Dear Colleagues,

Since its origins, ergonomics has focused on optimizing the interaction between humans and systems to improve safety, comfort, and performance. Over time, this vision has evolved into Human-Centred Design (HCD), a multidisciplinary framework that integrates human needs, abilities, and well-being into every stage of the design process. Today, the convergence of ergonomics with emerging digital technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Digital Twins, and smart systems offers new opportunities to simulate, predict, and enhance human–system interaction. These tools enable designers to create adaptive, data-driven, and inclusive systems, transforming HCD into an iterative and intelligent process that strengthens human safety, resilience, and reliability in complex environments.

This Special Issue aims to collect innovative research, methodologies, and applications that advance the understanding and implementation of HCD in modern ergonomics. Contributions are welcome from academia and industry, addressing both theoretical insights and practical solutions that promote usability, accessibility, safety, and sustainability in products, workplaces, and environments.

Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:

• Human-centred and participatory design methods;
• Digital Twins for ergonomic analysis and design optimization;
• AI-driven human–system interaction and adaptive interfaces;
• Cognitive, emotional, and safety ergonomics;
• Inclusive and accessible design;
• Human–robot collaboration and Industry 5.0 applications.

We invite researchers and practitioners to contribute to shaping the next generation of safe, human-centred, AI-supported ergonomic systems.

Keywords

• human-centred design
• ergonomics
• digital twin
• artificial intelligence
• human–machine interaction
• cognitive ergonomics
• safety
• usability
• biomechanics
• inclusive design
• Industry 5.0
• smart systems

More informations: https://www.mdpi.com/journal/applsci/special_issues/HY7QV2V635