User Centered Design Project

Contents

Course Description | Course Objectives| Learning Materials | Class Procedures | Assessment and grading

Instructor

Jaana Holvikivi, DSc. 

Course Description

Core content level learning outcomes

The student is able to apply a user-centered design process in software development. The student is able to evaluate the usability, performance and ease of learning of user interfaces.

The student acquires an ability to design and implement ergonomic, user-friendly web applications taking into account human-centered design principles and accessibility requirements. The knowledge can be applied in creating API based, mash-up applications.

Lessons & Laboratory practice: 42 hours, 8 hours/ week

Course Objectives

Prerequisites: Programming, Software engineering basics

Contents:

Ergonomics of computer user interfaces, responsive design principles, usability, and performance. Human information processing and computer system interfaces. User-centered design process and design patterns. Project on web programming interfaces and big data using user centered design principles.

Learning materials

User-Centered Design Process Map: http://www.usability.gov/how-to-and-tools/resources/ucd-map.html by U.S. Department of Health & Human Services

Another image of the process

Recommended background reading

R.S. Bridger, Introduction to Ergonomics, Third Edition. 2008. Hants, UK. CRC Press

Irmeli Sinkkonen, Hannu Kuoppala, Jarmo Parkkinen, Raino Vastamäki: Psychology of Usability. Edita Publishing Oy, 2005

Sampsa Hyysalo: Health technology development and use. 2010.

Jones, M & Marsden, G.: Mobile Interaction Design, 2006

Usability:

• Usability and User Experience Community of the Society for Technical Communication http://www.stcsig.org/usability/
• EU sponsored usability site
• Usability first site
• User Interface Engineering company site

Standards:

• ISO Ergonomics on human-system interaction
• Web accessibility initiative

Class procedures

Learning methods: Design and inplementation of assignments. Completing a user-centered design and testing project. Compilation of a research report.

Attendance to the lessons is compulsory. Most work is done in teams in the laboratory sessions. All assignments have to be completed.

Projects are prepared in teams of 2 or 3 students, and presented during the last sessions. The features of the draft interface have to be tested with user representatives.

Assessment and Grading

Your grade will be calculated on the basis of the total points given for various assessment components, including the workshop, steps in the process, final tested design, and the personal research report.

Project deliverables are assessed according to the following criteria:  analysis of requirements and users, testing, creativity, design, user interface qualities.

Due Dates

Deliverables which are late or missing will be penalized. Due dates may be changed for compelling reasons. The students are  responsible for making change arrangements with the instructor before the work is due. 

Academic Integrity

Dishonesty is not part of academic and professional work. Dishonesty includes e.g.: 

• claiming the work of another as your own
• stealing someone else's work.

Created by: Jaana Holvikivi Updated: 12.1.2017