Designing for people — Design, 7–10 years
A design is used by real people with different bodies, habits and needs. Watching and asking helps a designer make something that works for the person, not just on paper.
Notice what people need
A designer pays attention to how someone really behaves, not only to what seems convenient from a desk. A door handle, school bag or game should suit the person who uses it.
Why ask and observe?
Designers once often guessed what other people wanted, and those guesses could exclude people or make tasks harder. Asking and observing gives evidence instead of relying on one person’s habits.
A better classroom hook
1. Watch three pupils hang coats: two cannot reach the high hook. 2. Ask what would help; they suggest a lower row. 3. Measure 90 centimetres from the floor and add hooks there. Now more pupils can use them alone.
The one-person trap
If a designer is tall, right-handed and has strong hands, their own experience feels normal. That is reasonable, but it can hide the needs of a shorter, left-handed or less strong user.
Designing shared places
Playgrounds, buses, libraries and websites are used by many kinds of people. Designers watch real users and include different heights, reading abilities and ways of moving when they choose sizes and instructions.
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