What is HCDE?

What is Human Centered Design and Engineering?

Human Centered Design and Engineering is an ever growing community of engineers who strive to design artifacts that bridge the gap between humans and technology. We design and implement artifacts focused on usability, aesthetics, and above all, we are advocates for the users, fighting for their needs and desires. We communicate and observe them using the technology, make changes so that products flow and are used the way the user would expect.

 

Can I code?

OF COURSE, and so much more! I don’t sit in a cubical coding away until I get a functioning program. I design, I prototype, I give it to the user, see how they interact with it; then I re-design, re-prototype and continue until the goal is met. Design is an iterative and continuous learning process.

 

Why user experience?

A sign advertising on the lawn outside Seig Hall (Home of the HCDE department) on UW's campus sums up the reason I work so hard to become a part of this community, and have pursued it as my a career. Life is just too short to fight, struggle and be frustrated with bad designs. Users are becoming more and more integrated with their technology. They want their voice to be heard, they desire to have input and impact on the technologies they use. That’s why the world needs engineers who listen to their needs. People don’t have time to open a manual and read the instructions. Our society has evolved to a place where we believe that a product should be intuitive, easy to use, and delightful from the moment you open the beautifully designed box!

What is Human Centered Design & Engineering?