SystemSeed Explores Human-Centered Design at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024
Human-centred design (HCD) made waves at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024, as Elise West, Head of Product at SystemSeed, led a virtuous session titled "Human-Centered Design: An Introduction for Drupal People (and How to Make it Work for You)." The talk explored how HCD, a problem-solving approach that prioritizes people in the design process, is reshaping the development of digital products, particularly in the Drupal ecosystem.
The session, aimed at a non-technical audience but relevant to project managers, heads of digital, product managers, and developers, emphasized the increasing demand for HCD, especially from NGOs, government agencies, and public sector organizations. Elise explained how HCD could significantly enhance Drupal projects by focusing on real-world user experiences, ensuring that technology solutions align closely with the needs of the end users.
Tamsin Fox-Davies, Marketing Lead at SystemSeed, highlighted a key point from the session in her LinkedIn post, noting the distinction between user-centred and human-centred design in certain sectors.
"In NGOs and charities, human-centered design is a more common term than 'user-centered design' as they focus strongly on human impact. They care about 'humans' not just 'users',"
she remarked.
HCD is the design of products and services to address the core needs of those who experience the problem that the product/service is intended to alleviate. Elise elaborated on the practical applications of HCD, explaining how it fits into the larger UX and product development cycles. She stressed the importance of stepping beyond assumptions and actively engaging with users and stakeholders to create products that truly meet their needs.
"We have to step out of the bubble of our own assumptions and start with [users'] thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors,"
she said.
SystemSeed's LinkedIn follow-up underscored the importance of involving both developers and project managers (PMs) in the HCD process.
"You might think, 'Developers and PMs don’t need to know about HCD, right?' Wrong!"
the post stated. At SystemSeed, developers and PMs play a vital role in shaping features and aligning them with the client's budget and user needs, ensuring a more efficient and cohesive project outcome.
Elise also highlighted the iterative nature of HCD, where continuous feedback and testing with real users inform the development process. Tamsin reiterated this point, noting,
"At both the Discovery phase and later as prototypes and further product versions are created, user testing is very important."
The session not only resonated with the audience but also sparked ongoing discussions about how HCD can be integrated more effectively into Drupal development. As SystemSeed emphasized,
"By including our full delivery team from the start, we ensure that everyone—from our clients to their (human) users—is working toward the same goals."
This approach is becoming a cornerstone of successful digital projects, ensuring that the final products are both functional and deeply aligned with user needs.
Thanks to Anthony Fox-Davies of SystemSeed for sharing this update with The DropTimes. In the coming days, more insights from SystemSeed’s experiences at DrupalCon Barcelona 2024 will be shared, offering additional perspectives on the event.