Course Title: Design user interfaces

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2018

Course Code: VART6060C

Course Title: Design user interfaces

School: 650T Vocational Business Education

Campus: City Campus

Program: C6140 - Advanced Diploma of Business (Public Relations)

Course Contact: Julia Makin

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5175

Course Contact Email: Julia.makin@rmit.edu.au

Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Julia Makin

julia.makin@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 describes the performance outcomes, skills and knowledge required to design user interfaces for interactive media products.

National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:	CUFDIG402A Design user interfaces
Element:	1. Identify project requirements
Performance Criteria:	Discuss concept with relevant personnel to ensure that design briefs are fully understood Identify technical parameters of interactive media products, including delivery platform Identify target audience and user characteristics Obtain information architecture specifications if available
Element:	2. Draft design specifications
Performance Criteria:	Visualise concepts and develop preliminary sketches based on content architecture and audience characteristics Sketch basic screen layout showing main spatial zones Specify functional areas within screen layouts Specify metaphors and look and feel of user interfaces Develop final detailed sketches taking into consideration all ideas generated Gain approval from relevant personnel to ensure that interfaces meet all requirements Write user interface design specifications to include relevant advice to development teams
Element:	3. Finalise user interface designs
Performance Criteria:	Develop focus test plans for user interfaces to identify their strengths and weaknesses Incorporate design changes to information architecture in design specifications Obtain final agreement from relevant personnel for finished designs

Learning Outcomes

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 learning activities. These activities will be provided through a combination of face to face teacher/student deliveries plus classroom work time. Additional learning activities will also be provided to students to complete outside of timetabled time.

Teaching Schedule

This course is co-delivered and co-assessed with VART6061 Create User Interfaces.

Week	Week Commencing	Topics	Assessment
1	3/7	What are User Interfaces? Induction to the course Meet your teacher and class
2	10/7	Introducing User Experience Presentation and exercises to introduce the concept of UX (User Experience). What is it and why is it so important?
3	17/7	Evaluate User Interfaces Usability Heuristics and how to assess effectiveness, appropriateness to the user and audience and technical feasibility.
4	24/7	Big Data Analytics and Infographics Examine the kind of data being collected. Examine how it can be used to create interesting and useful user interfaces.
5	31/7	Typography and Design Re-cap Typography and Design in modern UI (user interfaces). Examine student current levels and understanding with exercises. Look at presentation techniques. Look at types of presentations, informative vs. the pitch.	Assessment 1 submission due: Sunday, 11pm
6	7/8	In class presentations	Assessment 1 Presentation In class
7	14/8	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	21/8	Graphics - Branding your App Design and create a logo Create a style guide	-
BREAK	28/8 - 1/9	Mid-Semester Break
9	4/9	Use Software to Develop Prototypes Part 1 Apply visual design and communication principles to the development of user interfaces. Examine software tools, including tutorials on software techniques. UX tools.
10	11/9	Use Software to Develop Prototypes Part 2 More time will be spent on giving students a chance to get accustomed with the software.
11	18/9	Applying the Software Every pair will work on their assessment. The teacher will support.
12	25/9	User Testing Exercises to prepare for pitching to client which is very different to an informative presentation. Students Apps should be in the final iteration stage, ready for in class feedback	Assessment 2 submission due: Sunday, 11pm
13	2/10	In Class Presentations	Assessment 2: In Class Presentations
14	09/10	Preparation for Test Preparation for Assessment 3 (Test)
15	16/10	Assessment 3 - In Class Test Individual test on Blackboard	Assessment 3 - Due In Class
16	23/10	Resubmissions only

Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

References

Other Resources

All resources will be available in Canvas.

Overview of Assessment

Assessment may incorporate a variety of methods including technical requirements documentation, homework, assignments, group and/or individual projects, in class exercises, written and practical assessments, problem solving exercises, presentations, direct observation of actual and simulated work practice, presentation of a portfolio of evidence which may comprise documents, and/or photographs and/or video and audio files, review of products produced through work-based or course activities.

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. Students will be provided with feedback throughout the course to check their progress.

Assessment Tasks

This course is co delivered and co assessed with VART6061C Create user interfaces

Students are required to complete 3 tasks. All tasks must be completed successfully to be deemed competent in this unit.

Assessment 1 – Presentation: Examination/User Report
Group, due: Submission on Blackboard – week 5, Sunday, 11pm, Presentation – week 6, in class
Working in pairs, students will examine and test a real user Interface of an app. Students are then to produce a detailed analysis report to be uploaded to Blackboard and 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 user’s actions/ reaction to the interface and how they respond to it.

Assessment 2 – User Interface Design
Group, due: Submission on Blackboard – week 12, Sunday, 11pm, Presentation –Week 13, in class
Working in pairs, the second assessment will focus on the design and creation of 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 you will be introduced to and trained in in class. Students will develop a concept for a commercially viable app and design the user interfaces for the various stages. The aim of the user interface is to make the user’s interaction as simple, efficient, enjoyable and perhaps even fun as possible. The final prototypes will be presented in class.

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

Additional notes to students:
If a student receives an NYC for any assessment, or part of an assessment, they will not be deemed competent for the course and therefore will receive an overall grade of NYC.

*More detailed assessment sheets for each assessment task will be disseminated throughout course delivery.

Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix that maps all the assessment is available on CANVAS.   Submission Requirements   You should:

• Ensure that you submit assessments on or before the due date.  
• 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 the Assessment task document that includes a declaration and statement of authorship.
• 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. 

Other Information

Late Submission Procedures    You are required to submit assessment items and/or ensure performance based assessment is completed by the due dates.  If you are prevented from submitting an assessment item on time, by circumstances outside your control, you may apply in advance to your teacher for an extension to the due date of up to seven calendar days.   More Information:  https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/extensions-of-time-for-submission-of-assessable-work   Where an extension of greater than seven days is needed, you must apply for Special Consideration.  Applications for special consideration must be submitted no later than two working days after the assessment task deadline or scheduled examination.   More Information: https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/special-consideration   Resubmissions:   If you are found to be unsuccessful in a particular Course Assessment Task (or you do not submit/attend) you will be allowed one resubmission.  Your teacher will provide feedback regarding what you need to do to improve and will set a new deadline for the resubmission.     If you are still not meeting the assessment requirements you must apply to your Program Manager in writing outlining the steps you will take to demonstrate competence in your course. Your submission will be considered by the Program Team and you will be advised of the outcome as soon as possible.   Grading & re-submissions   Successful re-submissions will contribute a CAG only (Competency Achieved Grading) result to your overall grade for the course.   Adjustments to Assessment    In certain circumstances students may be eligible for an assessment adjustment. For more information about the circumstances under which the assessment arrangements might be granted please access the following website:  https://www.rmit.edu.au/students/student-essentials/assessment-and-exams/assessment/adjustments-to-assessment   Marking Guide (Competency):    You must demonstrate that you have all the required skills/knowledge/elements in the unit of competency you are studying.   You will receive feedback on each assessment task that will inform you about your progress and how well you are performing.    Marking Guide (Grading)    After achieving competency we then grade your performance in the unit and you will achieve one of the following grades:    Final Grades table:   CHD Competent with High Distinction CDI Competent with Distinction CC Competent with Credit CAG Competency Achieved – Graded CA Competency Achieved – Not Graded NYC Not Yet Competent DNS Did Not Submit for assessment   Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview