Future insights of human-centered design when developing digital health

Abstract

Human-Centered design (HCD) is widely recognized as one of the most impactful approaches for developing digital health (DH) innovations. Despite HCD, technology‑driven healthcare systems remain complex. Over the past century, HCD has evolved alongside the broader field of design. This study aims to understand the challenges of HCD in digital health in the 2020s, future insights, and to explore emerging approaches to revise HCD. To achieve this, a systematic review of 53 publications (2020–2025) was conducted. The findings reveal persistent issues in terms of usability, inclusiveness, organizational constraints, and evaluation. The future calls for systemic and cultural considerations, evidence-based methods, and interdisciplinary collaboration. Emerging paradigms such as value-sensitive design, agile approaches, and more-than-human perspectives signal a shift toward sustainable ethical innovation. The recommendations emphasize moving beyond anthropocentric models to embed ecological and societal values in digital health design.