What is user-centered design?

Imagine designing a chair. You could make it look sleek, but if it’s uncomfortable, no one will use it. User-centered design (UCD) flips the script: it starts with the people who will actually use the product. It’s about asking, “What problem are we solving, and who are we solving it for?”

Building on UCD’s foundation, participatory design takes collaboration even further. Think of participatory design as UCD’s evolved offspring—a methodology where users aren’t just consulted but actively shape the design process as equal partners. Here, the line between “designer” and “user” dissolves, creating solutions that are deeply rooted in real-world needs.

A brief history of putting people first

UCD emerged in the mid-20th century as designers like Donald Norman and Jakob Nielsen pushed for human-focused solutions. Norman’s book The Design of Everyday Things became a manifesto for intuitive design.

Participatory design grew from grassroots movements in the 1970s, where workers and communities demanded a say in the tools shaping their lives. Today, both approaches remind us: great design isn’t done to people—it’s done with them.

Why these approaches matter

1. They solve real problems
   By involving users early, UCD and participatory design uncover needs that surveys might miss. For example, LibreTactile’s Tomat Navigator was co-designed with visually impaired users to ensure it addressed their unique navigation challenges.
2. They build trust and ownership
   When users help shape a solution, they’re more likely to adopt and advocate for it. Imagine a school app designed by teachers and students—it’s tailored to their daily struggles and wins.
3. They spark innovation
   Users bring fresh perspectives. Airbnb’s success, for instance, came from listening to hosts and guests, transforming a niche idea into a global platform.
4. They make technology inclusive
   Participatory design ensures marginalized voices aren’t overlooked. Microsoft’s Inclusive Design Toolkit, co-created with disabled communities, is a prime example.

Key principles to guide your process

1. Start with empathy
   Research your users’ lives, goals, and pain points. Tools like interviews, empathy maps, and diary studies help you walk in their shoes.
2. Invite users to the table
   In participatory design, workshops and co-creation sessions let users sketch ideas, critique prototypes, and vote on features.
3. Prototype, test, repeat
   Build low-fidelity mockups (paper sketches, digital wireframes) and test them with real users. Watch how they interact, and ask: “What feels confusing? What’s missing?”
4. Design for adaptability
   People’s needs change. Leave room for customization, like Slack’s modular workspace or WordPress’s plug-in ecosystem.
5. Celebrate diversity
   Include users of all abilities, ages, and backgrounds. LibreTactile’s tactile interfaces, for instance, are tested with both visually impaired and sighted users to ensure universal usability.

How to apply UCD and participatory design

1. Run a co-creation workshop
   Gather users, designers, and stakeholders for a brainstorming session. Use sticky notes, whiteboards, or digital tools like Miro to visualize ideas together.
2. Build “living” prototypes
   Create prototypes that users can tweak. For example, let teachers rearrange a classroom app’s layout during testing.
3. Use inclusive feedback loops
   Share designs early and often. Tools like Figma allow real-time collaboration, while platforms like UserTesting.com gather diverse insights.
4. Document and share
   Keep a “user voice” journal to track feedback. Share it with your team to ensure everyone stays aligned on user needs.

Real-world examples

User-centered and participatory design shine in projects that prioritize collaboration. Take LibreTactile’s Tomat Navigator: co-designed with visually impaired users, this tactile interface combines physical buttons and audio feedback to make web navigation intuitive. By involving users directly, the team ensured the tool addressed real-world challenges like spatial awareness—such as the frustration of memorizing complex keyboard shortcuts or losing contextual information during navigation—while also prioritizing ease of use and intuitive interaction.

Another example is IKEA’s Democratic Design Initiative, which invites customers to shape products through surveys, workshops, and hackathons—turning everyday people into co-creators of furniture that fits their lives. Similarly, in the medical field, companies like Open Bionics collaborate with amputees to design affordable, customizable prosthetics, proving that the best solutions emerge when users lead the way.

Further reading

• Books:
  • The design of everyday things by Don Norman (UCD bible).
  • Participatory design: Principles and practices by Schuler and Namioka.

Wrapping up

User-centered and participatory design aren’t just methods—they’re philosophies that remind us: technology should adapt to people, not the other way around. At LibreTactile, we blend both approaches to create tactile technologies that empower everyone, from gamers to rehabilitation patients.

Ready to design with people, not just for them?

Explore our projects to see collaboration in action, or subscribe to our newsletter and stay tuned for updates as we build a community where your voice shapes the future of tactile tech.