Critical thinking is paramount in Human-Centered Design (HCD) and standard design processes – through gathering user needs, understanding them, and designing solutions for various challenges. But how often do we critically think about our approach to design and our work methodologies?

Jesse Weave, a digital product designer, proposes the concept of "bee-centered design" as an alternative perspective that looks into the way we engage in design thinking.

🧢 Let’s Recap: The Double Diamond & Human-Centered Design Process

The famous Double Diamond Design process has been utilised as a universal model of designing, from establishing problems and creating solutions – frameworks for divergent and convergent thinking in the design process. On the other hand, Human-Centered Design (HCD) is the practice that revolves around understanding and championing users throughout the design process, whilst also considering their contexts.

Alt text: Visual diagrams of the The Double Diamond (from Research to Design) and Human-Centered Design processes (Define, Research, Ideate, Prototype, Test)

Some potential drawbacks of existing design processes:

<aside> 🔬 Tunnel visions the focus on user needs, leaving little room to look at first or second order effects beyond the scope of a product/service

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<aside> 💥 Narrow definition of success can be tied to economic metrics; solutions may harm larger systems beyond the scope of focus defined

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🐝 How does ‘Bee-Centered Design’ come into play?

Bees are a sentinel species, more sensitive and susceptible to changes in the environments compared to other animals. By adopting this mindset, Jesse proposes a shift in focus and scope from the human-centered bubble of design to broader perspectives and the links in our larger ecosystem in design processes.

Rather than just focusing on the process, what if we centered around a set of universal outcomes and evaluated the outcome of the products/services we are building? For example: building goals around “empowerment, inclusivity, sustainability, equity, and opportunity.”

Some questions you can consider beyond the product/problem:

❗ Does this product really need to exist?

❗ Does this problem even need to be solved?

Suggested frameworks you can consider:

<aside> 💭 PESTLE framework → guidelines to think about the different sectors a product/service may be affecting.

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<aside> 💭 The Futures Wheel → looking at the extent and full impact of the indirect/direct consequences introducing a product/service.

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