User-Centered Agile Methods

by Hugh Beyer

Overview

This book is an up-to-date exploration of the relationship between user-centered design and Agile development. It offers readers a framework for understanding how user-centered design fits into the overall structure of an Agile project, from deciding what to build through delivery. While the dust may have settled somewhat in the 10 years since the first edition examined the impact of Agile methods on user-centered design, the proper relationship between user research, UX design, specification, and development continues to be a matter of debate. Readers unfamiliar with Agile development will find an orientation to the Agile approach, providing insight into how Agile can both hinder and invite more in-depth user involvement. The book also briefly considers the other side of the equation—the current state of the UX field, the challenges UX designers face, and how UX is working to improve product design. This book is particularly written for the UX practitioners who find themselves struggling to use their unique insights to transform the product and delight the customer, given the constraints of Agile development. It will also benefit the developers, product managers, and other stakeholders who work with such UX teams and have an interest in getting the most out of them.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783032039736
Publisher:	Springer Nature Switzerland
Publication date:	12/15/2025
Series:	Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered Informatics
Edition description:	Second Edition 2026
Pages:	93
Product dimensions:	6.61(w) x 9.45(h) x (d)

About the Author

Hugh Beyer has been one of the pioneers of the user experience (UX) field since 1990. He is the co-author of Contextual Design, a foundational text in UX research and practice. Prior to his work in UX, he was a developer at Digital Equipment Corporation, where he gained experience that has informed his work with UX ever since. Since 2004, he has pioneered the integration of UX with Agile methods through writing, consulting, and direct participation. He is now the chief product officer of Cohealo, Inc., where he continues to advance the strategic alignment of UX, Agile development, and product management.

Table of Contents

Introduction.- Common Agile Methods.- Agile Culture.- UX Challenges.- Best Practices for Integrating UX with Agile.- Structure of a User-Centered Agile Process.- Structuring Projects.- Conclusions.