Course Title: Create user interfaces

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2018

Course Code: VART6061C

Course Title: Create 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

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

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.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFDIG403A Create user interfaces

Element:

1. Clarify project requirements

Performance Criteria:

  • Use design specifications  in consultation with relevant personnel  to clarify the target user, audience and purpose  of interactive media products 

  • Obtain samples of text content and media assets  to be integrated into user interfaces

  • Determine file output format  for delivery platform  of interactive media products

Element:

2. Generate ideas

Performance Criteria:

  • Research interactive media product user interfaces, designs, images, artwork and other creative sources that may inspire design ideas
  • Obtain other relevant information  that may influence or be incorporated into design ideas
    Determine need for copyright clearance and identify potential for fair use of copyright material
    Obtain and record copyright clearance if required
  • 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
    Present interface design ideas to relevant personnel for discussion and feedback

Element:

3.Plan approach

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

4. Produce user interfaces

Performance Criteria:

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

Element:

5. Evaluate user interfaces

Performance Criteria:

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


Learning Outcomes



Details of Learning Activities

Students will undertake creation of user interfaces that:

  • visually communicate to target user and audience
  • meet required standards and technical parameters of the specified platform
  • visually communicate to target user and audience
     


Teaching Schedule

This course is co-delivered and co-assessed with VART6060 Design 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

 

 The nominal hours associated with this are a guide only and represent the total teaching time and student effort required to successfully complete this course.  This may include not only scheduled classes but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


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 VART6060 Design 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 CANVAS – 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 CANVAS – 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

 Critical aspects of assessment 

Evidence of the following is essential:

  • creation of user interfaces that:
  • visually communicate to target user and audience
  • meet required standards and technical parameters of the specified platform
  • visually communicate to target user and audience

 

This will involve showing the following skills and knowledge:

Required knowledge

Industry knowledge, including:

o   roles and responsibilities of project team members, e.g. designers, content creators, information architects, programmers and coders

o   sound understanding of the relationship between technical and creative aspects and requirements of interactive media projects

o   issues and challenges that arise in creating user interfaces

o   standards as they apply to user interfaces, including W3C Accessibility, interoperability, usability and readability

 

Assessment

 

Task 2 and 3

 

 

 

 

 

 

  • visual design and communication principles, including user-centered design principles

 

Tasks 1, 2 and 3

  • design elements

 

Tasks 1, 2 and 3

  • typography

 

Tasks 1, 2 and 3

Required skills

communication, teamwork and literacy skills sufficient to:

  • interpret and clarify written or verbal instructions
  • interpret design specifications
  • work collaboratively in a team environment - both independently on assignment and under direction
  • present a range of user interface designs to team members for discussion and feedback
  • respond constructively to feedback received from other team members
  • complete workplace documentation
  • seek expert assistance when problems arise

Assessment

 

Tasks 1, 2 and 3

  • creative skills sufficient to:

o   generate feasible ideas for user interface designs that meet specifications

o   apply visual design and communication principles to produce user interface designs

 

Task 2

  • technical skills sufficient to:
  • proficiently use graphics software to produce user interface designs
  • create user interface designs to meet standards and platform parameters

 

Task 2

  • self-management and planning skills sufficient to:
  • prioritise work tasks
  • meet deadlines

Tasks 1, 2 and 3

  • manage files and directories using standard naming conventions

Task 2 and 3

 

 

  

 

 

Elements/performance criteria

Assessment

  1. Clarify project requirements
    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

 

 

Task 1, 2 and 3

  1. Generate ideas
    1. Research interactive media product user interfaces, designs, images, artwork and other creative sources that may inspire design ideas
    2. Obtain other relevant information that may influence or be incorporated into design ideas
    3. Determine need for copyright clearance and identify potential for fair use of copyright material
    4. Obtain and record copyright clearance if required
    5. 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
    6. Present interface design ideas to relevant personnel for discussion and feedback

 

 

Task 1, 2 and 3

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

 

 

Task 1, 2 and 3

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

Task 2 and 3

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

Task 2 and 3

Assessment Tasks

You are required to complete 3 tasks.  You must successfully complete all 3  tasks to be deemed competent in this course.

 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.

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 Informationhttps://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 (VET Programs):

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.

 


 

Other Information

NIL

Course Overview: Access Course Overview