Human-centered design is relatively new to our community, and applying the method takes a shift in mindset.
Read more on Global to Local:
► How to develop a human-centered design mindset
Also known as “design thinking” and “user-centered design,” human-centered design is about designing “with” not just “for” the end user, aiming to truly meet the needs of the beneficiary, customer or client. While it has its origins in the private sector, in fields such as user-interface design, the development community has long recognized the need for more participatory approaches. But the sector still receives criticism for designing for problems instead of designing for people.
So is human-centered design just another buzzword?
Click on the above video to find out what human-centered design is, what steps it includes and why it could help organizations to work more efficiently.
Are you using human-centered design in your work? Share your experiences — good or bad — with us below or on social media using #Global2Local and visit Global to Local for more insight.
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About the authors
Julie Espinosa
Julie Espinosa is the Associate Director of Video at Devex. She leads a team of visual storytellers who work with reporters all over the globe to cover the topics of humanitarian aid, sustainable development and global health. Prior to joining Devex, Julie worked in documentary film production in Austin, Texas. She holds a master’s degree in communications and cultural studies from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s in visual arts from Harvard University.
Helen Morgan
Helen Morgan is an editorial associate at Devex. She has a background in human rights, radio and journalism, and has written for a variety of international publications while living and working in Buenos Aires, New York and Shanghai. She is now based in Barcelona and supports editorial content on campaigns and media partnerships at Devex. She is currently studying a master's degree in contemporary migration.
Carine Umuhumuza@CarineUmu
Carine Umuhumuza is the Associate Director of Communications at Devex. She has launched over a dozen major campaigns in partnership with leading communicators from a range of development agencies, major corporations, NGOs, and social enterprises. Her passion for connecting people and creating impact through stories is homegrown, inherited from her father — a journalist at one of the leading newspapers in Rwanda. Carine got her journalism and storytelling chops at Syracuse University's Newhouse School and moved to D.C. to start her career in social media and digital strategy. Starting her career at the cusp of the social media boom, Carine has a digital-first approach for storytelling and content curation. As the resident social media guru, she's often an early adopter of new tools and techniques for storytelling, mastering them and teaching others how to use them too.
