Human-Centered Design is part of the foundation of the Resilient Together process

The Resilient Together project utilizes human-centered design principles in several key ways throughout our climate adaptation and resilience planning process:

1. Emphasis on community engagement: The project places a strong focus on involving community members at every stage, from discovery to implementation. This aligns with the human-centered design principle of putting people at the center of the process.
2. Inclusive participation: The project aims to create welcoming and inclusive participation opportunities for all community members, ensuring diverse perspectives are considered. This reflects the human-centered design approach of understanding and addressing the needs of various stakeholders.
3. Storytelling and experience sharing: During the discovery phase, the project encourages community members to share their personal stories and experiences related to climate change impacts. This aligns with the human-centered design principle of developing empathy and understanding user experiences.
4. Iterative process: The project follows a phased approach (Discover, Define, Design, Decide, Do) that allows for continuous refinement based on community input and feedback. This iterative nature is a key aspect of human-centered design.
5. Collaborative problem-solving: The project involves multiple stakeholders, including community members, partner organizations, and government staff, in developing resilience strategies and actions. This collaborative approach is central to human-centered design.
6. Focus on local context: By considering the specific vulnerabilities and challenges of the Charlottesville and Albemarle County area, the project demonstrates a commitment to understanding and addressing local needs.
7. Addressing equity: The project recognizes that some community members may face greater vulnerability to climate impacts and seeks to engage with these groups to ensure equitable solutions. This aligns with the human-centered design principle of designing for inclusivity.
8. Prototyping and testing: The "Do" phase involves implementing strategies, monitoring progress, and evaluating success, which reflects the human-centered design approach of testing and refining solutions.

By incorporating these human-centered design elements, the Resilient Together project aims to create climate adaptation and resilience plans that are truly responsive to the needs and experiences of the local community.