Human-Centered Design: 6 Examples and Why It’s Important

Ever bought a “smart” gadget that made you feel dumb? Maybe a thermostat that takes five taps to change the temperature or wireless earbuds that disconnect every time you move your head. That’s what happens when design skips the human part.

Human-centered design doesn’t start with features or specs —it starts with people. It’s about understanding how users live, think, and interact with a product, then engineering it around those needs. This sets the foundation for devices that feel effortless to use and instantly make sense.

In this post, we’ll break down what makes designing a product with the end user in mind so effective — and show, through six standout examples, how thoughtful design and engineering can turn frustration into delight.

What Is Human-Centered Design?

Human-centered design is an approach to product development that focuses on how people actually use and experience products. It relies on research, observation, and testing to make sure every design choice improves usability and solves a real need.

While often confused with human factors design, the two aren’t the same. Human-centered design is the overall process — the strategy of designing around user needs. Human factors design focuses on the details of physical and cognitive interaction, like ergonomics, reach, and visibility.

For example, when designing a medical device, human-centered design shapes the full experience — setup, workflow, and usability — while human factors design ensures the handle fits comfortably and the screen is easy to read.

Here are the core human-centered design principles:

• Empathy: Understand who you’re designing for. Talk to users directly, observe them in context, and note where frustration or friction occurs. Ask questions like “What slows you down?” or “What do you wish this product did differently?” The goal is to uncover needs that data alone may not show clearly.
• Identification: Map user journeys, highlight pain points, and look for patterns in feedback. Use those to define clear problem statements that guide design and engineering toward measurable outcomes.
• Creation: Translate insights into tangible ideas. Start with quick sketches or low-fidelity prototypes (even paper models) to visualize solutions. Test them early with users to see what feels natural, then refine based on what actually works.
• Collaboration: Build with a mix of perspectives. Involve designers, engineers, and end users throughout development. Host short design sprints, share prototypes across teams, and document tradeoffs between usability, cost, and manufacturability to keep everyone aligned.
• Iteration: Validate, refine, and repeat. Once users interact with a prototype or product, track feedback and performance. Use that data to improve the next version, whether it’s a small ergonomic tweak or a complete feature overhaul.

Why Is Human-Centered Design Important?

Human-centered design matters because it bridges the gap between what people need and what businesses build. For customers, it creates products that feel intuitive — tools that fit naturally into how they live and work. 

For businesses, it reduces risk, boosts satisfaction, and builds long-term loyalty by aligning design decisions with real user behavior instead of assumptions.

• Improved user experience: Designing around how people naturally interact with products helps reduce errors, speed learning, and create a smoother experience. Intuitive layouts and accessible features make products feel effortless to use.
• Better user outcomes: Products built for real-world use help users perform tasks more efficiently and accurately — whether that’s scanning inventory, running lab tests, or navigating an app.
• Increased user loyalty: When users can see their needs reflected in the design, they trust the product and stick with it longer, driving repeat use and stronger brand loyalty.
• Stronger innovation: Continuous user feedback uncovers new ideas faster, helps teams refine designs, improve functionality, and innovate based on real user feedback instead of guesswork.
• Reduced product development costs: Early user testing helps teams catch usability issues before production, avoiding costly redesigns or re-launches. It  shortens time to market and keeps overall product development costs under control.
At StudioRed, every decision starts with the user and ends with a product that works better in their hands.

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How To Implement Human-Centered Design

Putting human-centered design into action requires a structured process. Each step feeds into the next, turning what users say, do, and feel into clear design and engineering decisions that make products more intuitive and effective. Here’s how  the human-centered design process works:

1. User Discovery

Every good design process starts with curiosity. Before sketching or engineering anything, spend time understanding your users. Look into how they work, what slows them down, and what they care about. You can do this through interviews, quick surveys, or informal observation.

For example, if you’re researching handheld tools and users consistently mention needing to readjust their grip during use, that’s a strong signal the current market designs lack comfort or balance. Insights like this — gathered before a single prototype is built — help pinpoint where your design should improve the user experience right from the start.

2. Problem Definition

Once you’ve gathered user insights, the next step is figuring out what those insights mean. This is where you turn what you saw and heard to solve a design challenge. Look for patterns in the data — common frustrations, goals, or habits — and use them to define the specific problem your product needs to solve.

Tools like user personas and journey maps help make this concrete. Personas summarize who your users are and what drives them, while journey maps show how they move through your product or experience, step by step. Together, they help you pinpoint exactly where friction happens and why. 

