Progressive Design vs. The Human Factor

Much has been made of human-centered design.  The modern approach to product-design is based around the human, right?  Consumers intend to interact with the products they use; why not design a product with this in mind?  Many would think this is obvious.  Is there even a problem with conventional design techniques?  Does the capitalistic version of natural selection address this?  Now don’t get me wrong, I agree with the conventional approach to human-centered design.  There are thousands of products with superb technical quality and reliability that have totally disregarded the human element.  Many have actually been marketing successes.  In spite of a design renaissance, this disregard of the human element in the product life cycle still exists today. However, luckily for the consumer, the human factor is a major consideration in the modern design process.  From safety guidelines to environmental impact, the human factor has changed the way we design everything from cockpits to calculators.  So what’s the problem?

Unfortunately, the human factor has a bad reputation among many of it’s peers.  Engineering doesn’t like all the attention its getting.  After all, Engineering has been doing this design job just fine for decades.  Capital Investment sees the humans factor as another trend burning through R&D’s budget.  And the last thing that Marketing needs is supplemental sales training — a rough working environment for the human factor to say the least.  Despite resistance, human factor considerations contribute successfully in many cases.  We all enjoy the benefits of such human-centered design from ergonomic chairs to internet interfaces.  The human factor is a real player in the modern design process.  Some would even say the human factor has defined it’s own role and the limited influence it should have in design.  Is the human factor at capacity in regards to concept and product design?

Our understanding of how the human factor contributes to the design process continues to evolve.  The work we do as Human Factor specialists is structured around the common methods of observation and statistical analysis.  Our work relies in large part on the numbers.  Is our primary concern the human and the their ability to interact with efficiency, reliability, and safety?  Yes, but should this be the limit of our contributions to the design process?  Surely not!

We are not only designers, but we are students of human nature; and this includes the environmental elements that influence human behavior.  It may seem paradoxical, but the human factor is not strictly human centered.  There are causal factors that shape and sometimes govern the interface between product and human.  We should dig deeper and recognize the subtle elements that are rarely (if ever) considered in the design process.  To do this, to stretch the conventional methods of the human factor, we must begin to ask different kinds of questions.

How should a bedside clock radio smell?  How should paint on the wall sound?  Recognizing the inherent paradox, do such questions have merit in human factors considerations, much less the design process as a whole?  Does a persons cultural background, geographical location or moral boundaries govern their expectations and interaction with products?  We would imagine the answer is yes, but should these considerations be within the scope of our research and analysis?  And what about Sparky — also a valued member of the family.  Does his opinion matter?  Do the interactions and reactions between product and pet influence the human interface?  Should we evaluate human emotional states in the design process?  How do we go about considering these issues?  How can we craft methods of measuring such influences if they do exist?  Can we conclude that these influences are significant to design and the consumer?  These are challenging questions; often without concrete approaches to measurement and analysis, yet we cannot ignore these parameters.

These further dimensions are the greatest inspiration for smart and successful design.  The ability to recognize the subtle factors of the human-product interface is enhanced by deeper considerations. This profoundly enhances the design process by focusing on the specific user and the associated environment, not just the ambiguous human prototype and so-called universal interface.  This user-focused approach grants us the opportunity to conceptualize and design products with detailed consideration for not only the obvious elements of human behavior, but the greater interaction between human, product and the specific user environment.  This expanded scope must also coalesce with the entire product life cycle, from concept, through engineering, to marketing and sales.  The nature of the design process will influence a human’s relationship with a product.  From the raw materials through manufacturing to product strategy and marketing.  Due to the transparency of the modern marketplace, the design process has a great influence over consumers, the products they obtain, and the way they use them.  A fully integrated process will not only prevent avoidable product mishaps but shape the way products are conceptualized, produced, and used in the future.

In modern industry the human factor plays a quiet but important role in the design process.  It is the protector of the consumer and often one of few (if any) concerned with the intricate elements of the human interface and product environment.  The future of human factor considerations is not certain, but be confident that the importance of the human factor throughout the design process will continue to grow.  After all, in the end, the product, along with it’s design, belongs to the consumer.