Media: UCD should make way for ACD

Available in "Interactions", 12. 4, (July + August, 2005 pp 14-19) and also on the author's own site, linked below, is "Human-Centered Design Considered Harmful".

Don Norman writes: 'Human-Centered Design has become such a dominant theme in design that it is now accepted by interface and application designers automatically, without thought, let alone criticism. That’s a dangerous state — when things are treated as accepted wisdom. The purpose of this essay is to provoke thought, discussion, and reconsideration of some of the fundamental principles of Human-Centered Design. These principles, I suggest, can be helpful, misleading, or wrong. At times, they might even be harmful. Activity-Centered Design is superior.'

To those of you familiar with the work of the Activity Theorists, this may sound like another example of Don Norman's talent at appropriating. But he does give credit: 'Do note the emphasis on the word "activity" as opposed to "task." There is a subtle difference. I use the terms in a hierarchical fashion. At the highest levels are activities, which are comprised of tasks, which themselves are comprised of actions, and actions are made up of operations. The hierarchical structure comes from my own brand of "Activity Theory," heavily motivated by early Russian and Scandinavian research.'

Associated Link: jnd.org: Human-Centered Design Considered Harmful

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