Just a friendly reminder – come check out our presentation, Transparent User-Centered Design on a Dime, at Project Infusion, IDSA’s 2009 conference in Miami, FL. We’ll be discussing low-cost ways to implement a user-centered design process. It’s going to be fun!
Be sure to follow us on Twitter and Flickr as the conference unfolds.
As a human factors practitioner, I completely and whole-heartedly support talking to users as an integral part of the product design process. I think it’s the best way to make sure a product is useful, usable, and desirable (the holy trinity, in my book).
However, I’m not living under a rock. I know these days companies have tighter budgets and even tighter timelines. The pressure is on more so than ever to produce products that will sell while spending the least amount of money developing them. Product teams are looking at their budgets and trying to trim off anything they can do without. Many times it’s easy and tempting for user research to be left out to save money and time in the development process…
I love Craigslist. With a regional filter, it provides a window into the lives of the single, the unemployed, and the junk ridden people you never knew lived all around you. For me it is a constant source of entertainment. But more than entertainment, it has changed the way I think about buying the things I need, and how I think about product lifetimes.
It’s no secret at HumanCentric that I love animals. I regularly bring in my own dog to hang out while I work, and I usually have a foster dog that tags along as well. Thank goodness HumanCentric is a dog-friendly workplace.
So given my love for animals and my love for beautifully-designed products, I was so excited to stumble upon this company: Wetnöz. They were featured in the summer 2009 issue of Innovation magazine. How great are their products? I completely agree with their company’s vision: that people spend lots of time selecting furniture and accessories to beautify their homes, and that should include pet products.
It’s been quite some time now that I’ve been following the development of outdoor solar lights. I have always been drawn to them because of the amazing fact that they are not only off the grid but also extremely low maintenance. I’ve been waiting eagerly for a company to take advantage of this technology and integrate it into a beautiful packaging. Then along comes the Soji Modern lanterns which have made a clear statement that solar doesn’t mean techy and it doesn’t mean cheap. Solar lighting can be just as soft and delicate as tealights and even more daring because there are no open flame restrictions to deal with. And this is just the tip of the iceberg of possibilities for solar products that are beautiful and inspiring. Let us know if you find more!
HumanCentric and Stander, Inc. have been working together for the past several months developing new home care products. Stander designs and manufactures innovative mobility solutions for the bed, bath, couch, and automobile. The first of many HumanCentric designed products for Stander will be released this fall at the Medtrade show in Atlanta, GA. There’s not much that we can show or talk about at this point, but we can tell you this… you have never seen mobility products this beautiful at grandma and grandpa’s house.
For more information about Stander, or to view their current product line, check them out at stander.com.
HumanCentric provides design solutions with.a focus on products, users and goals. Our process brings designers and researchers together to implement a customized approach for user and business needs. These are our thoughts on process, practice and life.
200 MacKenan Drive
Cary, NC 27511
P 866.356.9023
F 919.481.0310
www.humancentric.com
info@humancentric.com
