User-Centred Design: Bridging the Creativity and Innovation Gap

In-Orbit

What if the key to unlocking the potential of space wasn't just in the technology itself, but in how we design it for people?

In this episode, host Dallas Campbell explores the surprising and critical world of user-centred design with experts Giulia Bencini, Vasant Chari, and Tim Dudas. They discuss how this approach goes beyond engineering, focusing on creating the right solutions for real-world problems.

The conversation highlights how listening deeply to users, from farmers to city planners, and testing ideas early can translate complex satellite data into tangible, beneficial applications on Earth.

• (00:00) - Welcome to In-Orbit
• (01:38) - Understanding User-Centered Design
• (03:43) - Design Thinking in Practice
• (05:38) - Real-World Applications of User-Centered Design
• (10:20) - Exploring Nature-Based Solutions
• (12:07) - User-Centered Design in the Space Industry
• (20:29) - Challenges and Solutions at the Olympic Park
• (23:36) - Making Space Data Accessible for Farmers
• (25:41) - The Role of Design in Simplifying Complex Ideas
• (36:18) - The Future of Design and Space Applications

Giulia Bencini: Senior Service Designer at the Satellite Applications Catapult, where she supports the space sector in adopting a needs-driven approach to technology development.

Vasant Chari: Director of Regional & Local Growth at the Connected Places Catapult, he applies user-centred design principles to public transport and urban environments, focusing on human factors and real-world interactions.

Tim Dudas: Co-founder of Openstead, an early-stage startup that uses a software solution to incentivise adaptation in the built environment to reduce climate risk.

Satellite Applications Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Facebook, Website
Connected Places Catapult: LinkedIn, Twitter/X, Instagram, Website
Openstead: LinkedIn, Website

Produced by Story Ninety-Four in Oxford.