A design can change the world. And organizations around the world are turning to human-centered design to find creative approaches to solve social challenges around the world. Human-centered design is an approach to problem-solving that incorporates the interests of end users throughout the design process so solutions are tailored to meet their needs.
Although each design firm has its own approach the core parts of the process include participatory research, feedback and partnership with the communities they serve. In the words of Donald A. Norman, co-founder of Nielsen Norman Group, “Human-centered design is a philosophy, not a precise set of methods, but one that assumes that innovation should start by getting close to users and observing their activities.”
About the author
Jennifer Ehidiamendisgeneration
Jennifer Ehidiamen is a Nigerian writer who is passionate about communications and journalism. She has worked as a reporter and communications consultant for different organizations in Nigeria and overseas. She has an undergraduate degree in mass communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, and M.A. in business and economics from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, New York. In 2014, she founded Rural Reporters (www.ruralreporters.com) with the goal of amplifying underreported news and issues affecting rural communities.
