Narcissistic and Embodied Human-Centered-Design

Key Points

Human-centered-design is often criticized for being anthropocentric and outdated.
More-than-human-design proponents use terms like posthuman and anti-anthropocentric to reject HCD, creating confusion.
Critiques of anthropocentrism may overlook its intrinsic value as a condition of existence.
A careful consideration of HCD is necessary to avoid dismissing its significance too quickly.

Abstract

In recent years, there have been calls to replace Human-Centered-Design (HCD) with More-Than-Human-Design (MTHD). The proponents of MTHD dismiss HCD for various reasons; however, the fact that they use the same title, terms and phrases such as posthuman, decenter human, anti-anthropocentric; systematically or not, coherently or not, together they create a strong sense that HCD is passé and must be left behind. Anthropocentrism has gotten a lot of beatings from multiple quarters to the extent that the term carries now a negative connotation. This negative mood seems to get carried away and over to the criticisms of HCD as human-centered is synonymous with anthropocentric. My contribution is to point out, while anthropocentrism is a position of value; it might also be understood as an inescapable condition. Before the MTHD movement sweeps away indiscriminately all HCD, a more careful look is in order.

Narcissistic and Embodied Human-Centered-Design

Key Points

Abstract

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