Topic > User-centered design essay - 1023

When considering that a product is 'designed for', engagement activities include background interviews and questionnaires, which are intended to gather information about the user's needs and expectations. 'user (Kaulio, 1998: 148). This information will influence how the designer evaluates design alternatives, prototypes, and the final product. Involvement in this case will happen early in the design process. Interviews and questionnaires can be repeated at the end of the design process to collect qualitative data on user satisfaction with the product (Abras & Maloney-Krichmar & Preece, 2004: 6). When user involvement is considered at the “designed with” level, the user is presented with a set of solutions or proposals that he or she can reject and react to (Kaulio, 1998: 148). Activities considered related to this level of involvement include the creation of focus groups, capable of determining the requirements and issues that need to be addressed by the product in the design phase. Role-playing games, walkthroughs, simulations and usability tests can also be considered at this level as they involve the user in experiencing, using and testing the proposed prototypes. These activities are intended to collect large amounts of measurable data that can be taken into account in the design process. (Abras & Maloney-Krichmar & Preece, 2004: 6). The level considered "designed by" requires the user to be constantly and actively