Course Title: Design user interfaces
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2020
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: Felicity Burns
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 5486
Course Contact Email: felicity.burns@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Federico Viola
federico.viola@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: |
1. Discuss concept with relevant personnel to ensure that design briefs are fully understood. 2. Identify technical parameters of interactive media products, including delivery platform. 3. Identify target audience and user characteristics. 4. Obtain information architecture specifications if available. |
Element: |
2. Draft design specifications |
Performance Criteria: |
1. Visualise concepts and develop preliminary sketches based on content architecture and audience characteristics 2. Sketch basic screen layout showing main spatial zones 3. Specify functional areas within screen layouts 4. Specify metaphors and look and feel of user interfaces 5. Develop final detailed sketches taking into consideration all ideas generated 6. Gain approval from relevant personnel to ensure that interfaces meet all requirements 7. Write user interface design specifications to include relevant advice to development teams |
Element: |
3. Finalise user interface designs |
Performance Criteria: |
1. Develop focus test plans for user interfaces to identify their strengths and weaknesses. 2. Incorporate design changes to information architecture in design specifications. 3. Obtain final agreement from relevant personnel for finished designs. |
Learning Outcomes
Details of Learning Activities
A range of learning activities are planned for this course including self-paced, collaborative and simulated industry case study activities.
The self-paced activities will be delivered thought various technology platforms and include your contribution to wikis and discussion threads, reflective journals, quizzes and interactive sessions.
The collaborative classroom based activities will include group discussion, group problem solving activities and opportunities to practice your skills in a simulated workplace environment.
It is expected that you to participate and contribute in all scheduled learning activities.
Teaching Schedule
This course is co-delivered and co-assessed with VART6061 Create User Interfaces.
| Week | Commencing on | Topic | Readings and Activities | Assessment |
| Week 1 | 6-Jul | Course introduction Assessment 1 briefing |
Assessment 1 Briefing | |
| Week 2 | 13-Jul | UX The Process of UX and UI Design |
User Interfaces |
In-class Activity to be uploaded on Canvas by Sunday, end of day |
| Week 3 | 20-Jul |
Usability Heuristics Assessment 1 Groups |
Usability Heuristics Groups Selection of Designer for App/UI |
In-class Activity to be uploaded on Canvas by Sunday, end of day |
| Week 4 | 27-Jul |
Ideation Design, Layout and Typography
|
Brainstorming Look at different brainstorming techniques and idea generation. Plan approach: design selection, graphic software choice, explore typographical and visual design elements. |
|
| Week 5 | 3-Aug |
Research Prototyping |
Research and strategy Paper prototypes: concept sketches including functional areas and design specifications. |
|
| Week 6 | 10-Aug | Design and Style Guide |
Apply visual design and communication principles to the development of user interfaces. Concept sketches in class |
|
| Week 7 | 17-Aug | User Testing Working on Assessment 1 |
|
Assessment 1 Due, Sunday 11:59pm (Digital Upload) Assessment 2 Briefing |
| Week 8 | 24-Aug | Presentations for Assessment 1 | Assessment 1 Presentations | |
| SEMESTER BREAK | 31-Aug - 4-Sep |
|
||
| Week 9 | 7-Sep |
Assessment 2 Briefing Software to Develop Prototypes Pt 1 |
Look at graphic design software to create UIs Look at UX tools and prototyping software. |
|
| Week 10 | 14-Sep | Software to Develop Prototypes Pt 2 | More time will be spent on giving students a chance to get accustomed with the software. | |
| Week 11 | 21-Sep |
Plan User Testing |
User testing | |
| Week 12 | 28-Sep |
User Testing UX Workshop |
User testing | |
| Week 13 | 5-Oct | Work on Assessment | Students Apps should be in the final iteration stage, ready for in class feedback | |
| Week 14 | 12-Oct | Work on Assessment | Supervised | Assessment 2 Due, Sunday 11:59pm |
| Week 15 | 19-Oct | Presentations | Assessment 2 Presentations | |
| Week 16 | 26-Oct | Resubmissions only | ||
| Week 17 | 2-Nov | Resubmissions only |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
All resources are 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 2 tasks. All tasks must be completed successfully to be deemed competent in this unit.
Assessment 1– Design User Interface
Report date due:
- Week 7, 11:59pm Sunday
Presentation date due: Week 8, in class
Presentation Duration: 10 minutes
Assessment 1 is to be completed in teams of 4
Purpose:
In a group of 4 students develop the user interfaces for an app, plan for it to be turned into an interactive prototype and plan and conduct user tests.
Assessment 2 - Develop an App Prototype
Due dates:
- Digital Upload: Week 14, Sunday, 11:59pm
- Presentation: Week 15, in class
Presentation Duration: 10 - 15 minutes
Assessment 2 is to be completed in teams
Purpose:
Based on assessment 2 the students need to test and develop an app prototype with user interfaces to meet the requirements of a client brief.
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. Non submission without supporting evidence such as ELP or special consideration will mean a result of Did Not Submit (DNS)
- 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 CA (Competency Achieved) 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:
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.
Final Grades table
CA |
Competency Achieved |
NYC |
Not Yet Competent |
DNS |
Did Not Submit |
Further information regarding the application of the grading criteria will be provided by your teacher.
Other information:
Academic Integrity
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is a form of cheating in assessment and may occur in oral, written or visual presentations. It is the presentation of the work, idea or creation of another person, without appropriate referencing, as though it is your own.
The penalties for cheating in assessment are severe, whether the cheating involves plagiarism, fabrication, falsification of data, copyright infringement or some other method. Penalties can include charges of academic misconduct, cancellation of results and exclusion from your course. It is also a disciplinary offence for you to allow your work to be plagiarised by another student.
Referencing
RMIT Business produce their own referencing guidelines entitled written reports and essays: guidelines for referencing and presentation in RMIT Business which all Business students should use.
RMIT Business referencing guidelines (RTF, 1,286 KB, 52 pages). A supporting Referencing website has been developed for the RMIT Business guidelines. You can find out more about Academic Integrity at RMIT Academic Integrity webpage.
Group Assessment
A number of your assessments will rely upon group work. This is a critical part of your program as in the workplace you will be regularly required to work in a team environment. Teamwork is also one of the key employability skills for this qualification.
The key to being successful in group work is getting to know your classmates and finding out what they want to achieve. You should seek to find a team which shares your key interests and drivers.
If you are facing issues with your group, the key is to resolve them quickly well before assessments are due. If you need to you can seek support from your teacher.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview