Design thinking and design processes as pursued in the design disciplines (broadly categorized as - product design, information and communication design, and environmental design) incorporate user-centered and human-centered orientation. This orientation results in designs that are characterized by high-quality general aesthetics, context-driven styling, safety and ease of use, and ease of maintenance.
In the initial stages of design profession evolution, the process of understanding users, and human interaction with the product under design consideration was mostly intuitive. This approach encouraged designers to use themselves, and those in near proximity to represent the intended user in the real environment. The scientific nature of user understanding is normally not in designers' tools, owing to their lack of formal training in applied ergonomics. As a result one saw, to cite a few examples, heavily contoured chair seats, and handles with grooves which would fit the body/hands of designers and the available volunteers.
The diversity of user and human characteristics arises from individuals' intrinsic characteristics as well as the characteristics shaped by the context in which they live and work. With the ever-increasing competitive pressures and the necessity to reach the marketplace faster, the luxury of learning from mistakes is now not available to designers. It needs to be emphasized that designers' education should incorporate scientific knowledge, methods and practices of applied ergonomics (also known as human factors engineering) to develop designers who are equally comfortable with scientific knowledge as well as observation and experience based insights.
Btw: the following link useful for understanding/discussing design thinking, and design management:
www.designthinking.design-management.de
(c) Copyright Vinai Kumar
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