Research for users : critical knowledge and experience for design and engineering students

In recent years, researchers and participants in the design and engineering disciplines have increasingly considered and valued the importance of a user-oriented or user-centred approach in design practice. A major advantage of this approach to design is that designs with a high degree of userfitness are more likely to result. In the article, the author illustrates how users’ research activities have been incorporated in design and engineering programmes. The author focuses on learning and teaching experiences, and on the design outcomes generated by students. The author also identifies that the most important value of incorporating a user’s research experience in design and engineering programmes is not giving practice knowledge and experience to students, but rather in allowing them to experience and find out by themselves the importance of respecting users in their professions.