What is the goal of user-centered design (UCD)?

The goal of user-centered design (UCD) is to understand user needs and behaviors throughout the design process. UCD emphasizes the importance of engaging with users to gather their insights, preferences, and feedback, which ensures that the end product meets their needs effectively. By prioritizing user research and incorporating user feedback, designs are tailored to improve satisfaction, usability, and overall experience.

This process often involves iterations of design and testing, allowing designers to adjust and refine their approaches based on actual user interactions. This continuous engagement with users helps create solutions that are not only functional but also resonate with the intended audience, enhancing the likelihood of adoption and success in the marketplace.

The other options do not align with the core principles of UCD. A focus solely on aesthetics overlooks usability, prioritizing aesthetics can lead to a design that looks good but fails to serve the user's needs. Prioritizing development speed over user needs can lead to products that are poorly received or difficulties with adoption, as they do not adequately address the requirements of the users. Creating designs based only on market trends risks creating solutions that may not be user-friendly or aligned with actual user requirements, leading to a disconnect between the product and its users.