Comparative study of user-centred design approaches

This paper sets out to investigate user-centred design approaches utilised in design and construction of the built environment. 'User-centred design' refers to design which focuses on users' needs and wants. The term is widely used in software design, graphical design and in healthcare products used in the hospital and in design and construction of the built environment, for example in urban development, place-making, workplace design and refurbishment. The phrase covers a number of different approaches including Participatory Design, Co-Design, Space Syntax and Usability of Buildings. This paper compares these supposedly distinct approaches to better understand the different ways in which users' needs can and are being incorporated. More specifically, it focuses on the deployment of these terms in construction research. A comparison of the definition of users, proposed role of users in the design process reveals significant differences in the definition and proposed role of users across the four approaches, with direct implications for the type of space envisioned and produced.