User Interface Design

Curriculum guideline

Effective Date:
Course
Discontinued
No
Course code
CMPT 3363
Descriptive
User Interface Design
Department
Computing Science
Faculty
Science and Technology
Credits
3.00
Start date
End term
Not Specified
PLAR
No
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
35
Course designation
None
Industry designation
None
Contact hours

Lecture: 2 hours/week

and 

Lab: 2 hours/week

Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Learning activities

The topics are covered through in-class lectures, laboratory assignments, projects, readings, and research. 

Course description
This is a project-based course providing a comprehensive introduction to user interface (UI) design. Topics include goals and history of UI design, human-computer interactions and user experience, social impact of UI, and the UI design process. Students incorporate major aspects of user interface design, including user research, user interface patterns, prototyping, and evaluation, into a group project that provides them with hands-on experience of UI design disciplines.
Course content

1. The process of interaction design

  • User-centered methodology
  • Design quality factors (e.g. user experience & usability)
  • Interaction design concepts and principles (e.g. Norman's, Nielsen's)

2. Conceptualizing interaction

  • Conceptual models
  • Interface metaphors
  • Interaction types
  • Paradigms, visions, and frameworks

3. Social and emotional interaction

  • Face-to-face vs. remote conversations
  • Expressive and annoying interfaces
  • Detecting emotions and emotional technology
  • Persuasive technologies and behavioral change

4. The user interface design process

  • Interface types
  • Establishing requirements
  • Task description and analysis
  • Prototyping
  • Conceptual and concrete design
  • Using scenarios

5. Introduction to user interface design evaluation

  • Data gathering plans 
  • Interview variations (structured, semi-structured, unstructured) 
  • Observation variations (simple, think-aloud, co-discovery) 
  • Questionnaires & surveys
  • Budget methods (cognitive walkthroughs, heuristic evaluations) 
  • Usability evaluations
  • Data analysis, interpretation and presentation
  • Ethical research with human participants  
Learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, students will be able to:

  • describe the process of interaction and user experience design;
  • identify the human need supported by an interface and conceptualize human-computer interaction;
  • identify the role of psychology and human factors in the user interface design process;
  • describe interface metaphors, models, and paradigms;
  • identify various types of interaction, including social and emotional interactions;
  • utilize different user research methods to sketch an effective design;
  • use theoretical frameworks in data analysis;
  • evaluate, apply, and adapt various user interface design patterns;
  • utilize standard tools and techniques to design an appropriate user interface based on the requirements of the specific context and platform of use;
  • use scenarios to create a conceptual design;
  • generate prototypes using design rationales;
  • plan and run an evaluation to assess the quality and usability of a designed user interface.
Means of assessment

Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following: 

 

Assignments    

0-15%

Quizzes     

0-15%

Project

25-35%

Term Tests

20-35%

Final Exam

25-35% 

Total

100%

In order to receive a D grade (or higher) in the course, students must receive an overall course grade of at least 50% and a grade of at least 50% on the combined weighted examination components (Term Test(s) and the Final Exam).

Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Sample textbooks and materials may include: 

  • Sharp, H., Rogers, Y., and Preece, J.  (Current Edition) Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer Interaction. John Wiley and Sons, ISBN: 9781119020752. 

Prerequisites

CMPT 2300 (C or better) or CSIS 3475 (C or better)

Equivalencies