Course Title: Design user interfaces

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2013

Course Code: VART6060C

Course Title: Design user interfaces

School: 650T TAFE Business

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6102 - Advanced Diploma of Business (Public Relations)

Course Contact : Sally Parrott

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5175

Course Contact Email:sally.parrott@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Alain Grossbard

alain.grossbard@rmit.edu.au

Nominal Hours: 50

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit requires the application of visual communication principles to the design of user interfaces that form part of interactive media products, such as web environments, games or e-learning resources.
 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFDIG402A Design user interfaces

Element:

3. Finalise user interface designs

Performance Criteria:

3.1. Develop focus test plans for user interfaces to identify their strengths and weaknesses

3.2 Incorporate design changes to information architecture in design specifications
3.3  Obtain final agreement from relevant personnel for finished designs
 

Element:

1. Identify project requirements

Performance Criteria:

1.1Discuss concept with relevant personnel to ensure that design briefs are fully understood
1.2dentify technical parameters of interactive media products, including delivery platform
1.3dentify target audience and user characteristics
1.4 Obtain information architecture specifications if available
 

Element:

2. Draft design specifications

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Visualise concepts and develop preliminary sketches based on content architecture and audience characteristics
2.2 Sketch basic screen layout showing main spatial zones
2.3 Specify functional areas within screen layouts
2.4 Specify metaphors and look and feel of user interfaces

2.5. Develop final detailed sketches taking into consideration all ideas generated
2.6 Gain approval from relevant personnel to ensure that interfaces meet all requirements
2.7 Write user interface design specifications


Learning Outcomes


This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to design user interfaces for interactive media products.


Details of Learning Activities

Practical activities, case studies and class discussion as well as work relevant assessments


Teaching Schedule

Week 1 11 Feb (1) Course Induction
• Course delivery and assessment details
• Course support documents
• Online learning environment
• Grading
• Plagiarism
• Appeals
• Extensions
• Feedback
• Privacy
• Submission requirements
• Resubmission policy
• Where to get support
• Student responsibilities
(2) Pre-Training Review
• Includes skills analysis and Recognition of Prior Learning and Credit Transfers
(3) Course Overview


Week 2 18 Feb • Identify and clarify project requirements and design specifications – identify purpose, text samples, determine output format for delivery platform


Week 3 25 Feb • Identify and clarify project requirements and design specifications – identify purpose, text samples, determine output format for delivery platform (cont.)


Week 4 4 Mar • Idea generation – research interfaces, copyright, concept sketches including functional areas and design specifications


Week 5 11 Mar • Idea generation – research interfaces, copyright, concept sketches including functional areas and design specifications (cont.)


Week 6 18 Mar • Plan approach – design selection, graphic software choice, explore typographical and visual design elements

Assessment 1 due

Week 7 25 Mar • Plan approach – design selection, graphic software choice, explore typographical and visual design elements (cont.)

28 Mar – 3 Apr Mid-Semester Break

Week 7 (Easter break 28/3-3/4 inclusive)1 Apr • Recap, revision and Task 2 overview

Week 8 8 Apr • Produce user interfaces - use software to develop structure for UI based on final design concepts
• Source or create and integrate all graphic interactive components
• Apply visual design and communication principles to the development of user interfaces

Week 9 15 Apr • Produce user interfaces - use software to develop structure for UI based on final design concepts
• Ensure user interfaces meet all design and relevant standards
• Document style using style sheets and templates
• Save UI in appropriate output format

Week 10 22 Apr • Produce user interfaces - use software to develop structure for UI based on final design concepts
• Ensure user interfaces meet all design and relevant standards
• Document style using style sheets and templates
• Save UI in appropriate output format (cont.)

Week 11 29 Apr • Evaluate user interfaces
• Review UI to assess effectiveness, appropriateness to the user and audience and technical feasibility

Assessment 2 due

Week 12 6 May • Evaluate user interfaces
• Discuss and confirm with relevant personnel additional requirements or modifications to the overall design and undertake any necessary amendments

Week 13 13 May Students completing projects – in class practical sessions

Week 14 20 May Students completing projects – in class practical sessions

Week 15 27 May Last in class practical sessions - assessment due in class (and must be uploaded too)

Week 16 3 Jun Resubmissions and feedback
 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Students must demonstrate an understanding of all elements of a particular competency to be deemed competent. Assessment methods have been designed to measure achievement of each competency in a flexible manner over a range of assessment tasks.

Assessment will incorporate a variety of methods including assignments, journals, presentation and written or test. Students are advised that they are likely to be asked to personally demonstrate their assessment work to their teacher to ensure that the relevant competency standards are being met.
 


Assessment Tasks

This course is delivered and assessed in conjunction with RMIT course code VART6061C Create User Interfaces.


Assessment 1 – Group – Due Week 6
Instructions:
• This assessment is a group assessment and will entail identifying project requirements and drafting design specifications
• Students will be provided an assessment task in week 2
• The assessment is accessed through the BlackBoard / Assessments / Create User Interfaces Students MUST follow the outline provided
Marking Guide:
The marking guide is available on BlackBoard under Design User Interfaces


Assessment 2 – Individual – Due Week 11
Instructions:
• This assessment is an individual assessment.
• Students will be provided an assessment task in week 2
• The assessment is accessed through the BlackBoard / Assessments / Create User Interfaces
• Students MUST follow the instructions provided
Marking Guide:
The marking guide is available on BlackBoard under Create User Interfaces


Assessment 3 – Individual – Due Week 15
Instructions:
• This assessment is an individual assessment.
• Students will be provided an assessment task in week 2
• The assessment is accessed through the BlackBoard / Assessments / Create User Interfaces
• Students MUST follow the instructions provided


NB: Students are required to complete 3 tasks. All tasks must successfully be completed to be deemed competent in this unit. More detailed assessment sheets for each assessment task will be disseminated throughout course delivery.


Submission Requirements: All assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard.


You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available from the Student forms website.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.

NB: Students are required to complete 3 tasks. All tasks must successfully be completed to be deemed competent in this unit. More detailed assessment sheets for each assessment task will be disseminated throughout course delivery.
Submission Requirements: All assessment tasks need to be submitted via Blackboard.
You should:
• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date. If your performance in the assessment is affected by unexpected circumstances, you should consider applying for Special Consideration. Information on the process and application forms is available at http://rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=ls0ydfokry9rz website.
• Always retain a copy of your assessment tasks. (hard copy and soft copy)
• When you submit work for assessment at RMIT University you need to use a cover sheet that includes a declaration and statement of authorship. You must complete, sign and submit a cover sheet with all work you submit for assessment, whether individual or group work. On the cover sheet you declare that the work you are presenting for assessment is your own work. An assignment cover sheet for submission of work for assessment is available from the Student forms website.
• Each page of your assessment should include footer with your name, student number, the title of the assessment, unit code and title and page numbers. For example, Julie Macpherson, 324567, Task 2, OHS2345C Ensure safe workplace, Page 1 of 10.
 


Assessment Matrix

Full details on how this course is assessed against the Unit elements and performance criteria plus critical aspects of evidence can be found in the Learning and Assessment Tool available from your course teacher.
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview