University of Washington Human Resources

Live online session

Class content will be delivered via live online Zoom session(s) with supplemental materials.

Human-Centered Design (HCD) is a creative approach to problem solving and innovation. Human-Centered Designed is uniquely suited for administrators, faculty and staff at the UW to use as a shared methodology for innovation, re-invention and prototyping of solutions and ways of adapting to the problems and dilemmas during a time of change.

HCD starts with people and ends with innovative solutions to meet their needs. When you understand the intended audience, and design from their perspective, not only do you arrive at unexpected answers, but you’ll come up with ideas that they will embrace.

The HCD methodology is a specific process made of four phases: 1) inspiration, 2) ideation, 3) prototyping and 4) implementation. HCD is commonly used in design and management frameworks that develops solutions to problems by involving the human perspective in all steps of the problem-solving process. HCD is both how you think and what you do with your thinking; how you apply it.

This course is delivered via two three-hour Zoom sessions with additional reading and methodological study materials. The first session will introduce the HCD model, and arrange group teams to work with case studies. This case study process takes place in observing the problem within its context, brainstorming in small groups, conceptualizing, prototyping, and suggesting an implementation for the solution of the case study. The second session will focus on the application and small group teams reporting out of how they applied the HCD on their case and presenting their prototyped solutions.

Instructor: Jeff Leinaweaver