Syllabus:

Project 1 - Professional User for HCI students, 15 Credits

Swedish name: Projekt 1: Professionell produkt för HCI-studenter

This syllabus is valid: 2011-08-29 and until further notice

Course code: 5ID144

Credit points: 15

Education level: Second cycle

Main Field of Study and progress level: Industrial Design: Second cycle, has only first-cycle course/s as entry requirements

Grading scale: Two-grade scale

Responsible department: Umeå Institute of Design (UID)

The course provides practical experience in the design of a complex product or system, with a focus on specialized use. It is implemented as a rule, in cooperation with a company, organization or other relevant partners. The course is divided into three sub-courses: 1. User observation and acitivity analysis, 4,5 hp. The sub-course focus on design methodology for user studies and includes observations, interviews, activity studies and job analysis. Different perspectives on user-centered design are introduced and a workshop on the theme of visualisation problems using graphs and morphological analysis are carried out. The focus is on the relationsship between specified design methodology and practical project work. 2. Design and development work for specialized use, 9 hp. The sub-course provides practical training in designing a complex product or system in which both cognitive and physiological aspcects are concerned. The main focus is on taking results from observations, interviews, activity studies and work analysis into concrete design proposals and concepts. Presentation methods such as slide shows, sketches, models, renderings and interactive demonstrations are used. 3. Writing course for designers I, 1,5 hp. The sub-course introduces a number of methods to document the project in writing. A short essay are presented at an internal conference for older students.

Expected learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student shall be able to: -present knowledge and understanding of different approaches in the field of user-centered design, such as observation, actitivity studies, interviews and job analysis. - apply these methods in a practical project work. - implement a complete design process in a project, beginning with problem identification and finishing with presenting final design proposals. - use oral and visual presentation techniques using relevant software such as Flash. - use the various documentations traditions in sciens and art. - demonstrate basic skills in academic writing.

Required Knowledge

In order to be admitted to the course, students must have completed a BA and be admitted to the master programme in Human-Computer Interaction at Department of Informatics at Umeå University. Proficiency in English equivalent to Swedish upper secondary course English B (IELTS (Academic) with a minimum overall score of 6.5 and no individual score below 5.5. TOEFL PBT (Paper-based Test) with a minimum score of 575 and a minimum TWE score of 4.5). TOEFL iBT (Internet-based Test) with a minimum score of 90 and a minimum score of 20 on the Writing Section). Where the language of instruction is Swedish, applicants must prove proficiency in Swedish to the level required for basic eligibility for higher studies.

Form of instruction

Lectures and practical training under the guidance of a tutor. Qualified professional designers, as well as teachers from Umeå Institute of Design, are tutors. All sub-courses are mandatory.

Examination modes

Examination is carried out in the form of presentations of work and submission of assignments. In order to obtain credit for the course, all sub-courses and assignments must be completed with a minimum grade of Pass. Students receive a grade of either Pass (G) or Fail (U) for each assignment and sub-course as for full course. 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 Department board of the Umeå Institute of Design. ACADEMIC CREDIT TRANSFER Equivalency credits for this course can only be given if it can be shown through transcripts and course plans that a similar course has been passed, and after the course responsible have evaluated and approved the students individual level of skills and knowledge.

Literature