“We must design for the way people behave,
not for how we would wish them to behave.”

–Donald A. Norman, Living with Complexity

Human-centered design is an extension of design thinking methodology, a term coined by cognitive scientist and Nobel Prize laureate Herbert A. Simon in his 1969 book, The Sciences of the Artificial.  In this work, Simon explored common patterns in artificial systems, including economic systems, business organizations, artificial intelligence, complex engineering projects, and social plans, argued that designed systems are a valid field of study, and proposed a science of design. Many academics and practitioners have since expanded upon the concept; however one constant has remained: the core of any design process is the user, around whom a human-centered process creates a product or service that satisfies consumers’ 

Things to think about:

• How might a human-centered approach change the organization design approach or process?
• Would a human-centered design approach change the problem to solve or the job to be done?
• What would organizational change and transformation look like if human-centered design were applied?

ODF Community Conversations have a host/moderator, who will provide a brief overview of the topic prior to opening the conversation to everyone.