Bridging gender and human-centered design: a design verification study

Abstract

This article highlights the importance of adding gender awareness in human-centered design. Aspects of both paradigms are presented, and a lack of understanding of gender in the human-centered design approach was identified. Human-centered design sees gender as static and stable regarding male or female such that the implication of principles in products, systems or services appeals to one gender or another linking gender differences, and stereotypes. Evidence is provided through a design verification study, conducted in the context of fostering sun protection behavior in young men age 18 to 24. The results verify gender-aware sun protection interventions for young men. It also shows the inclusion of gender has great potential to bridge the gap between the world of designers and users. It also presents a discussion of the analytical procedures and the findings which emerged in this investigation led to the verification of design recommendations for sun protection interventions. Evidence is further presented for increasing emphasis on the influence of the designer’s own gender and their gendered perceptions in their designs. Finally, the implication of gender-aware human-centered design would address the low levels of sun protection in young men.