User-Centred Design
By putting user requirements at the centre of everything we do, we’re able to develop products and services delivering an effective, consistent and seamless experience across all channels.
What is
User-Centred Design?
User-Centred design is a collaborative process based on a deep understanding of the user, the tasks they perform and the environment in which they do this.
Our experts begin this process with research, conducted with diverse and inclusive user groups. Feedback is incorporated into the design of products and services, and usability testing conducted to ensure they align with user expectations and needs, while meeting business objectives and delivering value for money.
Boost productivity by design
Products that are designed with users in mind tend to perform better than those that aren’t.
User-centred design helps us to develop applications and services that are useful, usable and desirable. When internal or external users are happy with an application, it boosts their productivity. They are also more likely to actively use it and recommend it to others.
Save time and money
Delivering a digital business application or service is not a cheap or quick process, and many of them do not meet expectations. And making changes when your application is live can be expensive.
When you understand the needs and test regularly with users, you can avoid building something that no one wants. This reduces risk and, in the long run, saves both time and money.
Innovate with data and insights
User-centred design methodologies help us to devise applications and services that are based on real data about how users interact with them. As a result, your systems will be more effective and more efficient, giving you a definite competitive advantage.
Learning about users via our in-depth research can also help you to gain key insights that allow your organisation to grow through the implementation of innovative solutions.
Our User-Centred Design experts
Get to know just a few of our experts working with our User-Centred Design solutions.
Carl Gallagher
Design Thinking Director
Carl is an experienced IT professional with over 14 years of experience in service and process transformation using Microsoft technology. He can often be found with a backpack full of sticky-notes and pens, ready to help customer stakeholder groups define their problems and identify creative solutions.
Michal Ozorowski
User-Centred Design Director
Award-winning UX, product and service design leader with 20 years of experience delivering functional and innovative products in both the public and private sectors. Michal builds diverse and inclusive teams who create products and services that meet business objectives and user needs.
Geraldine Kelsey
Design Thinking Director
Geraldine excels at getting to the root cause of problems, and understanding the key business metrics, processes, and cultures to bring about positive change in organisations. She is an expert in her field having spent many years in manufacturing where she has led major global business transformation programmes.
“It’s been great working with my colleagues in Hitachi Solutions. We’ve had a great relationship and there’s a lot of pride in the solution we’ve built that’s a first in the housing association world.”
Linda Howard, Head of Process Design, Clarion Housing Group.
User-Centred Design news and insights
News
How Catalyst can support your organisation’s transformation
Microsoft Catalyst is a framework (The IDEA framework) of activities designed to support organisations that are about to embark upon some form of transformation. Carl Gallagher discusses more in his latest blog.
Brochure
Catalyst with Hitachi Solutions
Hitachi Solutions understand first-hand the challenges facing manufacturing organisations. Our experts know that automation, advanced analytics and machine learning can generate step changes in productivity, flexibility and speed, and help organisations overcome their primary operational challenges.
News
How to build your digital transformation roadmap
Hitachi Solutions and Microsoft came together on Thursday 3rd March for a hybrid event to understand the opportunities and challenges for Professional Services organisations. Featuring a customer story from Alexander Mann Solutions’ Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Wayland, you can watch all four sessions from the morning below, and explore how…