ID412
Human Centered Design
Faculty
Hiram Aragón
Lead Designer at Frog Design, Barcelona.
Course length
Duration
Total hours
Credits
Language
Course type
Fee for single course
Fee for degree students
Skills you’ll learn
Overview
Imagine a world where every product, service and experience is crafted with empathy and understanding of the people who will interact with it. That’s the essence of Human-centered design (HCD). It’s a mindset, a philosophy, a way of approaching problems and creating solutions that truly resonate with people on a deeply emotional level.
In this course, students will gain not only a deep understanding of the principles and methodologies of HCD but also the mindset and skills needed to apply them effectively in real-world situations, working closely with the people they’re designing for, involving them every step of the way to ensure that what we create truly meets their needs and delights them in unexpected ways.
Learning highlights
- How to frame problems and ask the right questions.
- Hypothesis generation.
- How to apply research methods to understand the problem space.
- Sense making: synthesis between user and experience frameworks.
- Brainstorming and ideation techniques.
- Prototype and user testing.
- Storytelling and concept presentation.
Course outline
15 classes
Session 1
Intro lecture Human Centered Design.
Introduction course topics and dynamics.
Thoughts on how to be a world explorer.
Session 2
Project brief: activities and group setup.
Desktop research and value proposition.
Defining the problem space (organize thinking).
Session 3
Design research foundations.
Defining a research plan.
Group Q&A and exercise discussions.
Session 4
Field research overview.
Screening and recruiting.
Drafting interview guide / Script.
Project hands-on work.
Session 5
Interview sessions.
Projects hands-on work.
Guest speaker.
Session 6
Sense making (Synthesis).
Mapping experiences and journeys.
Archetypes.
Projects hands-on work.
Session 7
Sense making (Synthesis).
Mapping experiences and journeys.
Archetypes.
Projects hands-on work.
Session 8
Insights and opportunities.
Design principles.
Service blueprint.
Projects hands-on work.
Session 9
Insights and opportunities.
Design principles.
Service blueprint.
Projects hands-on work.
Session 10
Research recap presentations.
Creative confidence and inspiration.
Guest speaker.
Session 11
Ideation and concept development.
Sketching and scenario building.
Projects hands-own work.
Session 12
Prototyping and user testing.
Design refinement based on user feedback.
Projects hand-on work.
Session 13
Prototyping and user testing.
Design refinement based on user feedback.
Projects hand-on work.
Session 14
Effective storytelling and concept presentation.
Refinement and practice.
Guest Speaker.
Session 15
Final presentations.
Thoughts on becoming an experienced designer.
Course materials
Books
Prerequisites
The course is open to anyone, but it’s a plus if you know:
Basic knowledge of research / service methods.
Basic knowledge of visual / interaction design.
Knowledge of design tools (ex Figma, Sketch, Keynote, Adobe Suite, etc.)
Methodology
The class will be a mix of short lectures, open discussions, and group assignments, where students will be asked to go through the design and creative process to research, ideate, design, and validate new solutions based on an initial brief.
This course will consist of:
Subject matter lectures.
Group collaboration and ideation.
Online guided work sessions.
Industry cases and relevant recommended reading.
Group projects and presentation.
Grading
Hiram is a multidisciplinary designer working across interaction design, film, product, art direction, and creative strategy. Passionate about designing experiences and stories that connect to people. With over 10+ years of experience in the creative industry, Hiram has worked with innovative and forward-thinking organizations in North America and Europe, leading multidisciplinary teams with the ideology of constant learning, experimentation, and willingness to design for the benefit of humanity and the impact of businesses in a rapidly changing world.
He has a background in digital arts and multimedia business. From there, he found his passion for storytelling which combines with different disciplines such as technology & human-centered design to translate innovative solutions that are viable, enjoyable, and impactful.
See full profileApply for this course
Human Centered Design
by Hiram Aragón
Total hours
45 Hours
Dates
Jun 09 - Jun 27, 2025
Fee for single course
€1500
Fee for degree students
€750
How to secure your spot
Complete the form below to kickstart your application
Schedule your Harbour.Space interview
If successful, get ready to join us on campus
FAQ
Will I receive a certificate after completion?
Yes. Upon completion of the course, you will receive a certificate signed by the director of the program your course belonged to.
Do I need a visa?
This depends on your case. Please check with the Spanish or Thai consulate in your country of residence about visa requirements. We will do our part to provide you with the necessary documents, such as the Certificate of Enrollment.
Can I get a discount?
Yes. The easiest way to enroll in a course at a discounted price is to register for multiple courses. Registering for multiple courses will reduce the cost per individual course. Please ask the Admissions Office for more information about the other kinds of discounts we offer and what you can do to receive one.