20 years of the Loughborough user centered assistive technology design process: has it made a difference?

Abstract

An estimated 518 students were taught the Loughborough User Centered Assistive Technology design process, LUCAT, since 2000. Graduates were contacted via a professional networking website to take part in a survey with four being interviewed. The purpose of the survey was to find out if: 1) Did they still use any parts of the process; and 2) Where they had applied them. The respondents ranged from returning placement undergraduates to senior managers in research and development within major companies. From the 105 respondents 23% stated they used parts of the LUCAT process every working day, a further 25% once a week and 27% once a month. The elements of the process used were predominantly semi-structured interviews, concept generation, codesign, design presentation and feedback. Respondents highlighted the benefits of using this process including gaining insights from users, being time efficient, saving money, developing a relationship with end users and making a difference to the lives of people with disability. It was suggested some industries had still not incorporated a User Centered Design approach within New Product Development. The use of the process was shown to be useful beyond AT product design into most areas of design activity.