Week 3 · Adaptive Planning Program

11. Introduction to HCD in Public Health

30 min

By the end you'll be able to

Explain the four phases of the Double Diamond design process
Compare Human-Centered Design and Community-Based Participatory Research
Identify opportunities to integrate HCD into traditional planning approaches

Public health interventions often suffer from the “expert model,” assuming we know best without consulting the end-user. This lesson flips that dynamic by introducing Human-Centered Design (HCD), focusing on the “Double Diamond” process: Discover, Define, Develop, and Deliver.

We explore the synergies between HCD and Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR), distinguishing how HCD focuses specifically on usability and experience while CBPR focuses on power dynamics.

Practice quiz

Question 1
What is the main critique of the ‘expert model’ that HCD seeks to correct in public health?
- It assumes practitioners know best without consulting end-users.
- It relies too heavily on expensive consultants.
- It ignores randomized controlled trial evidence.
- It places too much emphasis on user feedback.
Question 2
How does HCD differ from Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) according to the lesson?
- HCD is quantitative while CBPR is qualitative.
- HCD is faster while CBPR is more rigorous.
- HCD focuses on usability and experience, while CBPR focuses on power dynamics.
- HCD only works in clinical settings, while CBPR works in community settings.
Reflection 3
Name the four phases of the Double Diamond process and briefly describe what happens at a high level.

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