Designhensyn

Design hensyn, or design considerations, are the factors that must be weighed during the design process to meet objectives while aligning with constraints such as safety, usability, aesthetics, sustainability, and compliance. They guide decisions about form, function, and performance and help anticipate potential impacts on users, stakeholders, and the environment.

Typical design hensyn include safety and risk, usability and accessibility, ergonomics, aesthetics and cultural relevance, sustainability and environmental impact, cost and lifecycle cost, maintainability and reliability, regulatory compliance and standards, data privacy and ethics in digital design, and resilience.

Design teams address these concerns through methods such as user-centered design, inclusive or universal design, scenario planning, risk assessment, checklists, design reviews, impact assessments, and life cycle assessment.

The concept is applied across fields including product design, architecture, urban planning, software development, and public services. When design hensyn are systematically considered, products and spaces tend to better meet user needs, comply with laws, reduce risks, and minimize environmental footprint.

In practice, they are documented as requirements, design constraints, or guidelines early in project charters or briefs. Related terms include universal design, design for accessibility, and life cycle assessment.