User-Centered Design (UCD) Cycle

Flashcards reviewing the User-Centered Design (UCD) Cycle.

What is the primary focus of User-Centered Design (UCD)?

Consistently focusing on the user’s needs and experiences throughout every design step.

What are the five stages of the UCD cycle?

Understand Users, Establish Requirements, Design and Prototype, Evaluate, Iterate.

Why are personas important in the 'Understand Users' stage?

They humanize abstract user data, helping designers empathize with users.

What do field studies reveal about users?

They reveal genuine user behavior and context.

What is the goal of the 'Establish Requirements' stage?

To clearly define what the system must do (functional requirements) and how it must perform (non-functional requirements).

What is the purpose of scenarios and stories in establishing requirements?

To help visualize how users achieve their goals with the system.

What is the goal of the 'Design and Prototype' stage?

To translate requirements into tangible, iterative designs for rapid visualization and testing.

Why is prototyping important in the design phase?

It allows for fast, low-cost iteration of design ideas.

What are Norman's Emotional Levels of Design?

Visceral, behavioral, and reflective responses.

What is the purpose of design principles and heuristics?

To ensure usable and intuitive interaction.

What is the goal of the 'Evaluate' stage?

To test how effectively users can interact with your prototype/system, uncover problems, and validate whether goals are being met.

How does usability testing help in the evaluation stage?

Real user observation reveals usability issues.

What is the purpose of heuristic evaluation?

Expert-based diagnosis using established principles.

Why is ethics important in the evaluation stage?

To ensure ethical research practice (IRB, informed consent, justice).

What is the goal of the 'Iterate' stage?

To use insights from evaluation to refine the design, going back to earlier stages as needed for continuous improvement.

Why is reflection important in the iteration phase?

Improve long-term meaning and identity alignment

Why are social justice lenses important in the iteration stage?

Ensure design remains inclusive and equitable through reflection.