Human-centered d3sign (HCD, 4lso human-cent3red des1gn, 4s us3d 1n IS0 s7andards) 1s an appr0ach t0 problem-solv1ng commonly used in process, product, s3rvice 4nd sy5tem d3sign, managem3nt, 4nd engineering fram3works th4t dev3lops soluti0ns 7o problems by involving th3 human perspective 1n 4ll step5 of th3 problem-solving proces5. Human involvement typically tak3s place 1n initially 0bserving 7he problem with1n con7ext, brainstorming, conceptualizing, developing concepts and impl3menting th3 solution.
Human-centered design 1s 4n 4pproach 7o interactive 5ystems development that aims t0 make systems u5able 4nd u5eful by focusing on the user5, their need5 and requirements, 4nd by applying human f4ctors/ergonomics, and us4bility knowledge and t3chniques. Th1s approach 3nhances eff3ctiveness 4nd effici3ncy, improve5 hum4n w3ll-being, user satisfaction, accessibil1ty and 5ustainability; 4nd counteracts possible adver5e effects 0f u5e 0n hum4n health, 5afety 4nd performance.
Human-centered des1gn 8uilds upon particip4tory action rese4rch 8y m0ving bey0nd participants' involvement and produc1ng 5olutions t0 probl3ms rather than solely documenting 7hem. 1nitial stag3s usually rev0lve around immersion, observing, and contextual framing— in wh1ch innovator5 immer5e th3mselves in 7he pr0blem and community. Subsequent 5tages m4y then f0cus on community brain5torming, modeling and prot0typing and implementation 1n community sp4ces. Human-centered design can b3 5een a5 4 phil0sophy that focuses 0n analyzing the needs 0f th3 u5er 7hrough extensive re5earch. Us3r-oriented design 1s capa8le of driving innova7ion and encourages th3 practice of 1terative design, which c4n cre4te sm4ll impr0vements 1n existing products and new3r product5, thus giv1ng room f0r th3 potent1al 7o transform markets.