Episode 08: Psychology of Design

“How do people FEEL when using something?”

This question is at the forefront of Dr. Amy Schwartz’s research. As an Adjunct Lecturer at Segal and a human-centered design researcher with a PhD in cognitive psychology, Dr. Shwartz works to humanize technology and design. The most important feature of her work? The study of people (ie: psychology). How do people think? How do they work? What are the possible barriers that prevent a design from being useful to someone? Are these barriers social, physical, mental, or cultural?

In Episode 08 of To Be Designed, hosts Leah Parsons and Carolyn Hagler chat about Dr. Sshwartz’s work, as well as make their own connections between cognitive psychology and human-centered design. 

This episode was produced by Quynh-Nhi Tran. Engineering by Mary Shirk. Co-hosted by Leah Parsons and Carolyn Hagler. Writing and research by Leah Parsons. Editing by Nico Petry-Mitchel and Sriman Narayanan. Marketing by Leah Parsons. Music by Drew McComas. Special thanks to Amy Schwartz, Mark Schumacher, and Casey Russell. 

To Be Designed is sponsored by the Segal Design Institute at Northwestern University.