IB Design Technology Topic A2.1.1 Understanding User Needs Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Design Technology Topic A2.1.1 Understanding User Needs Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Needs, Wants, and Limitations

User-centred design keeps the end user at the centre of every stage of the design process.
It is iterative: you check the design against real users again and again, fix what does not work, and repeat until the product meets their needs.
The first step is to separate what a user needs, wants, and is limited by.

Definition

User-Centred Design (UCD)

User-Centred Design (UCD) is an approach that focuses on understanding the needs, wants, and limitations of the end-user at every stage of the design process, ensuring the final product is functional, accessible, and meaningful.

Needs are essential for the product to work and be usable; a wheelchair needs to be lightweight and easy to manoeuvre.
Wants are desirable extras that improve the experience but are not essential; a phone case in a choice of colours is a want.
Limitations are constraints the user faces, whether physical, cognitive, or environmental; reduced grip strength from arthritis is a physical limitation.
Limitations also come from the environment where the product is used: space, lighting, noise, weather, and cultural norms.
Design for the user, the task, and the environment together, so the product works in the real world and not just on the bench.

Example

A touchscreen kiosk at a train station has to stay legible in sunlight, work when a user is wearing gloves, and resist vandalism.

Why Getting Needs Right Pays Off

Identifying user needs early cuts costly redesigns later.

Nice try, unfortunately this paywall isn't as easy to bypass as you think. Want to help devleop the site? Join the team at https://revisiondojo.com/join-us. exercitation voluptate cillum ullamco excepteur sint officia do tempor Lorem irure minim Lorem elit id voluptate reprehenderit voluptate laboris in nostrud qui non Lorem nostrud laborum culpa sit occaecat reprehenderit

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum.

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit.

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat.

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Needs, Wants, and Limitations

User-centred design keeps the end user at the centre of every stage of the design process.
It is iterative: you check the design against real users again and again, fix what does not work, and repeat until the product meets their needs.
The first step is to separate what a user needs, wants, and is limited by.

Definition

User-Centred Design (UCD)

Needs are essential for the product to work and be usable; a wheelchair needs to be lightweight and easy to manoeuvre.
Wants are desirable extras that improve the experience but are not essential; a phone case in a choice of colours is a want.
Limitations are constraints the user faces, whether physical, cognitive, or environmental; reduced grip strength from arthritis is a physical limitation.
Limitations also come from the environment where the product is used: space, lighting, noise, weather, and cultural norms.
Design for the user, the task, and the environment together, so the product works in the real world and not just on the bench.

Example

A touchscreen kiosk at a train station has to stay legible in sunlight, work when a user is wearing gloves, and resist vandalism.

Why Getting Needs Right Pays Off

Identifying user needs early cuts costly redesigns later.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

A. Design in theory8 subtopics

B. Design in practice8 subtopics

C. Design in context8 subtopics

IB Design Technology Topic A2.1.1: Understanding User Needs Notes

A. Design in theory8 subtopics

B. Design in practice8 subtopics

C. Design in context8 subtopics

Needs, Wants, and Limitations

Why Getting Needs Right Pays Off

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Needs, Wants, and Limitations

Why Getting Needs Right Pays Off

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account