Ideas
Progressive Design Vs. The Human Factor
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?
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.