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Human-centered design looks at creating environments and spaces for the needs of the people where the end result must be considered. It is essential to understand the people you are designing for where the function is evaluated before the form. The area that you are creating has a direct impact on the people it is intended for, and the context is crucial because it shows the purpose and function of the design. The buildings that do not follow the principle of human-centered design are put at a disadvantage where the users of the space are not fully catered for, and additional changes will have to be made further along. However, the area will never indeed be ideal for the intended use. It is vital for designers to plan how a space will work before construction or final additions are made. This is why the main problems must be identified and focused on; the intended user is the basis of the design and must be considered, all aspects must be cohesive and mesh well together as independent systems will not work, and lastly, trials and evaluations are essential for it to be the best environment for the people. Designers should be fully involved in the designs they create, and the plans that are made must be socially and politically progressive, not just economically based (Björgvinsson et al., 2012). There are real benefits to human-centered design, and they can be implemented in different scenarios. The four areas focused on are human-centered design in businesses, public spaces, private spaces and homes where technology plays a significant role, and rural developments.
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Fig 1. Human Centered Design Principles (Net Solutions, 2020)
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Human-centered design in businesses is favourable because they target two groups of people which are employees and customers. Employees are looked after when the space is designed specifically for the duties that need to be carried out. The human-centered design also looks at making the workplace more inclusive, which in turn helps workers to feel the company cares and values them. Younger employees are less likely to stay at a job they are not enjoying. Millennial managers also play a role in how the business is constructed, and they are more open to a flexible work environment where the people who work for the company are thought about in the way the space is designed (Rosa & Hastings, 2018). Customers are also considered when carrying out human-centered design as they are fundamental for a company’s profit. Often existing buildings are used for commercial spaces where they need to be flexible for a variety of different tasks, but it is sometimes forgotten what people need to thrive in the area that they are in to maximize productivity. There are regulations set out for what needs to be adhered to in an office, such as the amount of natural light and ventilation required. It is so easy for businesses to overlook how to creatively use a room without reducing floor space when money is the main objective. Our employees are the direct link to customers, which will affect the profit made. Human-centered design is the future of the workplace as it will benefit the gain of the business and reduce staff turnover.
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Fig 2. The power of human-centered design to understand customer journeys (Territory, 2022)
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Public spaces can also use human-centered design and can overlap with the theory of urban design. Urban design looks at people and places, and it involves building spaces and landscapes with an integrated design and how they each affect the movement pattern of an area. Urban design combined with human-centered design can increase the social interaction of a space where it becomes more accessible for people to use. (Urban Design Committee, 2015) physical planning is essential, but how it will affect the people it is intended for is crucial to the success of the plan (Rand, 1969). Many public spaces do not end up working for many reasons, one of the biggest causes being that rooms were designed to be looked at rather than used. Often some features to look out for are when a space is not inviting to people; there are not enough places to sit, and not enough options both in the sun or the shade and having unclear or hidden entrances. As designers, it is so important to think about the user of the space and how they will interact with it, public areas must be easy to see, and the person must be able to get in. Places that are designed for people must value the function rather than solely focusing on the aesthetic. Lastly, why public spaces do not end up working as well as planned because paths are not designed for where people want to go; they either lead to a dead end, or they do not connect to the right places. In South Africa, to be more specific, our public spaces are not being utilized to their full potential and for the intended use; this is mainly because of safety issues as well as the majority of people using cars to get around, and these spaces are built around the dominance of vehicles. This leads to a lack of crossroads and sidewalks that are not wide enough. (Project for Public Spaces, 2009). People want life to be as simple as possible, and when an area makes it easier to get around in a car rather than walking, more people will choose that option. This ultimately deters people from wanting to use the space. This makes it very clear why human-centered design is so crucial in the planning stage of any design. The main aim is for a space to be used in the most efficient way. The human-centered design takes time because the use of the area needs to be determined, but issues like deadlines and budget eventually affect the final plan. When designing and planning, the physical conditions of space are vital to take into consideration, but the reason behind people's activities in the public sphere has a more considerable influence on how the space will be used in the future. Spaces need to be more approachable, which is why human-centered design is more valuable to spend time and money on for more public spaces.
