About
The HCD Lab started with a question:
"Instead of telling people about human-centered design,
what if I created a space for people to
?"
The Full Story
I started the Human-centered Design Lab (HCD Lab) as a place for professionals to experience design, creativity, and collaboration. I believed that people are changed not just by ideas, but by experiences—just as I had been.
My career didn’t begin in design. I studied economics, and my first professional role was as a Christian worker. But one day, I encountered human-centered design, and it fundamentally changed how I saw the world and my work.
Through design, I experienced curiosity channeled into skillful questions that surfaced real insights. I discovered new ways of collaborating that were fun, productive, and built genuine connection. I saw stories told in unexpected, deeply immersive ways. I learned to prototype as a way to imagine, communicate, and learn. Most importantly, I came to understand creativity not as a fleeting spark reserved for a few, but as a capability that can be developed, practiced, and shared.
I wanted others to understand the power of design, and I knew that talking about it wouldn’t be enough. If I could give people the chance to experience what I had experienced, I believed they, too, would be changed. That belief is why I started the HCD Lab.
Evan Chan
Goals
The strength of this community is the people in it. A "member" of the HCD Lab is any professional who wants to be part of this community. There are no membership fees or benefits that only certain people enjoy. If you come to an event and want to be part of this community, then you're a member!
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We believe that there is substantial expertise already in this community. We strive to share that knowledge by facilitating interesting combinations of people and providing structure and support to host events that benefit the whole community. We warmly invite all members to contribute to this community!
F O R A T T E N D E E S
Connect
Meet with professionals from a wide variety of backgrounds and form meaningful, lasting connections
Learn
Learn and practice design + innovation-related skills that are applicable in a wide array of contexts
F O R F A C I L I T A T O R S
Collaborate
Collaborate with and learn from people they otherwise might not cross paths with
Experiment
Test out new approaches and stretch into new areas of expertise in a no-risk space
Shift Perspectives
Open people's eyes to new concepts or ways of thinking and working