User-Centered Design

Abstract

In this chapter, we will present the iterative user-centered design process as an adaptive and agile life cycle for open innovation and successful development of socio-technical systems. The user acceptance and usability of the technical system are central to the design process, which determines how to proceed at several stages of designing and evaluating. Besides an overview of the most accepted and well-established methods of design thinking, which are based on user-centered design principles and presented also in tables for easy accessibility, we will describe cultural probes, provocative requisites, design games, design workshops, sketches, wireframes, mockups, low- and high-fidelity prototypes, as well as technology probes in detail. This will enable, on the one hand, an understanding of the methods by different stakeholders in multidisciplinary project teams and, on the other hand, a base for deciding which methods and approaches are suitable for a specific phase or type of a project.