Purpose:

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Human-centered design is a creative-problem-solving approach emphasizing the needs of the end user as the primary point of focus. My group members, Arif and Rachel, and I developed a toolkit for hiring managers in the field graphic communication industry by applying human-centered design principles. It was written for a course at Toronto Metropolitan University titled Topics and Issues in Design.

 

Collaborative Responsibilities:

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I individually wrote the following sections: defining graphic design, objectives (distinguishing between amateur and professional graphic designers), examples of applications and the checklist. In addition, I worked alongside Rachel to create the section titled “the right mindset for hiring a graphic designer”. 

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Project Description:

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Our interdisciplinary toolkit addresses the following: as non-designers gain access to graphics software and learn on their own how to design visual materials through online video tutorials and manuals, the value of an educated and trained graphic designer is diminishing in favour of an inexperienced amateur. We decided to tackle this conflicting issue regarding hiring graphics and visual communication designers as the common theme amongst our academic fields of study (i.e. Creative Industries, Photography, and Film Studies). Our goal is to create a human-centered approach for hiring designers within the area of graphics and visual communication, placing the candidates at the centre of importance during the employment process. Therefore, hiring managers must understand how to distinguish a professional designer from an amateur in the field.

 

To read more about my group's toolkit, please download a copy.