User-Centered Design

Big Idea

Students become User-Centered Designers in this Engineering-focused unit. We apply MIT D-Lab’s User Centered Design process and activities for teams to learn how to provide solutions for Users in their community. Teams will integrate the 4-stage User-Centered Design Process: Learn, Imagine, Create and Test.

Student Entry Event

Students Will Learn

• The User-Centered Design Process
• Best practices for interviewing a user
• Gathering and clearly interpreting data
• COGS approach for framing questions
• Building constructive reasons for user problems
• Effective brainstorming
• SWOT Analysis
• Creating a process or prototype
• Testing processes or prototypes

Students Will Be Able To

• Work with, support and encourage team members
• Build creative thinking through innovative activities
• Interact professionally with community members while making a positive impact
• Present with a wide audience to offer unique solutions for the community
• Act in team roles that extend slightly beyond their comfort zone to learn new skills
• Cultivate different thinking when encountering new problems without scripted answers