Interaction Design

2019/2020

Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

All course and project-modules on the 1st semester must have been followed by the student.

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

The objective of the course is to provide the students with an understanding of the theories and methods of interaction design and the ability to apply these theories and methods for concrete design problems.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who complete the course module will obtain the following qualifications:

  • The iterative process of interaction design (different life cycle models) (application)
  • User centered methods for design (application)
  • Methods for user tests application)
  • Conceptualizing interaction (understanding)
  • Characterise users and their needs, preferences and capabilities (understanding)
  • Conceptual design and using prototypes in design (application)
  • Data gathering (application)
  • Data analysis and interpretation: (application)
    • Qualitative (identifying recurring patterns and themes, categorizing data, looking for critical incidence etc.)
    • Quantative analysis including basic descriptive statistics, measures of central tendency (mean, median and mode) and variability (standard deviation and variance)
  • Graphical data representation (knowledge)
  • Physical computing (i.e., designing interfaces which go beyond the traditional graphical user interfaces) from a designer perspective (understanding)
  • The concept of designing and building lo-fi and hi-fi prototypes as an integral part of the interative design process and to evaluate these in user tests (understand/apply)
  • Applying usability test design of goals and principles such as user friendliness, learnability, likeability, sociability, playability etc. using both:
    • Empirical methods (focus group, questionnaires, interviews, observation, case studies, field studies etc.)
    • Theoretical methods (cognitive walkthroughs, task analysis, heuristic evaluation etc.)
  • Understanding techniques processes and issues involved in creating successful physical and virtual interfaces
  • Understanding and applying principles and goals for the interaction design of physical and virtual interfaces: Affordances, constraints, mapping, causality, feedback, modes etc.

Skills

Students who complete the course module will obtain the following qualifications:

  • Design (apply) solutions to simple interaction design related problems, including uses in the process
  • Understanding and applying how to perform user evaluations
  • Ability to demonstrate (application) the concept behind their interface design through conceptual models and sensor data mapping

Competences

Students who complete the course module will obtain the following qualifications:

  • Analyse needs of different target groups
  • Compare different user-centered evaluation methods, on a level to decide which of them are applicable and suitable for certain evaluations. Apply and evaluate selected user-centered evaluation methods
  • Apply the iterative method for interaction design

Type of instruction

Refer to the overview of instruction types listed in the start of chapter 3. The types of instruction for this course are decided in accordance with the current Framework Provisions and directions are decided and given by the Study Board for Media Technology.

Exam

Exams

Name of examInteraction Design
Type of exam
Active participation and/or written assignment
In accordance with the current Framework Provisions and directions on examination from the Study Board for Media Technology:
Individual assessment based on active participation during the course. The assessment is per-formed with the Pass/Fail grade.
Note that if parts of the assessment are to be based on written work or exercises, a deadline is stipulated for when the work must be handed in. If the student hands in a paper/exercises after the deadline, the student has used an examination attempt.
ECTS5
Permitted aids
With certain aids:
See Semester Description
AssessmentPassed/Not Passed
Type of gradingInternal examination
Criteria of assessmentThe criteria of assessment are stated in the Examination Policies and Procedures

Facts about the module

Danish titleInteraktionsdesign
Module codeMSNMEDB2104
Module typeCourse
Duration1 semester
SemesterSpring
ECTS5
Language of instructionEnglish
Location of the lectureCampus Aalborg, Campus Copenhagen
Responsible for the module

Organisation

Study BoardStudy Board of Media Technology
DepartmentDepartment of Architecture, Design and Media Technology
FacultyTechnical Faculty of IT and Design