The Role of Empathy in Architecture: CCD vs HCD
Written By Francesca Lubega
Architecture is more than just buildings; it permeates our daily lives. The spaces we inhabit — both within buildings and between buildings — shape how we navigate the world, influence our mood, and impact our ability to learn, work, and create community. As cities grow, thoughtful urban planning is essential for a community’s overall wellbeing and sustainability. In this blog we’ll explore how integrating Community-Centered Design with Human-Centered design principles can enhance architectural projects.
Table of Contents:
What is Community-Centered Design (CCD)?
What is Human-Centered Design (HCD)?
Difference between CCD and HCD
What is Community-Centered Design (CCD)?
Community-Centered Design (CCD) recognizes community residents as key stakeholders within the design development process. To create relevant, impactful, and sustainable projects, designers must understand the unique characteristics and needs of the communities they serve. The perceptions and behaviors of people within a community are taken into account.
Example of CCD
The Sugar Roots Farm Outdoor Classroom by Small Center, located in New Orleans, is a great example of CCD. The Small Center team designed a flexible outdoor teaching space for Sugar Roots that could easily be converted into an outdoor kitchen when Sugar Roots was ready.
Images by Jose Cotto and the Albert and Tina Small Center for Collaborative Design
The design team met with volunteers, workers and visitors to understand the site, their goals, and challenges which they incorporated into the project. Connor Little, one of our designers at Studio Kiro who contributed to the project as a student, reflects on the experience:
“Learning from Human-Centered design, I think a helpful strategy would’ve been making profiles for each user to understand their daily needs from the space as it related to farm processes.”
What is Human-Centered Design (HCD)?
Human-Centered Design (HCD) is an approach that aims to create usable and relevant systems by focusing on individual user needs, and requirements. While Human-Centered and User Experience (UX) Design are associated with digital products, Architects can leverage principles from the disciplines to create more meaningful and functional spaces. And the key take away is empathizing with users.
Example of HCD
The Mixed Media: Water Systems project by Civic Studio exemplifies HCD through its deep engagement with leaders in water management systems, and operators of New Orleans' stormwater drainage pump stations.
Photographed by CFreedom via Civic Studios
This project sought to understand and document the personal experiences, challenges, and dedication of these essential workers. A focus on their stories can lead to crafting better solutions to reduce the impact of rain and tropical storms.
Their research is vital; we see the importance of empathy and recognition in design. The project advocates for better support and appreciation for these workers, demonstrating how HCD can lead to more meaningful and impactful designs.
Understanding the differences between CCD and HCD
Venn Diagram, CCD vs HCD
CCD and HCD might seem identical, but there are key distinctions between these approaches. CCD is driven by the behavior of a large group of people, while HCD focuses on the experience of an individual. HCD is considered a more empathetic approach, because it centers designs around different types of users and their unique needs rather than assuming uniform behavior within groups.
Playground Scenario of CCD vs HCD approach
Take the example of designing a community playground. Here are the 2 approaches:
Community- Centered Design (CCD):
Town hall meetings reveal that parents want a safe and enjoyable space for their children to play, and the community as a whole values physical activity. In response, the designers create a traditional park with swings, slides, climbing frames, and safety features such as soft rubber flooring and fencing. Benches are included for parents, along with a large open green space. Basic accessibility requirements are met with ramps and wheelchair access.
Human-Centered Design (HCD):
In this approach, individuals from the community are interviewed, and different personas are created to represent the preferences of individual users. For example:
Kadija, a 4 year-old girl who loves imaginative play.
Jake, an 8 year old boy in a wheelchair who’d love to play freely with his friends.
Emily, a 35yo mother who enjoys socializing with other parents.
Mr. Robinson, a 68yo grandfather who enjoys spending time outdoors.
With these personas in mind, the playground is designed to cater to specific needs:
Imaginative Play Areas: Designed with Sarah in mind, featuring a castle-themed play structure with interactive elements like tunnels, a drawbridge, and role-play panels.
Inclusive Play Equipment: Added with Jake in mind, including ADA swings, a wheelchair-friendly merry-go-round, and sensory play panels.
Shaded Seating Areas: Provided with Emily in mind, allowing parents to socialize while keeping an eye on their children.
Comfortable Walkways: Created with Mr. Robinson in mind, featuring paved paths with gentle slopes and handrails, along with comfortable benches positioned throughout the playground.
CCD addresses the collective needs of the community; HCD caters to the unique needs of individual users while still addressing the collective needs of the community. Choosing between CCD and HCD depends on the specific problem at hand and the context in which the design will be implemented.
Integrating HCD into Architecture
As architects, integrating HCD thinking can make us better designers. When we talk about skills required from architects, empathy must be woven into this conversation. We are responsible for designing for every possible user of a space. Empathy must be embedded within every step of the design process including Pre-Design, Schematic Design, and Design Development.
Architects can look to UX designers for research practices that center empathy. UX designers rely heavily on data to establish a foundation for their design strategy, using quantitative and qualitative data to understand users and their deeper needs.
Unlike UX designers, architects may do more shallow research on the user group, focusing on their spatial needs, aesthetic desires, and ergonomic standards. However, architects can use data-driven design to make faster decisions and create better outcomes.
Community engagement and data collection can be integrated throughout the architecture design phases, starting with Pre-Design. Conversations should extend beyond the boardroom with the client and towards the people who will have to interact with the space regularly. This approach ensures that the design is informed by the real needs and experiences of individuals in the community.
Engaging with the community may involve conducting surveys, interviews, and workshops to gather valuable insights into their needs, challenges, and aspirations. This can help develop initial design concepts based on community input, ensuring the design is informed by users.
Advancements in technology have made it easier to gain design input from user groups before construction begins. The ability to model/ render designs and the introduction of VR and AR technologies has made it easier for user groups to visualize and understand design proposals. This can make the iterative process more efficient and collaborative.
Conclusion
In summary, Community-Centered Design can be further enhanced using Human-Centered Design principles. This approach requires genuine collaboration, inclusivity, and commitment to addressing the diverse needs of all community members. The best designs can come from exercising empathy and leveraging data-driven insights. Architects can develop designs that are deeply connected to the people they serve. Finding the intersection between CCD and HCD allows architects to create sustainable, thriving and cohesive spaces for current and future generations.