Reflexive Design Thinking:
Putting More Human In
Human-Centered Practices
Barton Friedland

Luminous Group Consulting | [e-mail]

Yutaka Yamauchi

Kyoto University | [e-mail] March + April 2011

interactions

Over the years we have been
involved in practices of applying
methods and insights of human-
computer interaction (HCI) for
client engagements. Specifically,
we emphasize a human-centered
approach employing ethnography
and participatory design that we
collectively refer to as human-
centered design practices. Yet we
have become increasingly aware of
a gap between what we do in our
practice and what HCI offers us
by inherently delimiting outcomes
to technological solutions. Unlike
research projects in HCI, where
researchers have the luxury of
exploring technologies they like,
practitioners hired by clients need
to focus on providing value to the
clients regardless of any innovative
technology they develop. Human-
centered practices involve spending
a lot of time inspiring and guiding
members of the client organization,
facilitating their reflection on their
own practices, and thinking about
alternative strategies and visions
together. Technology has become
only a small part of the story, and
to this end, we advocate a research
direction that extends human-
centered design practice across a
variety of domains.