Merging the cultures of design and engineering: A case study

Abstract

This paper presents a case study of a web application development project, in which user-centered design (UCD) was successfully integrated in an environment with strong historical and cultural roots in traditional engineering. The case study details the key factors that led to the success of the project in a deeply traditional risk-averse engineering culture, and how the lessons learned apply beyond its scope. Key factors included a design team with experience in the worlds of both design and engineering, a careful selection of UCD methods, and finally a management structure that embraced cultural change.