Designed products surround us all and range from bus tickets to buildings. This free course, People-centred designing, focuses firmly on usability and the increasingly important phenomenon of people-centred design. It aims to inform consumers of design (i.e., all of us) about this crucial characteristic of design. In addition to stimulating interest in areas of concern for producers of design, the course might also provide an introduction to engineering, manufacturing and business studies.
Course learning outcomes
After studying this course, you should be able to:
demonstrate a knowledge and understanding of the principles of user-centred designing
criticise some everyday products from a user's point of view
suggest and apply some appropriate methods for researching how users interact with products
apply comparison and evaluation skills, including constructive criticism of everyday products
apply observational skills in the context of both personal and others' use of products.
The People Centred Design course was a valuable and eye-opening experience that emphasized the importance of designing with real users in mind. It taught me how to conduct meaningful user research, use tools like empathy maps and personas, and apply iterative design methods to create more inclusive and user friendly solutions. I particularly appreciated the hands-on activities and case studies that brought theory into real world context. Overall, the course helped me develop a deeper understanding of how to approach problems from the user’s perspective and reinforced the idea that the best designs are created with people, not just for them.