Why Human-Centered Design Matters

In the early days of computing, users had to adapt to software. Operating systems like IBM Mainframe OS or MS-DOS required memorizing commands. Early tools like Lotus 1-2-3 and WordPerfect shipped with thick manuals, expecting people to learn how to use them.

Today, the tables have turned. With advancements in technology and user experience research, software must now adapt to people.

Consider how operating systems evolved: from the text-based MS-DOS to intuitive, visually driven platforms like Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS. The shift is clear: success belongs to products that are designed around users, not machines.

This is where Human-Centered Design shines.

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Why Human-Centered Design Works Best

Human-Centered Design is a problem-solving method or design approach that emphasizes putting actual people at the center of the development process.

Through careful investigation and observation, we at Renben try to comprehend the user's motivations and pain points. Clarity and empathy are the two most crucial factors that support our efforts.

Our goal is to create human-centered, high-quality software solutions that address users' problems by fusing empathy and action. Instead of asking users to understand technical jargon, we make it easier for engineers to empathize with the user’s problem—helping solve it better.

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The Project Goal

A non-governmental organization came to us with a unique problem:

Children in rural schools are not forming habits of reading books and acquiring information, either for pleasure or for their research studies.

There was no system in place to encourage that practice, which hindered their overall cognitive and intellectual growth.

The NGO’s aim:

• Make learning and reading fun, engaging, and motivating.
• Give students a sense of ownership of the library, so they’d be more eager to explore books.

This wasn’t just about reading—it was about building habits, sparking curiosity, and boosting cognitive growth.

It was also a perfect match for our commitment to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goal #4: Quality Education.

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The First Iteration

The project began with user research and involvement.

We held an Exploration Workshop with the kids—the real users. Because genuine users were involved, they felt ownership of the product, leading to better design outcomes.

Crazy 8s Exercise

• Kids sketched eight different UI designs they thought the app should have.
• It was a fun, fast-paced exercise encouraging creativity.
• One design was chosen as the best, and the child whose design was picked was thrilled.

The first implementation was a web app with incentives and gamification.

• Example: A tree would be planted for each book read—so one child could theoretically grow an entire forest.

The first usability test was valuable, surfacing problems to improve upon.

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Problems with the First Iteration

• Kids struggled to finish books quickly; the app felt like it was rushing them.
• Gamification was too abstract and hard for them to understand.
• Using a web app to search physical library IDs was difficult.

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The Second Iteration

Considering the issues surfaced during usability testing, we decided to:

• Build a native Android app that works on both phones and tablets.
• Simplify gamification.
• Introduce a kid-friendly assistant character to guide them through the app.

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The Result

• The children's positive experiences increased significantly.
• The colorful, simplified UI made the app easier and more engaging.
• The assistant character added fun and clarity to the experience.
• Because we followed the principle of Human-Centered Design—involving kids in every step—usability tests continue to reveal more useful ideas.

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How Renben Does It Differently

Many consulting companies rely on Design Thinking Workshops, where teams brainstorm solutions based on market research and user personas. While valuable, these sessions often lack direct user involvement.

At Renben, we go further:

• Exploration Workshops: Co-creating solutions with actual users.
• Usability Testing Workshops: Ensuring users test and shape the product at every stage.

This commitment to real user involvement leads to products that are not only functional and usable, but loved.

We solve pain points not through assumption or siloed research, but by acting on real user input.

This is what sets us apart.