Human-Centered Design Resources

Integrating human-centered design (HCD) into food is medicine research is critical to ensuring that interventions are grounded in the lived experiences, preferences, and needs of the populations they aim to serve. When applied early in the research process, HCD facilitates the development of trial designs that are more relevant, acceptable, and contextually appropriate. It supports the identification of meaningful outcomes, enhances participant engagement, and increases the likelihood that interventions will be both effective and sustainable in real-world settings. Without this foundational lens, well-intentioned programs may fail to address practical barriers to participation or resonate with the communities they are intended to benefit.

To support the integration of HCD principles into trial design, we present this series of webinars and corresponding worksheets that provide a structured approach to embedding participant-centered thinking from the outset. These resources are intended to guide research teams through key considerations related to empathy-building, co-design, and iterative feedback—ensuring that the participant voice is not peripheral, but central, to the development of food is medicine interventions. Through this work, we aim to advance more inclusive and impactful research practices across the field.

These resources were developed by our Human-Centered Design Task Force, whose expertise and insights have been instrumental in shaping this series.

We recommend reviewing the webinars in the order presented, as each builds on concepts introduced in the previous session. This sequential structure is designed to guide research teams through a step-by-step process for integrating human-centered design into trial planning and implementation.