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Where can human-centered design be applied?

Human-centered design (HCD) is about inclusive and collaborative problem-solving.

HCD can be applied in any context where you find multiple people or groups affected by a problem. In our work, we’ve applied this approach to workforce development; benefits access; housing & homelessness; among many others!

By sharing the resources below, we offer considerations for you to structure your own human-centered research or engagement process. Think of this as a starting place – a guide – for you to adapt and apply to your own context and needs.

Who are these resources for?

The approach graphic has three layers (from bottom to top): Individuals, Groups, and Systems. This version highlights 'individuals' and 'groups', but has greyed out 'systems.'

Our goal is to create practical resources for the public servants and service providers that are co-creating solutions to public challenges.

These resources – templates and case studies – are designed to be used by individuals or teams.

A GUIDE FOR ORGANIZATIONS

To be successful in the long-run, this approach also requires organizational buy-in and alignment. In partnership with Middlestate, we prototyped a Self-Assessment for California Workforce Boards to help start this conversation.

Contact us to learn more

STRUCTURE OF RESOURCES

Three Simple Goals

You don’t need to be an ‘expert’ in human-centered design to start incorporating some of its tools and principles. Whether you’re in discovery or implementation, you’ll work through 3 simple goals: Listen, Learn, and Make.

Visual showing the cycle from listening (icon of three people talking), to learning (icon of several grey shapes and two flowers in color), to making (icon of three people building up blocks).

GOAL #1

Listen

Goal = connect with people who are most impacted, in a way that is most accessible to them

For every challenge, come in with an open mind and an inquisitive spirit. Go broad, to understand the challenge from different angles and perspectives.

Key Components:

  • Define your Learning Goals. What do you hope to learn from the research / engagement process? How will you use those insights?
  • Identify who is Impacted. Who are the communities that we aim to serve; who are the partners and service providers that deliver those services?
  • Develop a Plan & Data Collection Methods. How will we ensure we achieve our learning goals?
  • Hear from People. What is their experience with the challenge? What improvements would they make?

LISTEN | Templates & Case Studies

GOAL #2

Learn

Goal = gain a deeper understanding of people’s pain points, needs, hopes, and concerns

Look at people’s experiences and other data sources – as a whole – to find opportunities for improvement. Make visible the multiple, intersecting systems and perspectives that affect decision-making.

Key Components:

  • Organize your Data. Is all your data easy to reference? Have you preserved and protected the original (‘raw’) data?
  • Analyze Data to Identify Themes. How might you move, group, quantify, or reframe data to generate insights?
  • Prioritize Challenges to Address. Which themes tell you about deeper root causes that you should address? Which themes – if addressed – would have the greatest impact on affected groups?
  • Tell a Compelling Story to Encourage Action. How can you present your findings to get the buy-in of decision-makers? What capacity and resources do you have to implement changes?

LEARN | Templates & Case Studies

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    Data Synthesis Plan

    Last Updated: November, 2021 Telling a clear and defensible story with your insights is essential to transforming data into meaningful…

    Read Data Synthesis Plan

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    Journey Mapping

    Last Updated: November, 2021 Think of the journey map as a glorified table that helps you map different types of…

    Read Journey Mapping

GOAL #3

Make

Goal = turn learning into real, impactful change

Incorporate your findings into data-informed designs. Work collaboratively to implement improvements, adjusting your approach based on the capacity and constraints of your context.

Key Components:

  • Define your Desired Outcomes. What kind of impact do you hope to see from these changes?
  • Brainstorm and Prioritize Specific Improvements. What are all the different ways you could address the challenge? Which approach best fits the wants, needs, and constraints that you’ve identified?
  • Manage the Implementation Process. How will you divide up the work to implement changes? How will you bring people into the process, and ensure they are supported through changes?
  • Monitor Success. How will you ensure you achieve your desired outcomes? What data do you need to collect and how will you gather it?

For continuous improvement, cycle back to ‘Listen’ and ‘Learn’ to explore the impact that changes are having on people and processes.

MAKE | Templates & Case Studies