Human-centered design is a five-step process; empathize, define, ideate, prototype and test. Empathizing with the target audience is the first step and there are multiple ways to connect with this emotion. Using a mind-map or empathy map are just two examples of how to create empathy with the audience. After empathizing with the audience, we use that information to define problems and find solutions.

This process of synthesis is known as the define phase. It is now time to brainstorm or sketch out these ideas and using creativity to approach the problem. This is the ideate phase.

The ideate phase is focused on digging deep for innovative ideas. Turning the ideas into something tangible like creating a model or sketch is the prototype phase of the human-centered design.

This phase would be like creating mockups such as the three iterations of the subway advertisement throughout the course.

The last step of the process is testing and seeing how the design can be improved and what adjustments can make it more effective for the intended viewer.