The Design Cycle + HF Methods
This website organizes high level categories of Human Factors methods within a common framework - the design cycle. Several conceptualizations of the design cycle exist, each with slightly different terminology and stage separations, but almost all of them share common threads and the same circular, iterative flow. For this website, we have settled on the following stages we feel most accurately represent the general flow of design:
Each broad category of Human Factors methods have been carefully placed within one of these stages within the design cycle. Although, we can provide justification for why we chose to situate the methods in a specific stage, it is perfectly reasonable to use a method in a different stage of the cycle. We understand that, depending on the context, goals, priorities, resources, and current status of your project, our decided locations may not fit with your needs.
- Stage 1: Planning
- Stage 2: Data Collection & Analysis
- Stage 3: Design, Development, & Production
- Stage 4: Evaluation & Testing
- Stage 5: Launching & Monitoring
Each broad category of Human Factors methods have been carefully placed within one of these stages within the design cycle. Although, we can provide justification for why we chose to situate the methods in a specific stage, it is perfectly reasonable to use a method in a different stage of the cycle. We understand that, depending on the context, goals, priorities, resources, and current status of your project, our decided locations may not fit with your needs.