The Difference Between UCD Framework and Design Thinking Framework

Every product designer has their own framework for solving a user problem. Frameworks are created to make it easier for each designer to approach the problem to be solved in the context of UI/UX. The main purpose of a framework is to ensure that the design is aligned with the user’s needs, preferences, and expectations.

In the frame work, UCD and design thinking have some differences in their application. The differences are divided into 4 parts

1. Concept

a. UCD

UCD is centered on four aspects :

• Empathy for the User: The plan prepare begins with a profound understanding of the client. Architects conduct client investigate to pick up knowledge into users’ needs, objectives, torment focuses, and behaviors.
• Focus on Usability: Usability is an important aspect of UCD. Designers aim to make the product easy to learn and use, minimizing user errors and frustration. This involves creating clear and logical navigation.
• Prototyping and Testing: Originators make models early within the plan prepare. These models are tried with real clients to distinguish issues some time recently plan accommodation.
• Continuous Improvement: Even after the product is launched, this approach encourages continuous monitoring and refinement based on user feedback and changing needs.

b. Design Thinking

Design Thinking centers on 5 processes

• Empathy: Discover what your users need.
• Define: Define the problem you want to solve.
• Ideate: Develop possible solutions to the user’s problem.
• Prototype: Create a prototype.
• Test: Test your prototype with users & stakeholders.

2. User Engagement

In the user centered design process, there is user involvement to determine the course of the design process. So that user input in each stage is very important to be considered and applied.

In contrast to design thinking which only focuses on the end result. So in this case, information and input from users is only to get solutions to problems faced by users before. But in its stages there is no user involvement at all in it. Purely from the innovator or company.

3. Advantage

a. UCD

Using this user centered design method of course also brings a variety of interesting advantages. If you are developing a product or innovation, there is nothing wrong with deciding to use this one method. Because in general, the use of this user centered design method provides advantages in the form of user involvement in the process stage by process through this user centered design method.

Therefore, it is not surprising that many business people find out what user feedback is like when they want to develop their products. In order to provide direction as to what kind of product will be fully useful for users later.

Not only that, but deciding to use this method means producing the most optimal product. Because in it there is a loop to always improve the product when the product does not match the user’s wishes. So the end result can be said to be much more optimal.

b. Design Thinking

there are many advantages that can be obtained if you use this design thinking method. First, of course, this is the most brilliant solution to finding a problem faced by users. Because in this way, the solution provided will focus on user needs.

Another benefit or advantage of using this method is definitely in terms of marketing a business product. This can also be the difference between design thinking and other similar methods. Thanks to the right design thinking, business people are able to create quality products that match the expected target consumers. So in the end, using the design thinking method in problem solving will also help to increase business success indirectly.

4. Disadvantage

a. UCD

The drawback lies in what there is a problem of long processing time if the user and the designer do not create common ground in designing the interface) and the designer is also not free to implement his ideas in the user interface design.

b. Design Thinking

the resulting product may be unattractive. Design Thinking also has a weakness in the implementation stage.

5. Final Result

We see then that the difference between design thinking and user-centered design clearly lies in the final result. In user-centered design, results will not be accepted if they do not meet user expectations. Because each process must be consistent with user feedback, the design process can occur iteratively until it is deemed to meet user need criteria.

Different from using design thinking method. The difference between design thinking and user-centered design is that the end result will be different. When implementing design thinking, the end result is many solutions that help users avoid problems when using the product. In this case, the final product will be well improvised but the process will follow the wishes of the innovator or entrepreneur.