Understanding Users Through Empathy

Understanding Users Through Empathy

Design Technology Year 2 Learning about user needs

What is a User?

Think about who uses the things around you Your toys, games, apps, or furniture Who are these people?

Users Are Everywhere!

People who use products Kids, adults, grandparents Everyone has different needs Designers must understand all users

"To design for everyone, we must understand everyone"

What is Empathy?

Understanding how others feel Putting yourself in someone else's shoes Caring about other people's experiences Listening with your heart and mind

Empathy Practice

Partner up with a classmate One person pretends to have trouble opening a jar The other person watches and asks: 'How does this feel?' Switch roles and try again

Why Do Designers Need Empathy?

To make products that actually help people To solve real problems To make sure everyone can use their designs To create things people will love

Designers Without Empathy vs. Designers With Empathy

{"left":"Make products only they understand\nDon't think about different users\nCreate things that are hard to use\nFocus only on how things look","right":"Listen to users carefully\nThink about everyone's needs\nMake things easy and helpful\nCare about how products work for people"}

How Do Designers Learn About Users?

Watch how people use products Ask questions about their experiences Listen to their problems Try to understand their feelings

Observation: Watching and Learning

Designers watch people use products They notice what works well They see what causes problems They look for patterns in behavior

Let's Practice Observation!

Watch your partner use a pencil to draw What do they do first? Do they hold it easily? What seems difficult? Share what you noticed

Interviews: Asking Good Questions

Designers ask users about their experiences They use open questions like 'How does this feel?' They listen carefully to the answers They ask 'Why?' to understand deeper