Rethinking Users

Knowing your users stimulates your imagination and helps you create more exciting and effective design solutions.

But there is a problem: the normal conception of ‘the user’ is incomplete and based on outdated notions. These notions of simple, direct relationships between people and products are no longer valid in today’s complex, technologically interconnected world. This fun and practical book with a set of cards will change the way readers think about users.

Rethinking Users introduces a radical new approach that questions some of our most fundamental ideas about the nature of user experience. It points to new opportunities to create products and services that help users in new ways. The book includes a deck of user archetype cards and step-by-step team activities for unlocking new user-centered thinking and design inspiration. For designers, design researchers, strategists, innovators, product managers, and entrepreneurs in almost any field.

About the Authors

Michael Youngblood is Principal at The Youngblood Group, an innovation consultancy working at the nexus of social science and human-centered design. Prior to launching his own practice, he was Associate Partner at the acclaimed design and innovation firm Gravitytank, where he was the co-lead of the user research team.

Benjamin Chesluk is a cultural anthropologist who has been conducting research to understand and improve health care since 2005. He is currently Senior Researcher for Ethnographic Research at the American Board of Internal Medicine. Before coming to the ABIM, he spent several years at a design-research consulting firm, where he conducted ethnographic research in clinics, ORs and ICUs around the world.

About the Illustrator

Nadeem Haidary is a product designer working in technology at the intersection of digital and physical experiences. He spent the majority of his career in design consulting at Salesforce Ignite, Gravitytank, Smart Design and IDEO, helping clients uncover human needs and design innovative solutions.