Schedule

Block 1 Elements of the user experience

Week 1 Introduction to New media – 8/26

Read: Elements of the User Experience
From the reading you should be able to answer the following:

  • What are the goals of Apple’s website? How does Apple’s website address the needs of a user who has just purchased their first MacBook? (pp. 41-56)
  • What are the functional specifications of Facebook’s wall? If you are not on Facebook what are the specs for the signup page? (pp. 72-75)
  • What are four architectural approaches to information structure? Find one example of each. (pp. 94-106)
  • What percentage of The Huffington Post index page is navigation, and what percentage is content? What about Google, Wikipedia, and Etsy? (pp. 116-134)
  • How does http://www.landor.com guide the readers’ eyes and focus their attention on what is important? (pp. 144-155 )

Week 2 – Discuss The Elements 9/2

In-class: Wrap up New Product

Homework: Project 1: Benchmark 1 – Propose a strategy, and scope for a website that will sell: your New Product. Specific requirements will be posted online.

Week 3 – Individual meetings to discuss Proposal & Benchmark 2 – 9/9

Due: Benchmark 1
Lecture: Prototyping
Bring Sketchbooks and drawing materials
Homework: Project 1: Benchmark 2 – Create a structure, skeleton and prototype for your proposed site. Specific requirements will be posted online.

Week 4 – User Testing of Benchmark 2 – 9/16

Due: Benchmark 2 Wire-frames & paper prototype.
Homework: Project 1: Benchmark 3 – see details posted under projects.

Week 5 – Critique 9/23

Due: Benchmark 3.
Read: Thoughts on Interaction Design: Chapters 1 & 2

From the reading you should be able to discus:

  • What makes up interaction design and what are some of the industry’s challenges?
  • What is interaction design, how its evolving. What fields does it draw knowledge from?

Post your thoughts to the blog.

Handout: Observation. For two weeks simply observe how people interact with their environment and everyday object. Take between 35 and 75 photos noting what you see and identify the type of interaction: reaction, co-opting, exploiting, adapting, conforming or signalling. From your collection of notes and photos produce a simple website to share your observations.

Block 2 Interaction Design

Week 6 – Understanding Interaction Design – 9/30

Discuss: Chapters 1 & 2
Watch: Downloaded
Homework: Read Thoughts on Interaction Design: Chapters 3, 4 & 5

From the reading you should be able to discus

  • What information can ethnographic tools give you to improve the interactivity of an online banking website? (pp. 48-54)
  • At what point is a design finished? What makes it a success? What is its purpose? (pp. 54-62)
  • Identify a product family you use regularly (can be anything from technology to consumables except for coffee). How has its branding effected your use, relationship and experience with the product? (pp. 78-84)

Post your thoughts to the blog.

Week 7 – Connecting People, Emotions and Technology – 10/7

Present Observations

Discuss Chapters 3-5
Read: Thoughts on Interaction Design: Chapter 6 – post response.
Handout: Project 2: Watch

Week 8 – Getting to know who you are designing for – 10/14

Continue to Present Observations
In class: Interview your peers.

Week 9 –  Work week and Individual meetings – 10/21

Week 10 Work week and Individual meetings – 10/28

Week 11 – Present Project 2: Watch – 11/4

Handout Final Project: Specific requirements will be posted online.

Homework: write a 500 word review of an app or widget you use regularly. Reviews must be written in the 3rd person using professional language and discuss the usability, functionality, interface, design and aesthetics. Further, create a process flow diagram for that app or widget and persona for three users that would also interact with it regularly. (p.44-54 and p.66-71)

Block 3 Mobile App

Week 12 – iPhone, iPad, Android, Widgets – 11/11

Due: Mobile App. Review

Due: Draft 1 of your Mobile Application proposal: this should include a strategy, scope, user profiles and a process flow diagram.

Week 13 – Work Week – 11/18

Schedule a time to meet with me. When not meeting with me meet in groups to discuss individual projects.

Week 14 – Working Critique  12/2

Week 15 – Final Exam & Final Projects Due

 

IMPORTANT FALL 2014 DATES

  • Midterm grades due on the RMU website through Sentry Secured Services (www.rmu.edu): October 22 (Wednesday) by 9:00 am
  • Final grades due on the RMU website through Sentry Secured Services (www.rmu.edu): December 15 (Monday) by 12:00 pm
  • Last day for drop courses:August 30 (Saturday)
  • Labor Day Holiday (university closed-no classes):September 1 (Monday)
  • Last day for adds, class time changes and substitution:September 5 (Friday)
  • Media Arts Advisement Day for Spring 2015 (FT faculty):October 24 (Friday)
  • Last day to withdraw from courses:October 31 (Friday)
  • Spring 2015 registration begins:November 3 (Monday)
  • Thanksgiving holiday:November 24-29 (Monday-Saturday)
  • Please, notice: Classes that only meet on Mondays will meet on November 24th
  • Final examinations:December 8-13 (Monday-Saturday)
  • Final exam schedule available at: http://my.rmu.edu/final-exam-schedule