The clearer the problem, the easier it is for your design and engineering teams to stay aligned and build something that directly addresses it.

3. Solution Ideation

Once you’ve defined the problem, it’s time to explore ways to solve it. This stage is about generating as many ideas as possible through quick brainstorming sessions, sketches, or digital mockups. Don’t aim for perfection yet; focus on range and creativity.

Bring in different perspectives early — designers, engineers, and even users — to challenge assumptions and surface ideas one team alone might miss. After that, evaluate your concepts against two things: user needs and real-world feasibility. 

4. Prototyping

Prototyping turns ideas into something you can actually touch, test, and critique. This is where designers and engineers work together to bring early concepts to life — whether that’s a rough 3D print or a foam model. The goal is to see how the idea performs in the real world and catch issues early.

Keep early prototype low-cost so you can build, test, and adjust quickly. Run internal tests with your team and a few target users to spot usability or ergonomic problems before committing to production. Document what works, what doesn’t, and why.

5. Testing

Testing is where your prototype meets reality. Once you’ve built a working version, get it into users’ hands and watch how they actually interact with it. 

Use a mix of methods to gather feedback: interviews and surveys for qualitative insights, A/B tests to compare design options, and even support tickets or usage analytics once the product is live. Involve both design and engineering teams when reviewing results to identify recurring usability issues and spot consistent patterns across user behavior. Every test cycle should bring you closer to a version that feels natural, intuitive, and fully aligned with what users need.

6 Examples of Human-Centered Design

The best examples of human-centered design come from products that feel effortless to use because every detail was built around real people. 

At StudioRed, each project starts with understanding how users interact with a product day to day. These examples show how that approach shapes everything from ergonomics to accessibility.

10x Genomics

The 10x Genomics Xenium Analyzer is a precision lab instrument designed to support scientists working long hours at standard bench height. StudioRed’s goal was to make every interaction, from viewing data to reaching accessories, comfortable and intuitive for users across a wide range of heights and physical builds.

Here’s how the team applied human-centered design principles throughout the project:

• Full-scale modeling for accessibility: We built a life-size model to verify clearances and ensure all accessories were easy to see and reach for users of any height.
• Ergonomic lift-and-lower door: Our team engineered a door mechanism that moved smoothly and required minimal effort to operate, reducing repetitive strain during daily lab work.
• Optimized display visibility: We tested multiple display angles before integrating the screen directly into the instrument, ensuring clear visibility for users across the 5th to 95th height percentiles.

Promega Spectrum CE System

The Promega Spectrum CE System is built to make genetic analysis faster, safer, and easier for lab professionals. Designed with day-to-day usability in mind, it streamlines complex sequencing workflows so scientists can focus on results, not managing the machine.

StudioRed applied human-centered design principles to simplify every touchpoint and reduce repetitive strain:

• Front-access door for ergonomic loading: The door opens wide to give users clear visibility and easy reach when loading samples or consumables — eliminating awkward bending or stretching.
• Smooth, single-motion operation: Balanced mechanics allow users to open and close the unit effortlessly, reducing fatigue during repeated use.
• Transparent interior for workflow clarity: Clear internal visibility helps prevent loading errors and allows users to quickly confirm instrument status.

Fullfild F2022 Scanner

The Fullfild F2022 Warehouse Scanner was built for warehouse teams who spend hours on their feet, scanning inventory throughout long shifts. StudioRed’s focus was to make that experience as seamless and comfortable as possible — reducing fatigue and improving productivity through smarter ergonomics.

Key human-centered features include:

• Ergonomic handle design: We explored different grip shapes and angles to make sure the scanner feels comfortable and balanced, even after hours of use.
• Buttons optimized for gloved use: Wider spacing, clear separation, and button placement that aligns with natural hand positions so users can navigate the device comfortably without removing their gloves.
• Removable Google Pixel module: We designed the module so the Pixel slides in and out in seconds, making maintenance fast and keeping daily workflows smooth.

7-Eleven Quick Check-Out (QCO)

The 7-Eleven QCO system was designed to make in-store transactions faster and more intuitive for both customers and cashiers. StudioRed’s challenge was to create a layout that felt open, accessible, and comfortable to use.

Some stand-out features include:

• Ergonomic accessibility for all users: Full-scale prototypes confirmed that the space around the unit felt open and unobstructed, with touchpoints comfortably within reach for users standing in front of or behind the system.
• ADA-compliant side display: The display height and angle were designed to remain visible and operable for users of varying heights and physical abilities.
• Collaborative sensor placement: We placed sensors on the top and sides so tall shoppers can clearly see the items on the scale, while keeping the system durable and accurate for everyday store use.

