Human-Centered Design Considered Harmful

I think it was what I expected to read. He seemed to back-track yet again. Now, he talks about how design should follow a more activity-centered philosophy instead of being human-centered. Human-centered design leads to very complex systems. Every suggestion is taken into account and the final product is continually modified and expanded until it is a giant mess. With activity-centered design, suggestions are evaluated in terms of the requirements of the activity. He explains, "The best way to satisfy users is sometimes to ignore them."

Design this way requires developers that know exactly what activity they are designing a product for. When developing, they should maintain an "I know what's best for you" attitude. Human-design ensures that the products work and they are usable by those that they are meant for. Following an activity-centered approach can lead to great design. This is where the innovative products come from. A clear concept of the end-product is kept in mind, and things that contradict it are thrown aside.