The User Centered Design Process

The Team is excited to be working together to create a product for our specific user, the staff at the Electronic Recycling Center.  The User Centered Design Process is made up of multiple steps that can be iterated many times in order to create the best product. The first stage is empathy, this is when the designer gets to know the user through shared time and interviews.  The second stage is define, this is when the user constructs a persona based on the user's needs and insights.  The next stage is ideate, this is when the designer brainstorms and comes up with as many create solutions as possible.  The next stage is prototype, which is when the designer builds a representation of one or more of the ideas to be able to show the user.  The next stage is feedback, this is when the designer returns to their original user group and tests the ideas to gain feedback. 
We have used this User Centered Design Process or UCD in order to get to know our user and to be able to understand their wants and needs so we can give them a product that will help them and their profitability.