User - Centered Design (UCD) is also otherwise known as Pervasive usability. This is a design process in which the determining factors are accommodation and usability, bearing in mind the end user of the product. Technology that is difficult to use because of a complicated interface is one of the key reasons people are so turned off by all of these new Information Communication Technologies (ICTs).

Creating User - centered designs or products involves a multi-stage development process, which requires designers to analyze and foresee how end users are likely to use a product. The assumptions are further validated by real world tests with actual users. Appropriate changes are incorporated into the product at every step, the end product as a result should aptly address the end user requirements and lead to a user friendly product interface.

Given below is a brief overview of the UCD process:

• Perform a site audit of the existing website, identifying key areas for improvement.
• Carry out an online survey and conduct in-depth interviews with a sample of users.
• Review web site visitors log files and come up with a research document.
• Develop affinity diagram and site map in a taxonomy document.
• Draw up wireframes, interaction and visual design.
• In general creating such user-centered designs are a time consuming affair, involving months of hard work and requiring the expertise of staff with different skill sets.

Given the lengthy design and development process in creating user-centered designs, they are appropriate for sites which directly target the end customers, such as e-commerce sites, online news papers, social networking sites, job portals, matrimonial websites etc to mention a few.