COURSE: USER INTERFACE DESIGN (UID)

CODE: CSC 3119/3110

COURSE LEVEL: Yr3 (CS, IST)

Course Description:
The course introduces the principles of user interface development, focusing on design, implementation and evaluation.

Course Objectives/Aims:
1. To train students in order for them to be able to create efficient, flexible, usable and interactive User Interfaces (UI)
2. To provide students with the skills required to identify system users, the system tasks that users need to accomplish
and the context within which the systems are to be used.
3. To expose students to the standard conceptual design methods and interface design tools.
4. To Instruct students on how to create useful User interfaces, in particular graphical user interfaces.
5. To instruct students on the methods of evaluating UIs;

Indicative Content:
1. Usability, Interaction & Design Principles (User-Centered Design)
2. Cognition (Human Capabilities)
3. Output Models, Input Models, Conceptual Models and Metaphors
4. Designing for collaboration and communication
5. Emotional interaction
6. The process of interaction design
7. Design, prototyping and construction
8. Interaction Design Tools and methods
9. UI Evaluation1: Introduction to evaluation, experiment design, usability testing
10. UI Evaluation2: Evaluation studies, inspection, Analytics and models
Mode of Delivery
Blended learning: The course will combine face-to-face learning activities (when possible); web based learning resources,
online engagements for presentations of personal learning reflections and a design project.

Assessment methods and criteria

A User Interface design project portfolio with reports, presentations and demonstrations of interactive prototypes. The project is
carried out in groups.
Further assessment will include topical assignments (done in groups and individually), tests and a final exam.
Assessment will be in the form of:
a) CATs (Assignments, Projects and tests): 40%
b) Final written exam: 60%

Learning Outcomes (Stipulated):

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1. Develop efficient, flexible, usable and interactive User Interfaces(UI)
2. Identify system users, the tasks they want to carry out and the environment in which they will be working;
3. Create standard conceptual designs.
4. Create useful User interfaces, in particular graphical user interfaces.
5. Evaluate Uis

Learning Resources (General):

1. Rogers, Y., Sharp, H., & Preece, J. (2015). Interaction design: beyond human-computer interaction. 4th edition
2. Norman, D. A. (2013). The design of everyday things: Revised and expanded edition. Basic books.
3. Nielsen, J. (1994). Usability engineering. Elsevier.
4. Mullet, K., & Sano, D. (1994). Designing visual interfaces: Communication oriented techniques.

Web Resources:
● https://www.interaction-design.org/
 ● Nielsen Norman Group: UX Training, Consulting, & Research (nngroup.com)

Study Guide:

Course Unit/ Module/ Theme Intended Learning Learning Activities Learning resources Assessment form/methods
/Topic Outcome(s)
(What learners have to do in order (What materials shall be (e.g. MCQ Quiz, Essay/report,
(What to be learnt/ Learning content) (What learners should to learn) used, e.g.: Book artefact)
achieve: knowledge; chapters, Web Links,
skills; attitudes/ change Presentation Slides etc)
Assessment tasks
of behaviour)

1. Introduction to interaction ... ● Ref. book: chpt. 1&2

● Seminars & Guest
Design Lectures
- Understanding the concepts of ● Videos (e.g Don
Usability, Design principles and Norman, Jonas Lowgren
User- centered Design tutorials)
-

2. Cognition (Human - Learners to be able to - Use case studies of existing ● Ref. book: chpt. 3&4 ● Design brief (a problem
analyse (examine & systems to differentiate and ● Seminars & Guest description including
capabilities), models & situate) interactive contextualise UX and Interaction Lectures scenarios)
metaphors design within User design (Design for Vs Design ● Videos (e.g Don ● Students case-study
- Understanding cognition Experience with) Norman, Jonas Lowgren presentations
- Understanding input, output and - To apply the - Develop use cases & scenarios tutorials) ● Essay submissions
conceptual models dimensions of and apply the IxD dimensions ● Student report (design
- Application of metaphors in UID. interactive design and model to it. approach for a community/
design strategies - Use the scenario-based design human-centered design
- To Analyse the framework to model and map project
relationships and user archetypes, goals and
mapping between user possible interactions
archetypes, user goals - Identify and apply potential
and design of/for design strategies (justified and
interactions grounded in an appropriate
- Understand and apply design theory & PACT
Design theories (activity framework) to meet the
theory & Design identified user goals
 science) and democratic - Document a participatory
design processes & approach that can be used to
methods to case studies design the interactive system for
& scenarios the chose case study &
- Apply the PACT scenarios (possibly with a
framework as a tool for marginalised group or
context analysis community)

