What “Her” Taught Me About the Human Side of Technology

Her is one of those films that lingers long after it ends. On the surface, it is about a man who falls in love with an operating system. At its core, it is about connection.

What “Her” Taught Me About the Human Side of Technology by Mariana Lema

Human-Centered Design in Its Purest Form

The operating system in Her is not defined by its features. It has no visible interface, no menus, no icons. Instead, it is defined by how it feels to use. It listens, responds, adapts. It feels human.

That is the essence of human-centered design. It does not begin with technology. It begins with people — their needs, their emotions, their behaviors. The best technology is invisible, dissolving into the background so that the human experience can take center stage.

For creatives and technologists, the lesson is clear: the success of a product is not measured by how advanced it is, but by how seamlessly it integrates into people’s lives.

Technology as a Mirror of Human Need

In the film, Theodore turns to the OS out of loneliness. What makes the story compelling is that the technology does not solve loneliness in a mechanical way. Instead, it reflects and amplifies his desire for intimacy, companionship, and understanding. This is what great technology can do. It is not only about solving functional problems. It is about addressing emotional needs.

***I'm sick and I just ordered food in a delivery app: a good platform doesn't just offer me convenience, but a sense of comfort, a helping hand to take care of me when I can't get out of bed

Designing for Empathy

Perhaps the most radical thing about Her is that it reminds us empathy can be designed. The OS is programmed to adapt, to learn, to understand. That is what creates intimacy.

When we design products, campaigns, or experiences, we are designing more than an interface. We are designing the way people will feel when they interact with it. Do they feel seen? Do they feel understood? Do they feel valued? Empathy is not an afterthought. It is the foundation.

The Future Is Not About Smarter Tech, But About More Human Tech

The temptation in innovation is to chase complexity: more features, more data, more power. Her shows us that the future of technology will not be decided by who can build the smartest system, but by who can build the most human one.

Her  taught me that design is not only about what we create, but about how we make people feel. The future belongs to the creators who understand that emotions are not a weakness in technology. They are the point of it.

The real challenge for Strategic Creative Technologists is not how to make technology work. It is how to make technology care.