#Japan #Tokyo #Spice Factory #HCD-Net #Dx Innovation

Spice Factory Enters HCD-Net as a Supporting Member

Spice Factory, headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, led by CEO Hiroyuki Takagi, has officially joined the Human-Centered Design Network (HCD-Net) as a supporting member as of April 2025. This collaboration aims to bolster Spice Factory's commitment to integrating specialized knowledge and current trends in Human-Centered Design (HCD), enhancing the value offered to clients in their digital transformation (DX) journeys.

The Importance of Human-Centered Design in Digital Transformation

According to the Information-Technology Promotion Agency (IPA) report, "DX Trends 2024," only about 20% of companies engaged in digital transformation have achieved significant results, such as fundamental transformations in business models through customer-driven value creation. Many failures in DX projects are attributed to issues like poor system usage by frontline employees and lack of service engagement. This indicates that merely introducing digital tools and systems often becomes an end in itself, overshadowing the essential goal of meaningful usage.

To achieve effective DX, it’s crucial not only to develop systems and technology but also to ensure that users continually find value and engage with the solutions provided. Here, Human-Centered Design (HCD) plays a crucial role. HCD involves a deep understanding of user needs and contexts, facilitating iterative processes of design, evaluation, and improvement. This approach enables the development of business systems and services that truly reflect user perspectives and meet real-world needs, creating products that work seamlessly in operational environments.

Spice Factory's Commitment to HCD

Spice Factory has established a strong foundation in human-centered design expertise, with two qualified human-centered design experts and one specialist among its UX designers. The company invests over three times the average educational expenditure compared to large and small businesses, focusing on skill development and technological proficiency to address diverse client DX challenges. In addition to expanding learning opportunities through training, Spice Factory is diligently working on design research and systematization of knowledge.

Training and Education Initiatives

• - Rapid Prototyping Workshops
• - OOUI (Object-Oriented User Interface) Training
• - Full financial support for certification exam fees
• - A self-improvement system allowing monthly grants of up to 5,000 yen for book purchases and event participation without prior approval

Research and Development Efforts

• - Participatory research and development in autonomous business improvement initiatives, dubbed "DesignOps," where all UI/UX designers engage in developing tools, assets, and processes.
• - Cross-departmental project teams focused on AI tools and RDRA research.

Future Direction and Leadership Comments

Chiaki Sato, the General Manager of Interface & Experience Design Division at Spice Factory, highlights that HCD-Net serves as a central community of top practitioners in Japan’s UX design field, promoting human-centered design. As demand for digital transformation and user experience accelerates, the existing UX designer population remains insufficient. HCD-Net has played a pivotal role in providing guidance for beginners and raising public awareness of the significance of HCD.

Spice Factory is committed to contributing to this mission by nurturing HCD practitioners and utilizing its agility and creativity rooted in startup culture to deliver genuine DX support to society.

About HCD-Net

HCD-Net is a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the usability of products and services through the promotion of human-centered design. It connects industries, government, and academia, providing a comprehensive platform for various activities led by practitioners, researchers, and certified experts. With a recognition system for both experts and specialists, HCD-Net sets benchmarks for aspiring HCD practitioners, ensuring relevant knowledge and methodologies are shared to create a more comfortable and user-friendly society.

By collating interdisciplinary knowledge in HCD, HCD-Net aims to foster a society where many can live conveniently and enjoyably, while simultaneously promoting economic development and a stress-free existence.

For more details, visit the official website of HCD-Net.