3. Social Interactions ● Ref. book: chpt. 5

● Seminars & Guest
- Designing for collaboration & ● Be able to - Write the requirement
Lectures
communication document user specification document
needs and - Conduct usability study
requirements,
needs assessment
- Perform task analysis and
modelling
and feasibility
assessment - Create models of
● Be able to interactive systems
interpret user - Write user interface
needs through evaluation report
observation, - Develop interactive user
ideation and interface
transformation
● Write the
requirement
specification
document, task
design and user
feedback
● Apply user
centred design
approach and user

4. Emotional Interactions ● Be able to evaluate the ● Ref. book: chpt. 6 - Hand-in:(1) summary;
usability and user ● Seminars & Guest
experience of interactive Lectures - (2) A 7 page report. (assessment
- Emotions and UX systems; criteria shall be defined as part of
- Expressive and emotional Design ● Be able to demonstrate the assignment).
the iterative relationship - A self graded quiz (7-10 questions)
between design and
evaluation methods in
interactive-system
design.
5. The Process of ● Be able to evaluate the ● Ref. book: chpt. 2, 8, 9, - Hand-in:(1) summary;
usability and user 10, 11
Interaction Design experience of interactive ● Seminars & Guest - (2) A 7 page report. (assessment
systems; Lectures criteria shall be defined as part of
- Managing Requirements ● Be able to demonstrate the assignment).
- Understanding Data the iterative relationship - A self graded quiz (7-10 questions)
- Data Analysis & Interpretation between design and
evaluation methods in
interactive-system
design.

6. Design, Prototyping & ● Be able to evaluate the ● Ref. book: chpt. 12 - Hand-in:(1) summary;
usability and user ● Seminars & Guest
Construction experience of interactive Lectures - (2) A 7 page report. (assessment
systems; criteria shall be defined as part of
- Conceptual Design ● Be able to demonstrate the assignment).
- Using scenarios the iterative relationship
- A self graded quiz (7-10 questions)
- Generating prototypes between design and
evaluation methods in
interactive-system
design.

7. Interaction Design ● Be able to evaluate the ● Ref. book: chpt. 13 - Hand-in:(1) summary;
usability and user ● Seminars & Guest
Methods experience of interactive Lectures - (2) A 7 page report. (assessment
systems; criteria shall be defined as part of
- Agile UX ● Be able to demonstrate the assignment).
- Design Patterns the iterative relationship - A self graded quiz (7-10 questions)
- Tools & resources between design and
 evaluation methods in
interactive-system
design.

8. UI Evaluation 1 ● Be able to evaluate the ● Ref. book: chpt. 14 & 15 - Hand-in:(1) summary;
usability and user ● Seminars & Guest
experience of interactive Lectures - (2) A 7 page report. (assessment
- Introduction to evaluation systems;
- Experimental Design criteria shall be defined as part of
● Be able to demonstrate the assignment).
- Usability testing the iterative relationship - A self graded quiz (7-10 questions)
between design and
evaluation methods in
interactive-system
design.

9. UI Evaluation 2 ● Be able to evaluate the ● Ref. book: chpt. 16 - Hand-in:(1) summary;

usability and user ● Seminars & Guest
experience of interactive Lectures - (2) A 7 page report. (assessment
- Conducting Evaluation studies systems;
- Inspections & Analytics models criteria shall be defined as part of
● Be able to demonstrate the assignment).
the iterative relationship - A self graded quiz (7-10 questions)
between design and
evaluation methods in
interactive-system
design.

10. Project Presentations ● ● -