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Fig 3. Placemaking Through Public Infrastructure (Karnath, 2021)
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The design has always been popular in homes to customize the space exactly how the client wants it. People come to their homes every day, and these spaces will influence us. They need to follow the function set out for them, but it should also be a healthy environment. The human-centered design allows positive long-term well-being. This way of designing is not a movement but rather a proposal to make designing better for the people using the space. Our environments are constantly changing, especially with the developments of technology. Our spaces need to support that. There is then a direct link between technology and human-centered design as they both make the user's life easier, so when it comes to designing homes, both need to be considered and work in conjunction (Purkayastha, 2022). The internet has changed the home environment, and people no longer need to leave their homes to be connected to the physical media; they can now stay home to view the news, magazines or even books. Homes directly link people to their devices. With the advancements in technology, designers must take a modern approach when planning how a space will work. Technology can also be used for older people who require assistance, and the way a space is designed for them is crucial. It is essential to make life easier for them, and housing is a basic need. A space can be designed with a specific user in mind. (Guihen, B. 2016). It is essential to look at what makes a worthwhile user experience. Functionality must be considered first so the interaction and usability can be focused on to achieve the intended objective in the most effective way. The next stage is to see how to design specifically for the user experience. The basic needs of the person must be fulfilled, and this happens when the designer keeps close communication with the client to find this out. Designers need to plan for experiences that are happening now and future experiences. This is why a combination of technology must be used but also empathy and emotion from the designer. Technology can control many design elements, for example, lighting, which has a significant impact on the mood of the user. Once you know what makes a design user-friendly and the needs of the client, the user experience must then be merged into everyday life. This is the challenge designers will be faced with because it deals with highly personal aspects, and it will directly impact the social dynamics of family life in a home. Intelligent devices can eventually lead to people competing for attention, and this is why designers need to create an environment where technology is not overpowering the home. Calm technology or calm design is where the technology and the user work together where it is in the user's periphery rather than constantly at the center of attention. Therefore, designers, through human-centered design, can better the everyday life of people and enhance their well-being (Eggen et al., 2016).
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Fig 4. Do We Need Human-Centered Design in Data Products? (Panchenko, 2022)
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When it comes to implementing a human-centered design in rural developments, the first thing to consider is precisely what issue or problem will be targeted. There are many more significant issues found in rural areas, like sanitation and agriculture, compared to the private sector that can't be solved as quickly. However, human-centered design is all about improving spaces for people, even on a smaller scale, for it to be more user-friendly. Some more common issues that are faced in rural areas are restricted access to health care, poor infrastructure and cultural stigmas. This may be challenging for designers as it may limit them from making specific design choices. When entering rural communities, designers need to understand that they live pretty differently compared to people living in urban areas or cities. The problems they face are different in many ways. Their basic needs need to be fulfilled first. All of the issues community members face in rural developments directly impact their health and wellness. Most designers avoid these areas because of the extreme difficulty of lack of resources, impractical working conditions, and the methods of construction where it may require the need to train people locally in the area, which takes time and limitations in budget. Designers must understand the history of the place they are designing for. It is not about replacing what is already there but rather improving existing systems. It is essential to understand the lifestyles of the rural community members (Gaur, 2022). Communication between the designer and the people you are designing for is vital because when specific issues are brought up, solutions can be created which end up being more sustainable and cost-efficient as they target the direct issue. Design can change lives when it answers the problems real people are facing. By going to rural communities, we give people a voice where their future will be positively impacted. The possibility human-centered design can provide is why it should be used. The information gathered can be highly beneficial for not only future plans but existing systems as well (iDE Using Human-centered Design to Discover Solutions to Poverty, 2022).
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Fig 5. village background illustration (Luchimargar, 2022)
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When it comes to human-centered design, the most significant reasons not to execute this problem-solving technique are time and money limitations. After looking at the four areas of businesses, public spaces, private spaces and rural developments, one can see human-centered design would benefit each scenario. Some areas are harder to control or implement this design tool, but with each sector, straightforward ways to improve people's lifestyles will help. Human-centered design looks at constructing and planning for the people and understanding their issues is vital for an effective strategy. The design makes innovation and productivity possible. It is now determined that problem-solving and knowledge about the generation you are designing for are key (Hobday et al., 2012). The issues of money restrictions can be solved if more time is spent considering the user as the design becomes more cost-effective and sustainable. Often structures are too complex for the issue they have been tasked to solve. Simple techniques work out the problems people face on a daily basis. For the future to thrive, design needs to revolve around the people that use them.
