My attempt at making sense of my field

This post is a reflection on my own understanding of the following nomenclatures you can read below. I have worked in the field for more than 10 years in different roles as a consultant, Teacher, and in-house Designer in a big corporation and at startups. This is what I can put together.

What is Contextual Design?

Contextual design is a user-centered design methodology that focuses on understanding the context in which a product or service will be used. This approach involves conducting extensive research to gather information about the users, their needs, and the environments in which the product will be used. This research typically includes activities such as observations, interviews, and field studies. The goal of contextual design is to create products that are well-suited to the needs of the users and the context in which they will be used. This approach is often used in the development of technology products, such as mobile apps or software applications.

What is the difference between Human-Machine Interface and Contextual Design?

The main difference between human-machine interface (HMI) and contextual design is that HMI focuses on the design of the interface between a human user and a machine or technology, while contextual design focuses on understanding the context in which a product or service will be used. HMI typically involves designing the buttons, screens, and other elements that a…