Graphic Designs and Expressions, 7.5 Credits

Contents

The course provides practical training in applying graphic design and brand aesthetics for application in graphical user interfaces. The course has three modules:

Module 1: Basic Design of Graphic User Interfaces (3 credits)
An individual project where students start from a given brand with distinctive graphic aesthetics, and apply it to an innovative digital product in a different format.

Module 2: Software Prototypes (1.5 credits)
This module provides an overview of current tools for software prototypes and provides the opportunity for training in these through practical exercises.

Module 3: Graphic brand manual for interactive media (3 credits)
Here, students are given the opportunity to explore graphic design, typography and other graphic elements to create a graphic brand profile program for digital media for a fictional organization, based on its core values that must be clearly reflected in the final brand expression.

Expected learning outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course the students should be able to:

Knowledge and understanding

• Describe the basic methods of design and evaluation of graphical user interfaces.
• Describe basic principles of typography and graphic design linked to graphical user interfaces.

Competence and skills

• Use sketch prototype methodology for development and evaluation of a graphical user interface.
• Demonstrate the ability to independently create and manipulate graphical user interface elements.
• Demonstrate the ability to animate a graphical user interface using relevant digital tools.
• Independently perform a design process to apply a given graphic design language to a product.
• Demonstrate the ability to translate text-based core values into graphical expressions.
• Demonstrate ability to relate core values to sustainability and inclusivity perspectives.

Judgement and approach

• Evaluate graphical user interfaces with regard to accessibility, usability and aesthetics.
• Independently reflect on the core values of a product or service, and how its graphical expressions may be interpreted and influence others.

Required Knowledge

A Bachelor's degree or equivalent first-cycle qualification comprising of at least 180 ECTS or a corresponding qualification from an internationally recognized university. Specific entry requirements are: 60 ECTS credits in the field of Design. Student must have passed all previous master courses in the Interaction Design programme at Umeå Institute of Design or the equivalent. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B/6.

Form of instruction

The course consists of lectures, practical exercises and tutorials.

Examination modes

Examination in the first and third modules are based on the submission of results from individual assignments. The second module is completed by the students at their own pace and is examined via self-tests. In order to pass the entire course, all of the various exercises and obligatory assignments must be completed, submitted and approved. On each of the three modules and for the course as a whole, one of the grades Fail (U) or Pass (G) is given.

Deviations from the course syllabus examination form can be made for a student who has a decision on pedagogical support due to disability. Individual adaptation of the examination form should be considered based on the student's needs. The examination form is adapted within the framework of the expected syllabus of the course syllabus. At the request of the student, the course responsible teacher, in consultation with the examiner, must promptly decide on the adapted examination form. The decision must then be communicated to the student.

For students who have not obtained the grade Pass, other examination sessions will be arranged. A student who for two consecutive examinations for the same course or sub-course
has not been passed, has the right to have another examiner appointed, if there are no special reasons against this (Higher Education Ordinance chapter 6, 22 §). The request for a new examiner shall be made in writing to the Head of Department at Umeå Institute of Design.

ACADEMIC CREDIT TRANSFER
Students have the right to request that previous studies, or equivalent knowledge and skills acquired in a professional, work-related capacity, be validated and transferred into credits on an equivalent course or programme at Umeå University. Applications for credit transfer should be addressed to Student Services/Degree Evaluation Office. More information can be found at the Umeå University student web site (www.student.umu.se/english) and in Chapter 6 of the Higher Education Ordinance. Appeals may be made to the Higher Education Appeals Board (ÖNH) against a decision by the university not to approve an application for credit transfer (Higher Education Ordinance, Chapter 12), even in cases where only a part of the application has been rejected.