Beyond the Universal User: How to Design for the Universe of Users
http://www.stc.org/ConfProceed/2003/PDFs/STC50-065.pdf

Bowie, Jennifer L.
STC Proceedings
2003

Abstract:

Current 'user-centered' design methods place great value on design for the user. In this, I examine how investigation methods for user-centered design like usability testing and field methods are often only used to design for the universal user and not the universe of users. I critically explore the universalizing of the user that occurs during these investigation methods. I then address the problems with designing for a universal user and finally present ways to design for the universe of users.