This paper explores the integration of causal pathway diagrams (CPD) into human-centered design (HCD), investigating how these diagrams can enhance the early stages of the design process. A dedicated CPD plugin for the online collaborative whiteboard platform Miro was developed to streamline diagram creation and offer real-time AI-driven guidance. Through a user study with designers (N=20), we found that CPD's branching and its emphasis on causal connections supported both divergent and convergent processes during design. CPD can also facilitate communication among stakeholders. Additionally, we found our plugin significantly reduces designers' cognitive workload and increases their creativity during brainstorming, highlighting the implications of AI-assisted tools in supporting creative work and evidence-based designs.

翻译：本文探索了将因果路径图（CPD）整合至人本设计（HCD）中的方法，研究了这些图表如何提升设计过程的早期阶段。我们为在线协作白板平台Miro开发了一款专用的CPD插件，以简化图表创建流程并提供实时的人工智能驱动指导。通过一项涉及20名设计人员的用户研究，我们发现CPD的分支结构及其对因果关系的强调，在设计过程中既支持了发散性思维也促进了收敛性过程。CPD还能促进利益相关者之间的沟通。此外，我们发现我们的插件显著降低了设计师在头脑风暴期间的认知负荷，并提升了他们的创造力，这突显了人工智能辅助工具在支持创造性工作与循证设计方面的潜力。