Human-centered Design with David Kelley

With the vast array of products now available on the market, defining factors which will influence the strength and appeal of these products are becoming increasingly important. People are looking for intuitive design. Intuitive design is a design style that allows any one person to interact and use a product without training. It bases its foundations on the back of human kinds ability to deduct reasoning, push boundaries and seek pleasure from using the product. This design style can be seen in the designs put forward by David Kelley in 2002 during his talk 'Human-Centred Design'. Kelley believes that there is a need to make products personified; 1) to make them easier to use and more accessible to a greater audience and 2) to make the products we use in our everyday more personalised - taking them from inanimate objects into pieces of technology/design with emotions.

The first example given by Kelley is the Prada store in New York city. This interactive shopping experience allows the purchaser to get involved and informed about the items they are purchasing. This is an example of intuitive design where the technology is able to communicate with the user (both the retail assistant and the consumer) on different levels. For the retail assistant, the device communicates on a business platform communicating to them the price of the piece and quantity available. While in terms of the consumer, the device displays the garments fabric, specifications, styling and images of the potential look. This is the future of consumer spending - an interactive experience where everyone involved has control over what they see and experience throughout the process.

Similarly, David Kelley talks of the Greenwich Watercycle Pavilion in London. This architectural piece immerses it's audience in the process of water recycling. This is primarily seen in water encasing the building. This water shield gives the minimalist glass box emotion, a sense of movement and tranquillity. This peaceful environment contrasts the materials of the building, which mainly consists of steel and glass. The moving information panels again add another emotive element to the design, forcing the audience to become accustomed to the changing environment - much like life.

This video has had some resonance with me. With the ever increasing number of products being produced and humanities increased dependancy upon them it's is becoming important for people to have positive relationships with designs. This involves improving the 'man machine relationship' by 'designing behaviours and personalities into products'.