UCED

UCD process
Originally uploaded by Lenny & Meriel.

User Centered Environmental Design will henceforth be known as UCED until I think of a better name. My mission is to work out how the UCD process adapts to this purpose and what resources are required to make it work.

This image illustrates a standard UCD process. Research is at the heart of the design process. It inspires scope and concept, it informs prototype and specification and it keeps build on track. It is an iterative process where all design decisions are grounded in real user insight, and the insight is gathered through a multitude of research techniques honed to provide usable design information. This process is followed by a design team which includes commercial, content, branding, technology and design specialists. It enables the team to retain an common focus on the end users thereby minimising project risk.

How does this map to UCED?

I believe it does so absolutely directly - the only difference may be the nature of the team involved. It's clear that environmental issues are complex and therefore a team involved in this space needs a specialist representative in that space. The important thing is that everyone designs around the user - NOT primarily around the technology or the commercial objectives - those look after themselves as the process progresses.

If we are to design packaging for reuse or recycling mechanisms or alternatives to flying we need to understand the users goals in that space. E.g. What would they reuse the packaging for? How would they store it? Why would they bother? How often do people recycle? How do they organise their recycling? What do they dislike about it? What do they dislike about rubbish? Why do people take holidays? How do they choose a destination? How do they research the travelling alternatives... the list goes on... Bear in mind that much of this is found out through observation - not asking opinions. People often do something different than they believe they do.

So - If I'm right and we need a specialist representative on the team - who are those people? Do they exist? If not (in sufficient quantities) how can we substitute? Where can we gather the necessary information from?