Course Title: Create user interfaces

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2012

Course Code: VART6061C

Course Title: Create 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

Liz Cagorski - liz@zaphrencreative.com

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

A person who applies the skills and knowledge outlined in this unit works to technical and creative specifications provided by a user interface designer or other designers.

There is scope for individual creativity because a person in this role is expected to generate a range of design options that respond to concepts documented in design specifications. However, these ideas need to demonstrate a sound understanding of user-centred design principles, as well as comply with standards that apply to the specific platforms on which the user interface will be run.
 


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFDIG403A Create user interfaces

Element:

1. Clarify project requirements

Performance Criteria:

1. Use design specifications in consultation with relevant personnel to clarify the target user, audience and purpose of interactive media products
2. Obtain samples of text content and media assets to be integrated into user interfaces
3. Determine file output format for delivery platform of interactive media products

Element:

2. Generate ideas

Performance Criteria:

4. Research interactive media product user interfaces, designs, images, artwork and other creative sources that may inspire design ideas
5. Obtain other relevant information that may influence or be incorporated into design ideas
6. Determine need for copyright clearance and identify potential for fair use of copyright material
7. Obtain and record copyright clearance if required
8. Use sketches and concepts in specifications as the basis for generating range of design ideas that are technically feasible and provide creative solutions to all design issues
9. Present interface design ideas to relevant personnel for discussion and feedback

Element:

3. Plan approach

Performance Criteria:

10. Select final design, incorporating feedback from relevant personnel as required
11. Identify range of appropriate industry-standard graphics software
12. Discuss and select graphics software with relevant personnel to ensure selection meets specified outcomes
13. Explore range of typographical and visual design elements that could be used in development of interface designs

Element:

4. Produce user interfaces

Performance Criteria:

14. Use graphics software to develop structure for user interfaces based on final design concepts
15. Source or create and integrate all graphic interactive components
16. Apply visual design and communication principles to the development of user interfaces
17. Ensure that user interfaces meet the principles of user-centred design and relevant standards
18. Ensure that user interfaces enhance the display of digital content
19. Document styles for text and presentation for use in style sheets and templates or themes
20. Save user interfaces in an appropriate output format that satisfies technical parameters in consultation with relevant personnel

Element:

5. Evaluate user interfaces

Performance Criteria:

21. Review user interfaces to assess effectiveness of creative solutions, appropriateness to the user and audience, and technical feasibility
22. Discuss and confirm with relevant personnel additional requirements or modifications to the overall design and undertake any necessary amendments


Learning Outcomes


This unit describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to create a user interface for an interactive media product.


Details of Learning Activities

This course is structured to provide students with the optimum learning experience. Students will participate in a combination of group and individual assessment activities. These assessable activities will be provided through a combination of face to face teacher/student deliveries, tutorials and laboratory exercises. Additional assessable activities will also be provided to students to complete outside of timetabled time. The concepts learned will be explored through the investigation of real world and simulated environments.


Teaching Schedule

Week              Activity
 1  
WELCOME STUDENTS
- Course Introduction and overview
- Tutorial: Back to Business Basics.
The importance of understanding what Branding is for both online & offline communications.
StyleGuides: The governing rules?
- Video: Seth Godin on Standing Out

 2  ASSESSMENT TASK 1
- Briefing
- The Creative Process (Methodology)
- Case Studies : GWI, R&R, Red Group, Red Project Websites
 3  LECTURE
- The ART of Typography.

Continue working on Assessment 1
 4  REVIEW WEEK
 5  ASSESSMENT TASK 2
- Briefing
- The Creative Process (Methodology
 6  LECTURE
- The Anatomy of a Website.
 7  Continue working on Assessment 2
Handout: Presentation Tips
 8  REVIEW WEEK
- Assessment Task 2
- Visual Diary reviews (ideas & thinking)
 9  Continue working on Assessment 2
Student feedback
 10  Continue working on Assessment 2
 11  
Continue working on Assessment 2

 12  REVIEW WEEK FINAL
- Assignment Task 2
- Visual Diary reviews
 13  ASSESSMENT 2 FINAL
- Presentation Implementation
- Practise Run
 14  Presentations
 15  Presentations (continued)
 16  Course review and overall feedback


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

Resources relevant to each topic will be provided throughout the semester.


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

TASK 1 – Research, write and document

1. Write a 600 word essay of your findings on, “Writing for the WEB v’s writing for PRINT?”.
Is there a difference between the two mediums we are familiar with and why?

2. Also, write another 600 word essay of your findings on the “Difference between people reading newspapers v’s websites?" If so why?

Note: You must reference accordingly using the Harvard Method. Refer to the RMIT website on how to reference.

Submission Requirements: PDF
PDF’s must be submitted via learning hub/blackboard by the due submission date as outlined.

SUBMISSION DATE : WEEK 6


TASK 2 – Public Relations Campaign
Students are required to create a PR campaign for their chosen organisation. It can be promoted to the general, nationwide or worldwide audience. Traditional PR tools include, press releases, press kits, brochures, newsletters and annual reports, and companies are now utilising more interactive methods such as blogs, microblogging and of course social media.
Traditional tools are known as one-way communication, but websites allow companies and organisations to engage in two-way communiations, and be able to receive feedback immediately from their targeted audience.

Example of Task: “You are working for a Public Relations Agency and you have been commisioned to create a Public Relations Campaign to raise money to find a cure for a disease”. How?
What is your approach? Whom are you targeting? What methods, tools and tactics will you use?


Assessment Matrix

Course Overview: Access Course Overview