KardiaMobile® 6L

The KardiaMobile® 6L designed by AliveCor is the world’s first six-lead personal EKG device — built to give users hospital-grade heart data from home. It delivers a full cardiac reading in just 30 seconds, helping people track their heart health without complicated equipment or clinic visits.

Here is what makes it a strong design thinking example:

• Effortless operation: The device records six EKG leads (I, II, III, aVL, aVR, and aVF) in 30 seconds using only two fingers and one leg contact. Removing the wires and adhesives reduces intimidation and removes barriers to use.
• Clear, guided feedback: The companion app walks users through setup and results interpretation, simplifying complex data into easy-to-understand insights.
• Comfortable, portable form: A slim, pocketable design encourages consistent use,  making heart monitoring a natural part of a user’s daily routine.
• Trust through clinical validation: The device is FDA-cleared for detecting AFib, Bradycardia, and Tachycardia, giving users confidence that what they’re seeing is accurate and meaningful.

Herman Miller Aeron Chair

The Aeron Chair by Herman Miller has long been a benchmark for human-centered design in office furniture. Designed by Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick, it set a new standard for ergonomics and inclusivity in workplace seating — a design that continues to evolve nearly 30 years later.

Human-centered thinking shows up in every detail of the Aeron’s design:

• Ergonomic comfort for all body types: The chair is available in three sizes (A, B, and C), each precisely engineered to support a broad range of users — from the 1st to the 99th percentile — ensuring comfort and posture support for almost everyone.
• Adaptive materials for healthy movement: The 8Z Pellicle suspension evenly distributes weight and supports natural posture changes throughout the day, reducing pressure points and fatigue.
• Sustainability-driven redesign: The latest version incorporates ocean-bound plastic into the chair’s body, preserving its strength while minimizing environmental impact.
• Inclusive visibility and adjustability: Every control and mechanism is intuitively designed for one-handed adjustments, making the chair usable and accessible in any workspace setup.

The Aeron Chair remains a masterclass in human-centered design — one that combines ergonomic science, environmental responsibility, and universal usability in a single, timeless product.

Get Products Designed for Humans With StudioRed

These examples of human-centered design show how empathy, engineering, and real-world testing come together — products that not only function flawlessly but feel natural in the user’s hands. From lab instruments to consumer devices, StudioRed’s approach is rooted in understanding how people interact with the things they use every day. 

If you’re developing a product that needs to perform seamlessly in the real world, our team can help you get there. Explore our industrial design services or contact us to start designing for the people who matter most: your users.

Human-Centered Design FAQ

Human-centered design keeps people at the core of every decision — but how it’s applied, measured, and scaled can vary by product. Below are some quick answers to the most common questions teams have when getting started.

What Are Common Examples of Human Centered Design?

Human-centered design shows up anywhere usability and empathy drive innovation. Common examples include ergonomic office chairs like the Herman Miller Aeron, medical devices that simplify complex procedures for patients and clinicians, and consumer products that prioritize accessibility, such as intuitive smart home devices or adaptive kitchen tools.

The principle stays the same: each design solves a real human problem through observation, testing, and iteration — not guesswork or aesthetics alone.

Where Can Human-Centered Design Be Implemented?

Human-centered design applies to physical products, digital interfaces, systems, and services alike. It’s used across industrial design, healthcare, software development, automotive, and even urban planning.

For example, in healthcare, it could mean designing a handheld scanner that remains comfortable to grip during long shifts; in software, it might mean creating a dashboard that surfaces the right data at the right time — without overwhelming the user.

What matteThe mindset matters most: if people use it, interact with it, or depend on it,  human-centered design can make it more intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable.

How Does Human-Centered Design Cut Costs?

Human-centered design saves money by catching costly mistakes early. Testing prototypes and gathering user feedback before production helps teams avoid rework, returns, and recalls.

It also improves adoption and satisfaction. When users enjoy and understand a product, they’re less likely to abandon it or overload support teams — translating to lower training, service, and maintenance costs over time.

What Metrics Should I Use To Measure the Success of a Human-Centered Design Solution?

Start by tracking usability and engagement — such as task completion rates, error frequency, satisfaction scores, and time-on-task. For physical products, measure comfort, accessibility, and return rates.

On the business side, focus on metrics tied to outcomes such as conversion rates, retention, and customer lifetime value. The ultimate sign of success? When users describe your product as “easy,” “natural,” or “made for me.” That’s human-centered design working as intended.