Creating and Testing a Model-Driven Framework for Accessible User-Centric Design

Abstract

Despite growing interest in user-centric design (UCD), there is limited discussion and critique of how to implement such an approach in a commercial design environment. This paper examines the approach taken to gain knowledge of product use in order to evaluate a framework for user-research that draws on UCD theory through a number of commercial case studies. User-centric enquiry must fit into the design process where the aim is to create commercially viable output economically and efficiently, and where errors resulting from insufficient user consideration are mitigated cost-effectively; something that is rarely discussed in literature. This paper documents a university-affiliated design team’s efforts to guide user-led design practice and product insight acquisition with the implementation of a model-driven, user-centred, design approach.

Keywords:

• User-Centric Design (UCD)
• Design Practice

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Christopher R. Wilkinson

Dr Christopher R. Wilkinson was the Research Officer for the National Centre for Product Design and Development Research (PDR) in the UK. His Postgraduate and PhD Research in Inclusive Design at the University of Cambridge was supported by the EPSRC, and he was subsequently selected for a Research Associate position in HCI at the University of Trento, Italy. Focusing on User Experience and Participatory Design, he was heavily involved in the development of a European documentary about how ICT can improve the everyday lives of individuals and recently participated in a short film about his research at Cambridge and beyond.

Andrew Walters

Andrew Walters is the Director of Research at PDR, Cardiff Metropolitan University. He is interested in the application user-led design research methods as a means to solve complex societal and industrial problems. Over the last 15 years he has used these approaches to work on many projects with businesses, governments and charities addressing, for example, inclusive design for an ageing population, the development of technology enabled products for home use, and improving public services.

Jarred Evans

Jarred Evans is the Commercial Director at PDR who inspired and helped orchestrate this research project.