User Centred Design Process

User Centred Design Process.

I work in the Canadian Federal Public Service and we are working to improve the adoption of the User Centred Design Process when we create applications and services for citizens. Alexander Janda developed the infographic above that we’ll be using in Powerpoint decks and other presentation material.

Canada’s Treasury Board Secretariat’s Standard on Web Usability provides the following definition of the User Centred Design process and mandates its use in Appendix F:

“The following requirements ensure that users can effectively and efficiently find, understand and use the information and services provided through websites and Web applications.

Web managers, functional specialists, Web content owners and equivalents are responsible for ensuring that, for each website or Web application:

1. User research methods are used to define:
   1. The users of the website or Web application;
   2. The tasks the users will accomplish using the website or Web application; and
   3. The contexts in which the users will use the website or Web application to accomplish their tasks.
2. The users, their tasks and the contexts in which the users accomplish their tasks form the basis for the design of the website or Web application.
3. The website or Web application is designed iteratively; the design process starts with low-fidelity methods, such as mock-ups, and progressively moves to higher-fidelity methods, such as prototypes.
4. The design of the website or Web application is regularly evaluated and improved through usability testing, such as observing users completing tasks, throughout its life cycle.
5. The design of the website or Web application takes into consideration the other service channels, such as telephone and in-person, used to obtain information and services from the Government of Canada.”

Article by: Jonathan Rath
Infographic by: Alexander Janda
Photo by: Javi_indy – Freepik.com