout design and development
- The design is driven and refined by user-centered evaluation
- UCD process is iterative
- Designing the overall user experience
- The design team includes multidisciplinary skills and perspectives
- This perspective of User Centered design increases product usefulness and usability.
Further Reading:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-centered_design
https://www.usability.gov/what-and-why/user-centered-design.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User-centered_design
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/topics/user-centered-design