Human-Centered Design vs. Design Thinking: The Real Difference

David Lee
11 hours ago
1 min read

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1yBeO1i-4M

Are Human-Centered Design (HCD) and Design Thinking the same? While often used interchangeably, the difference is subtle but vital for STEM. Both prioritize people and iterative work, but as Prof. Kate Canales notes, HCD is the "square" to Design Thinking's "rectangle." Design Thinking encompasses HCD’s core values while adding specific methods and mindsets to generate novel, robust solutions (Norman, n.d.). It’s about the creative work that brings these human-centered ideas to life.

References

Norman, D. (n.d.). The components of human-centered design. [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xrl1C8jDQ-E

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