Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 1 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Effective interface design is an essential aspect of contemporary communication. In the production of digital media forms, such as web sites or mobile applications, you will need to have an in-depth understanding of how visual design and communication principles apply to the creation of visual interfaces. You will also need to understand the effective and integral relationship between interface and interaction design. This unit provides the knowledge and skills in interface design that will be required to design effective interactive media, which you will apply in future studies in Interactive and Visual Design.

Aims

This unit aims to provide you with an understanding of how to apply visual theory and communication and interaction design principles to the design of visual interfaces for specific platforms and contexts.

Objectives

On completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. understand and articulate the principles of interface design;
2. apply your understanding of interface design in a range of contexts;
3. apply technical skills in the production of visual interfaces;
4. critique concepts, interface design approaches and the effectiveness of communication;
5. produce design solutions to complex design briefs following an iterative design process.

Content

This unit provides a combination of theory and practice. Lectures address the theories of visual interface design, how interface design has evolved to address changing visual platforms and contexts of use, and how interface design contributes to effective persuasion, engagement, interpretation and interaction. Interface design case studies will allow the evaluation and critique of applied design principles and practices. Practical classes will support you to produce visual interfaces using established design and deverlopment applications, for example HTML and CSS, Adobe Flash.

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

This unit will be undertaken through participation in lectures, tutorials and workshop sessions. Lectures provide the theoretical and contextual basis to inform and support conceptual and technical development. Tutorials will provide skills in design and development applications and support exercises in concept and project development, while workshops will provide a forum for critique and iterative design.

Assessment

LATE ASSIGNMENTS
An assignment submitted after the due date without an approved extension will not be marked. If you are unable to complete your assignment on time, you should submit on time whatever work you have done.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access complete Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information please refer to the Blackboard site for this unit.FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT
The tutorial environment allows for ongoing communication and feedback with relevant teaching staff and peers.
Weight: 0%

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
You will be awarded a final grade on a 1 to 7 scale

Assessment name: Interface Design
Description: You will produce a series of interface design solutions for an interactive media application, for use in a variety of media platforms.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Mid Semester

Assessment name: Interface Design & Evaluation
Description: You will produce and evaluate an interface design solution in response to a specific design brief. You are also required to present a design document including a context analysis, rationale, design considerations and outcomes from your interface evaluation.
Relates to objectives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: End Semester

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Required Text

There are no required texts for this unit. Readings and other reference materials will be published on the unit blackboard web site.

Recommended References
Butow, E., 2007. User interface design for mere mortals, Boston: Addison-Wesley.

Ballard, B., 2007. Designing the mobile user experience, Chichester, England Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Bennett, J. G. (2005) Design fundamentals for new media Clifton Park, NY: Thomson/Delmar Learning

Cooper, A., R. Reimann & D. Cronin, 2007. About face 3 : the essentials of interaction design, Indianapolis, IN: Wiley Pub.

Galitz, W. O. & Ebooks Corporation., (2007). The essential guide to user interface design an introduction to GUI design principles and techniques, Wiley Pub.

Mullet, K. & D. Sano, 1995. Designing visual interfaces : communication oriented techniques, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: SunSoft Press.

Norman, D. A. & Books24x7 Inc., (2002). The design of everyday things, Basic Books.

Raskin, J., 2000. The humane interface : new directions for designing interactive systems, Reading, Mass. Harlow: Addison-Wesley.

Stone, D. L., 2005. User interface design and evaluation, San Francisco, CA: Elsevier/Morgan Kaufmann.

Tidwell, J., (2009). Designing Interfaces, O'Reilly Media Inc.

Studio 7.5. (2005) Design for Small Screens. Switzerland: AVA Publishing

Materials:
You will require the following materials:

- Digital storage media (USB memory stick or portable hard drive)
- A4 size sturdy pre-bound sketchbook / 'visual diary' with a minimum of 50 pages. A good quality paper stock is recommended
- Fine line black felt pens, e.g. 0.2mm
- Graphite pencils in a number of weights (HB, 2B, 4B)
- Coloured pencils
- Pencil sharpener and eraser
- Coloured markers

Risk assessment statement

There are no risks associated with this unit.

Students should backup all of their digital files on a regular basis - daily or weekly - to ensure work is not lost if there is a hardware failure.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 05-Oct-2012