SIT216 - User Centred Design
Unit details
| Year: | 2023 unit information |
|---|---|
| Enrolment modes: | Trimester 1: Burwood (Melbourne), Waurn Ponds (Geelong), Online |
| Credit point(s): | 1 |
| EFTSL value: | 0.125 |
| Unit Chair: | Trimester 1: Kiran Ijaz |
| Prerequisite: | Four SIT coded units (excluding mathematics units coded SIT19-, SIT29-, SIT39-) |
| Corequisite: | Nil |
| Incompatible with: | SIT365 |
| Typical study commitment: | Students will on average spend 150 hours over the teaching period undertaking the teaching, learning and assessment activities for this unit. |
| Scheduled learning activities - campus: | 1 x 2 hour online class per week, 1 x 2 hour workshop per week. |
| Scheduled learning activities - online: | Online independent and collaborative learning including 1 x 2 hour online class per week (recordings provided), 1 x 2 hour online workshop per week. |
Content
User-Centred Design (UCD) focuses on designing usable solutions and determining appropriate interactions between humans (users) and computational systems. It deals with the issues surrounding the design of interfaces to afford those interactions. Aspects of UCD also relate to the field of ‘Human Computer Interaction’ (HCI) which is more than just the “human” and the “computer”; it encompasses many facets including, interface and interaction design, affordance and usability, ergonomics and psychology. Specific attention to user needs and requirements through observation, analysis and investigation is essential for ensuring the resulting design of products, objects and systems are usable.
On completion of this unit, students will be able to critically analyse existing interfaces and use HCI and UCD principles to evaluate the systems they use. Consequently, a greater understanding of users in order to determine and analyse their interface needs is necessary. Lastly, being able to demonstrate applying HCI concepts to create, develop and enhance interactions and interfaces for clients and end-users which result in successful and engaging user experiences.
| ULO | These are the Learning Outcomes (ULO) for this unit. At the completion of this unit, successful students can: | Deakin Graduate Learning Outcomes |
|---|---|---|
| ULO1 | Articulate knowledge of interface design and illustrate concerns for application in a variety of modern systems and products. | GLO1: Discipline-specific knowledge and capabilities |
| ULO2 | Develop an awareness of good practice interface design through analysis of design guidelines and principles including UCD approaches. | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO3 | Evaluate usability using design guidelines, principles and ethical user testing to propose design solutions that fit user needs which in-turn improves user experience. | GLO4: Critical thinking |
| ULO4 | Work as a group in a collaborative design team to create an interactive system prototype. | GLO5: Problem solving |
Assessment
| Assessment Description | Student output | Grading and weighting (% total mark for unit) | Indicative due week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usability guidelines report | 1,500-word written report | 15% | Week 4 |
| Usability evaluation report | 1,500-word written report | 15% | Week 7 |
| Interface design prototype (group) | Collaborative design report, reflection, and interface prototype | 40% | Week 10 |
| End-of-Unit Assessment | Timed online test | 30% | End-of-unit assessment period |
The assessment due weeks provided may change. The Unit Chair will clarify the exact assessment requirements, including the due date, at the start of the teaching period.
Learning Resource
The texts and reading list for the unit can be found on the University Library via the link below: SIT216 Note: Select the relevant trimester reading list. Please note that a future teaching period's reading list may not be available until a month prior to the start of that teaching period so you may wish to use the relevant trimester's prior year reading list as a guide only.
Unit Fee Information
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