Human vs user centered design
awfrancisco opened this issue · comments
This is an issue for discussion about the term "human-centered design" vs "user-centered design." 18F's style is to use "user-centered design" to describe it's work, but the Methods use "human-centered" to describe the tools. I'd like to know if this is a specific decision to use human or whether it would be possible to change to user. I'm open to discussion about what's best for the Methods.
For context, I'm working on gathering resources for the 21st Century IDEA Act, which requires federal websites to be "designed around user needs." I'd like to include the Methods in those resources, but I wonder if people may be confused by human vs user if they are new to the concept and looking for resources to comply with the law.
Thanks @awfrancisco! This is a great point. I'm going to reach out to the Content Guild for more info on how that original decision was made.
Looking at the 21st Century IDEA act, neither the term "human-centered" nor "user-centered" design is used. It does refer to "users," though, as you point out.
This issue was debated in the content guide repo: 18F/content-guide#212
A decision was made here to go with "user" because it puts emphasis on the fact that the design work is benefiting specifically those who are using a service/product rather than those making it or humans in general.
I'm torn between a desire for internal 18F consistency and the feeling that I don't think "human-centered" will throw anyone off since the text of the act doesn't use either term. Going to let this simmer a bit more.
@awfrancisco We are going to hold on making this change across the 18F Methods site while we conduct meetings with other chapters and guilds and consider including new methods from other disciplines. This may change our messaging and will likely result in a content audit, during which we can be sure to address consistency in our terminology.
Sounds good. Thanks for following up!