Human-centered design embodies and extends the sense of being human

Venn diagram of capacities, capabilities and communities

Human-centered design is about understanding the contexts of people.

  • Their individual physical and cognitive capacities
  • Their learnt, provided or missing capabilities
  • Their communities that include and exclude them.

The centering is not tightening or selfish: it’s not a user or consumerist sense of individualism.

It is broadening and generous: placing the person more fully into their embodied and extended sense of being human.

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Alastair Somerville

Sensory Design Consultant, usability researcher and workshop facilitator. www.linkedin.com/in/alastair-somerville-b48b368 Twitter @acuity_design & @visceralUX