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We had a chat with course instructor Antony Joseph, postdoctoral researcher at the Department of Design at Aalto University School of Arts, Design and Architecture. Antony opens up about how UX design skills make students stand out in their careers and why prioritizing human-centric design contributes to the overall well-being and inclusivity in our society.

"This course is important for several reasons. First, user experience (UX) design has become increasingly important in various industries – today, everyone aims to provide seamless and enjoyable experiences for their users. Second, a human-centred approach allows designers to create products and services that meet the needs and desires of users.", Antony comments.

"The course has been designed to educate masters-level students who are interested and want to pursue a career in the field of human-centred user experience design. However, this course is also open to individuals looking to enhance their human-centered design skills and improve the overall user experience of digital products and services.",  Antony continues.

In what ways can human-centric design enhance usability and contribute to the overall well-being and inclusivity of society?

Human-centered user experience design places people at the forefront of technological advancements, ensuring that products and services meet the needs, preferences, and abilities of the people who use them. In an increasingly digital world, prioritizing human-centric design enhances usability and contributes to the overall well-being and inclusivity of society. The human-centered design approach strives to create positive user experiences that are not only functional but also enjoyable and emotionally satisfying.

How will this course benefit students in their future careers?

Students will go through the different phases of human-centred design activities and put them into practice on a design project for a digital service from the initial phase to its completion. They will be able to apply human-centred design methods in designing innovative digital services. The course emphasizes collaboration and teamwork – students learn how to work effectively in interdisciplinary teams involved in the design process which will prepare them for real-world projects.

What are some of the key skills and knowledge that you hope students will gain from participating?

The course will equip students with essential user interface and experience design skills, emphasizing human-centered design through understanding and specifying the context of use and user requirements, producing design solutions, and evaluating the design.

The application period for Human-Centered UX Design by Aalto University Summer School is open until 19 May 2024. The course runs from 1.7.2024 to 12.7.2024.