The Stanley Caplan User-Centered Design Award honors products that succeed in the hands of real users, and the methods that got them there.
Established in 2001, the Stanley Caplan User-Centered Design Award emphasizes both product design and the user-centered design (UCD) methods used to specify and achieve it. It focuses on innovative approaches to Human Factors and Industrial Design for consumer, commercial, and medical products.
Military equipment and systems are not eligible. See the eligibility requirements for product timing and nomination details.
Belron® International and DCA Design International
An automotive windscreen preparation and fitting system designed to reduce physical demands and make the work more accessible to a broader range of technicians.
Details coming soon.
Peloton
Read “25 Years of the Stanley Caplan User-Centered Product Design Award: Origins, Evolution, and Impact,” newly published in Ergonomics in Design.
Read the article (PDF)How the award began in 2001, how it has evolved, and the influence it has had on user-centered design practice.
Ergonomics in Design, 2026
Winning teams reflect on recognition, collaboration, and the value of user-centered design.
“We’re honored that Ezi-Prep has been recognized with the Stanley Caplan User Centered Product Design Award. The project began with a simple goal: make a physically demanding task safer, easier, and more accessible for the technicians who perform it every day.”
“We’re delighted to see that process recognized by the Stanley Caplan Award, particularly because it demonstrates the value of rigorous human-centered design in an area where it is not always expected.”
“Our team is motivated by the impact our innovations can have, and this award inspires us to continue pushing boundaries in design and technology.”
“It is gratifying to see the collaborative effort of our global cross-functional team recognized.”
The Stanley Caplan User-Centered Product Design Award is named in honor of Stanley Caplan, a distinguished fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES). This accolade recognizes his significant contributions and unwavering commitment to advancing the field of user-centered design and research. Caplan's work has been instrumental in promoting the importance of designing products with the end-user in mind, both within the industry and among professionals.
Additionally, he has played a pivotal role in mentoring and guiding others to champion user-centered approaches in their work, ensuring that the principles of usability and human factors are integral to product design processes. This award celebrates Caplan's lasting impact on the field and his dedication to fostering an understanding of how user-centered design can enhance product effectiveness, safety, and user satisfaction.
