Design means many things to many people. For lay people, it is often equated to superficial look and feel, to styling and to interior decoration. But within research 'Design' concerns itself with three things, (1) the critical analysis of existing material society as a means of fostering new innovations (2) the development of new methods for engaging users in the design processes (3) the realization and analysis of new products, systems and services.

Within SIDE the design perspective is particularly concerned with human-centred design of digital products, systems and services. Within such a human-centred approach, a critical perspective is concerned with the impact of technology on individuals, communities and society. Methods seek to involve end users and other stakeholders in the design of those products and services that will affect them. Various forms of engagement, experience, visualization, and prototyping are used to design products and services together with the people who will use them and be affected by them.

Human-centred design, includes user-centred design, experience-centred design, inclusive design, and participatory design, as part of its scope. Each of these place slightly different emphases on how to analyse and design in a human-centred way. As a critical perspective, human-centred design thinking can help challenge and expand the way we think about the potential of the digital economy, and its impact on society and inclusion. Read more

News

SiDE research carried out with the University of Hull, York University and Co-Opera has been featured in a recent article in the Guardian. The research aims to find out what synthetic-speech technology can learn from the voices of opera, building on research into the phenomenon known as ‘uncanny valley syndrome’. Read More
Date: 28.02.2012

Events

SiDE seminar by Evangelos Karapanos: Measuring users' experiences - or, the memory of them? 8th March, 1-2pm, Culture Lab. Read More
Date: 08.03.2012