USER CENTERED DESIGN
User centered design is a framework of processes (not restricted to interfaces or technologies) in which usability goals, user characteristics, environment, tasks and workflow of a product , service or process are given extensive attention at each stage of the design process. In other words, UCD is an method in desain that focussing on user needs.
Therefore, there are principles in UCD that can be used as a guide in running UCD, including:
- Understand users clearly, with their jobs that they are doing in environment where they are.
- prioritize user experience.
- Involve users in making design.
There will be many problems happen if developer don’t make user to be prioritize. User should become a king because they will use the product. The way to avoid that problems are to involve Users in the Early Stage of Development, collect information about user by make an survey to some of users, ask their hopes for the product.
There are some elements that is important for UCD, such as:
- Visibility
This type is helps users to build mental model of documents. This kind of model also helps users to predict the effect when they make a document. - Accessibility
Users should be able to find information quickly and easily throughout the document, regardless of the length of the document. - Legibility
The text must be easy to read.The designer must be able to determine a useful font style. For example, fonts and decorative text. If all use capital letters will be difficult to read, so it will be better if there are variation. - Language
The type of language use depends on the rhetorical situation. Short sentences are very helpful, like the text used in an explanation.
Process of User Centered Design
According to Eason, The process of UCD are divided into several parts:
- Plan for System
- Design
- Implement
- Manage
Eason also made approaching model such as:
- Soft System Methodology (SSM)
Focus on planning. - Open Task Analysis (OSTA)
Focus on first step of planning. - Multiview
Method that complete with range planning up to implementation. - Star Life Cycle
Focus on planning.
That is all about the User Centered Design. For more information, you can check the reference below. So, the conclusion is the main key to the success of system design using the method is build harmonious closeness between developers system or programmer with users, so that needs and desires are obtained actually from the user.
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