#Japan #Tokyo #HCD Certification #Human Centered Design #HCS Co-Creation

HCD Foundation Certification Exceeds 10,000 Candidates

The Human Centered Society Co-Creation Organization (HCS Co-Creation Organization) has proudly announced that the total number of candidates who have taken the HCD Foundation Certification (HCD Exam®) has surpassed 10,000. This achievement indicates a growing recognition of the importance of human-centered design (HCD) across numerous industries, driven by the push for digital transformation (DX) in our modern era.

The HCD Exam® is designed to provide candidates with essential knowledge and a mindset aligned with the principles of human-centered design, ensuring a common language between HCD professionals. As the scope of HCD expands to encompass the Human Centered Society (HCS), its application in areas such as management and business consulting is accelerating, thus enabling solutions to diverse challenges.

This certification aims to deliver the core knowledge and mindset required for HCD to a broader audience across various sectors, promoting it as a vital qualification within the framework set forth by the Digital Skills Standard (DSS) established by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry and the Information-Technology Promotion Agency (IPA) in Japan.

The recent milestone of reaching over 10,000 candidates reflects a robust acknowledgment of the significance of HCD principles and foundational knowledge in today’s business landscape. The organization is committed to further promoting HCD Foundation Certification to broaden the pool of qualified HCD professionals and accelerate the implementation of human-centered design into organizations.

Company Adoption Success Stories

Several companies have successfully integrated the HCD certification into their training programs:

• - NEC: With over 1,300 participants, employees from technical, development, sales, and marketing roles have engaged with the exam. Feedback from successful candidates reveals that more than half have been able to apply their learning in their jobs, marking a shift towards practical application of HCD principles.
• - KDDI Agile Development Center: A total of 55 individuals have taken the exam, including the company president and other executives, who are now incorporating HCD concepts organization-wide.
• - Apiritz: Over 100 employees have participated in the certification as part of their DX talent development initiative, using internal study sessions to facilitate a deeper understanding of HCD for practical use.

Related Initiatives

In line with this progress, an online panel discussion is scheduled, featuring educators from various adopting companies. The session titled “Human-Centered Design Basics Implementation in Organizations” will delve into the practical application of HCD Certification across different industries and share insights from early adopters, including NEC, KDDI Agile Development Center, and Apiritz.

Event Details:

• - Date and Time: May 21, Thursday, from 19:00 to 20:00
• - Format: Online
• - Registration Links:

- Event via Connpass
- Event via Peatix

About the HCD Exam®

The HCD Exam® is a comprehensive assessment based on the Human Centered Design Knowledge System. It offers a chance to learn HCD principles for individuals across various sectors – including manufacturing, service industries, healthcare, education, and government, as well as diverse roles such as planning, engineering, quality assurance, procurement, sales, and service.

Certified Candidates: Those who pass recognized certifications like the UX Certification (Basic) from the UX Intelligence Association (UXIA), TC Enhancement Examination from the Technical Communicator Association (JTCA), and Hypothesis Testing Boot Camp Certification from the Embedded Systems Association (JASA), receive official recognition as passing the HCD Exam®.

For more inquiries, please visit HCS Co-Creation Organization and HCD Exam® website.