The five stages of the user-centred design (UCD) process are research, concept, design, implementation, and launch. Users remain involved throughout these stages so that the product responds to their needs, wants, limitations, tasks, and environment.
| Stage | Purpose and user involvement |
|---|---|
| 1. Research | Designers investigate the user, task, and environment. Methods such as interviews, observations, focus groups, and questionnaires identify user requirements and help designers develop empathy. |
| 2. Concept | Initial ideas are generated from the research findings. Users evaluate early sketches, paper models, or other low-fidelity models, allowing unsuitable concepts to be rejected or improved quickly. |
| 3. Design | Selected concepts are developed into more detailed models and prototypes. Designers test performance against usability requirements, while user feedback informs repeated modifications. |
| 4. Implementation | A highly refined solution is produced and tested with representative end users. Designers evaluate its functional, psychological, and physiological suitability and correct remaining problems before release. |
| 5. Launch | The finished product is introduced to users. Designers continue collecting feedback and monitoring performance against the design specification so that later versions can be improved. |
UCD is an iterative process, not a rigid linear sequence. Evaluation at the concept, design, implementation, or launch stage may reveal a problem and send the design team back to an earlier stage. This repeated user participation reduces the risk of producing a technically functional product that is difficult, unsafe, or uncomfortable to use.
A common misconception is that UCD ends when the product is launched. In fact, monitoring, user feedback, and evaluation continue after launch and can generate further iterations.
Exam technique: For an “outline” question, name each stage and give its main purpose. For an “explain” question, add how user involvement and feedback at each stage improve the product’s suitability for a diverse range of users. Do not confuse these UCD stages with the separate five-stage IB design thinking process.
