Course Title: Create user interfaces

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2014

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

Natalie Wallis

natalie.wallis@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

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:

5. Evaluate user interfaces

Performance Criteria:

Rubrics Available in Blackboard
 

Element:

2. Generate ideas

Performance Criteria:

Rubrics Available in Blackboard
 

Element:

1. Clarify project requirements

Performance Criteria:

Rubrics Available in Blackboard

Element:

3. Plan approach

Performance Criteria:

Rubrics Available in Blackboard
 

Element:

4. Produce user interfaces

Performance Criteria:

Rubrics Available in Blackboard
 


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

• visual design and communication principles, including user-centred design principles
• design elements
• typography
 


Teaching Schedule

Week Topics
1 (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
(3) Course Overview -
What are User Interfaces?
 
2 Introduction to User Experience
Presentation and Exercises to introduce the concept of User Experience, What is it and why is it important?
 
3 Evaluate User Interfaces
Examines how we use UI to assess effectiveness, appropriateness to the user and audience and technical feasibility, of both new and existing interfaces.
 
4 Big Data
What is Big Data, and why is everyone talking about it?
Examine the kind of data being collected. Examine how it can be used to create interesting and useful user interfaces.
 
5 Typography and Design Re-cap
Look at Re-look at Typography and Design.
Examine student current levels and understanding with exercises.
Look at presentation techniques. Look at types of presentations, informative vs. the pitch.
 
6 Task 1 Due In Class
You will receive the feedback in week 7. If required, resubmission for this assessment is due by the end of week 8
 
7 Brainstorming
Look at different brainstorming techniques and idea generation.
Plan approach: design selection, graphic software choice, explore typographical and visual design elements
Paper prototypes: concept sketches including functional areas and design specifications
 
8 Use software to develop Prototypes
Apply visual design and communication principles to the development of user interfaces.
Examine software tools, including tutorials on software techniques.
 
9 Project Definition – Branding your Ap
Does your project have a logo or any interesting graphics? In class we will use the creative suite to give your ap the brand definition that it would need in the marketplace.
 
10 Visual design
We will look at organising the user interface purposefully, in meaningful and useful ways based on clear, consistent models that are apparent and recognizable to users.
Ensure user interfaces meet all design and relevant standards
Make sure the design makes simple, common tasks easy, communicating clearly and simply in the user’s own language, and providing good shortcuts that are meaningfully related to longer procedures.
 
11 Style Sheets and Style Templates
Look at creating prototypes that meet professional standards
Save UI in appropriate output format
 
12 Pitching to client
Exercises to prepare for pitching to client which is very different an informative presentation.
Students Aps should be in the final iteration stage, ready for in class feedback
 
13 Task 2 Due In Class
You will receive the feedback in week 13. If required, resubmission for this assessment is due by the end of week 14.
 
14 Evaluate user interfaces
Review UI to assess effectiveness, appropriateness to the user and audience and technical feasibility
 
15 Task 3 Due In Class
If needed resubmission for this assessment will be week 16.
 
16 Assessment Feedback - Resubmissions only
17 Assessment Feedback - Resubmissions only


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources

TBC


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

Assessment 1 – Individual (Due in class Week 6)
Presentation: Examination/User Report

Individually, students will be given a real user Interface to examine. This interface will be one that helps to manage a data sets (such as tram tracker or webjet). Students are then to produce a detailed analysis report to be delivered in class. This presentation will cover all aspects of the user experience, that include the words that users have to interact with, the visual representations the user interacts with on the interface including, typography, diagrams, icons, and other graphics. The space with which the user or users interact, the content that changes over time such as sound, video, or animation, and the behaviour defines the users actions reaction to the interface and how they respond to it.

Instructions:
• This assessment is an individual assessment
• The assessment can be accessed through the BlackBoard / Assessments / Create User Interfaces Students MUST follow the outline provided

Marking Guide:
The marking guide will be available on BlackBoard under Design User Interfaces. All content in blackboard is under this unit code.

Assessment 2 – Group (Due in class Week 13)
User Interface Design

Working in groups, the second assessment will focus on students’ ability to create a professional prototype of a User Interface. This project will involve a range of research and technical tasks to be completed using various software tools in the Adobe Creative Suite. You will be given data sets, and the aim of user interface design is to make the user’s interaction as simple, efficient, enjoyable and perhaps even fun as possible. Your final prototypes will be presented to a group of industry experts.

Instructions:
• This assessment is an group assessment and will entail identifying project requirements and drafting design specifications
• The assessment is accessed through the BlackBoard / Assessments / Create User Interfaces
• Students MUST follow the instructions provided

Marking Guide:
The marking guide will be available on BlackBoard under Create User Interfaces

Assessment 3 – Individual (Due in class Week 15)
Online Test

Individually students will complete an online test in class. You will need to show a solid understanding of key material covered over the semester including User experience (UX), digital platforms, and prototyping software.

Instructions:
• This assessment is an individual assessment.
• The assessment is accessed through the BlackBoard / Assessments / Create User Interfaces
• Students MUST follow the instructions provided
 


Assessment Matrix

CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved – Graded
NYC Not yet competent
 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview