Course Title: Design digital applications
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2020
Course Code: COSC6213C
Course Title: Design digital applications
School: 375T Vocational Design and Social Context
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5384 - Diploma of Digital Media Technologies
Course Contact: Nat Bates
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 3326
Course Contact Email: nat.bates@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Suzanne Thomson
+61 3 9925 4815
suzanne.thomson@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
N/A
Course Description
This course gives you the skills and knowledge required to design digital applications, which may consist of one or many technologies integrated in various combinations.
It applies to working with clients to design specifications for digital applications, which are then built by other specialised team members. Digital applications may be operated in a web or mobile device environment.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUADIG502 Design digital applications |
Element: |
1. Determine project requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Analyse project brief to identify purpose of, and target audience for, digital applications 1.2 Consult with clients or relevant personnel to clarify project requirements, including project timelines 1.3 Identify target audience characteristics and determine how these influence design 1.4 Identify content and application functions and how these are accessed, searched and delivered |
Element: |
2. Research digital applications |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Research digital applications and analyse how these meet audience, function and content requirements 2.2 Identify issues relating to delivery platform and technical and industry standards, and determine how these may affect digital application options 2.3 Consult relevant personnel to confirm all digital application options are considered 2.4 Select applications that will meet creative, production and technical requirements |
Element: |
3. Draft design specifications |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Design architecture of digital application to show interrelationship of various components and screens 3.2 Specify interactive features, functionality and navigation 3.3 Identify content and data displays, and specify how these will be logically structured and integrated into and/or generated in the digital application 3.4 Specify levels of access permissions as required 3.5 Specify media assets as required 3.6 Specify user interfaces, taking screen sizes into account 3.7 Specify report generation if required 3.8 Specify production requirements, including appropriate testing strategies 3.9 Produce draft design specifications and instructions for design and development teams to use |
Element: |
4. Review and confirm design specifications |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Use a range of techniques to present draft design specifications, and discuss with client 4.2 Review designs against creative and technical requirements, and client and audience needs 4.3 Adjust designs as necessary after discussions with relevant personnel 4.4 Clarify ownership of intellectual property to comply with production and organisational requirements 4.5 Confirm, with client, acceptance of design specifications, including deliverables, milestones and timelines |
Learning Outcomes
the ability to:
- research digital applications and analyse how they meet audience, function and content requirements
- design specifications for digital applications that:
- meet client and audience requirements
- are technically feasible
- detail all aspects of the application’s permissions, search capability, architecture, content, assets, screen designs, functions, reports, production requirements and testing strategies
- present and discuss draft specifications
- explain the sequence and interrelationships of stages in the process of designing digital applications
- outline issues relating to technical standards and platform functions that may impact on digital application options
- outline the impact of web standards on the design of digital applications
- describe typical formats and techniques for documenting the design of digital applications
- describe the concept of intellectual property rights and how this is managed in context of digital applications.
Details of Learning Activities
This course consists of 2 Units of Competency that are clustered together for delivery and assessment. The other unit of competency in this clustered course is: ICTWEB429 Create a markup language document to specification.
In class learning activities may include, but are not limited to:
• lectures and/or lab work
• teacher directed group activities and projects
• concept development of group and individual projects
• group discussions and class presentations
• peer and teacher feedback
• WIP (work in progress) reviews
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:
• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data to your RMIT Google Drive account
• accessing online tutorial resources
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT
Teaching Schedule
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
WeekTopic Assessment / Learning activities
Week 1 |
Introduction to Interaction Design, learn about the history of design interaction and the role of the UX designer in today's industry. Topic Covered:
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 2 |
Design discovery and research using the 5 elements (planes) of User eXperience design following a User Centered Design approach.Topics Covered:
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 3 |
Client specifications and features, what you need to consider and finding the balance between what the client wants and the user needs. Using this as stepping stone to ideation for UI design. Topic Covered:
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 4 |
Design Ideation, looking at ways to improve our wireframes designs, through ideation, feedback and consultation. Looking at how the user's journey effects the application function and features. Topics Covered:
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 5 |
UX formats and design techniques, exploring why documentation is critical to UX projects. Following the principles of CRAP design and how they feature within interaction design Topics Covered:
|
Learning Activities
|
| Week 6 |
Prototypes and their role in UCD, exploring the different types of prototypes, levels of fidelity and interaction. Topics Covered:
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 7 |
User Scenario's and their role in user testing a prototype design. Explore the importance of drawing from the UCD approach to map out the interaction design of an application. Topics Covered:
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 8 |
User testing fundamentals, preparing the final prototype for presentation. Following standard techniques and documentation. Topics Covered:
|
AT1 - Research and Design an App Due
|
| Week 9 |
Website design in the age of multiple devices, looking closely at responsive design solutions, when to create a HTML page over a stand alone application. Topics Covered:
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 10 |
Realities of working as a digital designer and the impact of IP and Copyright on the work role. Exploring wireframe designs through research, recognition of design patterns and information architecture. Topics covered:
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 11 |
UI Patterns, device width, grid systems image compression all in the name of responsive design Topics covered:
|
Learning Activities:
AT2 - Site design due AT4 - Due |
| Week 12 |
Accessibility, web standardshow they impact you as a digital designer.Topics Covered
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 13 |
Preparing for a site build,how to go from design to code. Looking at HTML standards and page regions with consideration for accessibility and search engine optimisation. Topics Covered
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 14 |
HTML and validation, the importance of having clean code and what to look for when validating your code. Topics Covered
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 15 |
Coding a HTML pagewith external style sheet. Looking at tips and tricks and how to problem solve your issues. Topics Covered
|
Learning Activities:
|
| Week 16 |
Site build check lists, what to look for, how to consider accessibility and review the site. Topics Covered
|
Learning Activities:
AT3 - Due |
| Week 17 | Time permitting, we will review your submission and over the topic of the course covered. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Overview of Assessment
Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.
Assessment Tasks
Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency. To be assessed competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.
You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria
Assignment 01: Research and Design an App
You are a designer who has to design a new health based app for a client. They have supplied you with a brief and it is your job to clarify the job requirements and present a feasible design.
Due week 8
Assignment 02: Site Design
You are part of a Web Design studio dedicated to creating useful community and social websites. As a web designer it is your role to take the client brief, plan and execute the design as well as organise the deliverables, specifications and technical functions into a meaningful document for the studio’s in house production team, and the client. You will also code the first web page.
Due week 12
Assignment 03: Site Build
In Assignment 02 you developed a design and design document for the client of your Web Design studio. In this assessment you will follow the technical specification of the documentation to create the website according to the design established.
Due Week 16
Assignment 04: Knowledge theory
You will need to provide answers to the all questions in this assessment. You will be asked to explain, identify, describe and list different types of information related to digital design and web standards.
Due Week 11
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix for this course demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.
Other Information
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.
Attendance:
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. You are strongly advised to attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Information about your studies:
You can access My Studies through the RMIT website for information about timetables, important dates, assessment dates, results and progress, Canvas etc. https://www.rmit.edu.au/students
Assessment:
Information on assessment including Special consideration, Adjustments to assessment, (eg. applying for an extension of time): https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying
Course Overview: Access Course Overview