The official details:
Current Topics in Interactive Systems: Creative Design for Mobile Applications and Services
Aims
The aim of this course is to give students practice in the processes involved in designing novel interactive systems, particularly mobile, wearable and context-aware systems, and to introduce them to new developments in design methodology. Working on small-scale group projects in intensive mode, students will experience a range of techniques for creative idea generation, evaluation, prototyping and presentation, in the context of ubiquitous computing. NOTE: there is no requirement for development or implementation of working systems in this course.
Topics
- design methods
- creative requirements gathering, e.g. observation
- creative design techniques, e.g. brainstorming, synectics, goal-oriented approaches, theory-led design
- design rationale
- rapid prototyping
- representation in design, e.g. posters, drama, formal presentations
- design patterns
- communication in design process
- ubiquitous computing
- context awareness and adaptivity
- persuasive systems
Learning Objectives
By the end of the module the students should be able to:
- describe a range of methods used in interaction design
- frame design problems and discover solutions
- reason about potential solutions in a structured way
- present design ideas employing a range of methods
- defend design decisions to peers and teachers
- have an informed opinion on the current debates in the area
Methodology
This is an activity-based course with a minimum of lecturing. We will introduce basic design skills such as brain-storming, synectics and quick mock-ups, together with more focused interaction design methods such as dramatic scenarios and rapid prototyping. Some approaches will be introduced via short workshop exercises. However, the bulk of the course will be spent on group design projects to which students will apply the methods they have learned, presenting their resulting designs to their peers in a range of presentation formats.
Assessment
An individual piece of coursework in two parts: 1) a reflective record of the course and b) an individual project with reflective report
The course will involve students in four practical design exercises. Students will be required to keep a log of their work on these projects throughout the course and 50% of their grade will be based on the quantity and diversity of ideas captured in this log. The remaining 50% of the assessment will be based on an agreed project of their own devising.