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Fig 6: Business team, company staff meeting (Anastas.Gisin170333, 2022)
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https://preview.redd.it/32royqstk5pa1.png?width=487&format=png&auto=webp&s=4d755db4bee7baef1e2c7c23fef13edc0570c8a9
References:
Björgvinsson, E., Ehn, P., & Hillgren, P. (2012). Design Things and Design Thinking: Contemporary Participatory Design Challenges. Design Issues, 28(3), 101–116. https://doi.org/10.1162/desi_a_00165
Eggen, B., Van Den Hoven, E., & Terken, J. (2016). Human-Centered Design and Smart Homes: How to Study and Design for the Home Experience? Springer EBooks, 83–92. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-01583-5_6
Gaur, P. (2022). 10 Issues architects face while working in rural areas, and how to overcome them. Rethinking the Future. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-community/aa3164-10-issues-architects-face-while-working-in-rural-areas-and-how-to-overcome-them/
Guihen, B. (2016). Making Space for Ageing: Embedding Social and Psychological Needs of Older People into Smart Home Technology. In E. Domínguez-Rué & L. Nierling (Eds.), Ageing and Technology: Perspectives from the Social Sciences (pp. 141–162). Transcript Verlag. http://www.jstor.org/stable/j.ctv1xxrwd.9
Hobday, M., Boddington, A., & Grantham, A. (2012). An Innovation Perspective on Design: Part 2. Design Issues, 28(1), 18–29. https://doi.org/10.1162/desi_a_00137
iDE Using human-centered design to discover solutions to poverty. (2022). iDE. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.ideglobal.org/story/human-centered-design
Project for Public Spaces. (2009, December 29). Why Public Spaces Fail. Project for Public Spaces. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.pps.org/article/failedplacefeat
Purkayastha, D. (2022). An overview of Human Centered Architecture. Rethinking the Future. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-styles/a5522-an-overview-of-human-centered-architecture/
Rand, G. (1969). What psychology asks of urban planning. American Psychologist, 24(10), 929–935. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0028828
Rosa, N. M., & Hastings, S. A. (2018). Managing Millennials: looking beyond generational stereotypes. Journal of Organizational Change Management, 31(4), 920–930. https://www.proquest.com/docview/2066372733/DEE57C21FAF245B2PQ/8
Urban Design Committee. (2015, June 4). Human Centered Design for the Public Realm. Urban Design Committee. Retrieved March 21, 2023, from https://medium.com/voices-of-urban-design/human-centered-design-for-the-public-realm-c11b6de3cb5d
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images:
figure 1:
Net Solutions. (2020, July 9). Human Centered design priciples. Net Solutions. https://www.netsolutions.com/insights/create-product-with-human-centered-design/
figure 2:
Territory. (2022, October 6). The power of human-centered design to understand customer journeys. Territory. https://territory.co/2022/10/the-power-of-human-centered-design-to-understand-customer-journeys/
figure 3:
Karnath, A. (2021, February 3). Placemaking Through Public Infrastructure. Gannett Fleming. https://www.gannettfleming.com/blog/placemaking-through-public-infrastructure/
figure 4:
Panchenko, M. (2022). Do We Need Human-Centered Design in Data Products? Eleken. https://www.eleken.co/blog-posts/do-we-need-human-centered-design-in-data-products
figure 5:
Luchimargar. (2022). Vector indian village background illustration. a beautiful village with farmlands, trees in the background. Freepik. https://www.freepik.com/premium-vectoindian-village-background-illustration-beautiful-village-with-farmlands-trees-background_37059878.htm#query=village%20hut&position=32&from_view=keyword&track=ais
figure 6:
Anastas.Gisin170333. (2022). Business team, company staff meeting. Vecteezy. https://www.vecteezy.com/vector-art/7158408-business-team-company-staff-meeting-teamwork-colleagues-work-together-flat-vector-illustration-isolated

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