User-Centred Design: Human Factors and Design Thinking

Singapore University of Social Sciences

User-Centred Design: Human Factors and Design Thinking (NCO205)

Synopsis

User-Centred Design is a key differentiator in the success of products or services for human use. It leads to solutions that better address user needs and provide good user experiences. This course aims to inculcate in students the importance and benefits of User-Centred Design for solutions they develop in their different disciplines and how to achieve it. The course will introduce an awareness about human strengths and limitations through the study of Human Factors, together with user research and design skills from the practice of Design Thinking. Through this course, students will learn to consider scientific knowledge about humans, combined with contextual understanding of user activities and needs, when designing, prototyping and testing new or improved products or services.

Level: 2
Credit Units: 5
Presentation Pattern: EVERY REGULAR SEMESTER

Topics

Why: User-Centred Design
How: Human Factors
How: Design Thinking
Understanding the human: physical and cognitive
Understanding the human: emotional and social
Understanding user needs
Defining actionable problems
Designing creative products
Designing creative services
Prototyping solutions
Evaluating solutions analytically and empirically
Designing for inclusivity and persuasion

Learning Outcome

Explain human strengths and limitations in Human Factors
Describe the non-linear, iterative process in the Design Thinking methodology
Illustrate how Human Factors and Design Thinking leads to User-Centred Design
Practice observational and interview techniques in understanding user needs
Use ideation techniques to design creative solutions
Appraise prototypes through analysis and testing