Good design solves a problem; great design solves a problem in a way that is effective and satisfying. This course will help you to generate effective user-centered designs for Web and software solutions through a variety of workshop-style learning sessions. Students can expect to learn design ideation and sketching methodologies; practice giving and receiving design critiques; create wireframes and design specs; generate clickable/tappable prototypes that effectively express how your design functions; and learn about how to exercise these design practices in the real world. 

• User Experience Research is recommended, but not required 

Lesson 1 Assignments 

In-Class Work: 

• Create a design plan 

Lesson 2  

Use ideation to generate viable design solutions. 

• Sketch design concepts using a time-boxed methodology 
• Participate in a design critique of another designer’s work 
• Facilitate a design critique for your design 

Lesson 2 Assignments 

Homework Due: 

• Request personal license for Axure RP 

In-Class Work:

• Sketching Ideation 
• Conduct and participate in design critiques 

Lesson 3  

Create a paper prototype. 

• Explain the value of paper prototyping 
• Sketch different views and interactions for one or more user scenarios 
• Assemble sketches into a paper prototype 
• Facilitate a user’s journey through a paper prototype 

Lesson 3 Assignments 

In-Class Work:

• Create a paper prototype 
• Facilitate user walkthrough of paper prototype 

Lesson 4  

Create a low-fidelity prototype. 

• Describe five tools used for creating digital prototypes 
• Convert sketches into a digital low-fidelity prototype 
• Facilitate a user’s journey through the low-fidelity prototype 

Lesson 4 Assignments 

Homework Due: 

• Select and be prepared to use prototyping tool in class 

In-Class Work: 

• Create a low-fidelity digital prototype 
• Facilitate user walkthrough of digital prototype 

Lesson 5  

Create a design specification. 

• Explain the difference between a wireframe and a prototype 
• Convert sketches and/or low-fidelity screens into a wireframe 
• Create interaction annotations for each wireframe view 
• Assemble wireframes and interaction annotations into a design specification 

Lesson 5 Assignments 

In-Class Work:

• Create a design specification 

Lesson 6  

Create user scenarios from a set of goals and requirements. 

• Describe the purpose and benefits of user stories, business requirements, functional requirements, use cases and scenarios 
• Determine how to apply goals and requirements to create a design plan 

Lesson 6 Assignments 

In-Class Work:

• Analyze information to create a user scenario 

Lesson 7  

Explain how to integrate the User-Centered Design (UCD) phases into different project methodologies. 

• Describe the phases and benefits of the UCD process 
• Describe where each phase of the UCD process should occur in the waterfall, iterative and agile project methodologies 

Lesson 7 Assignments 

In-Class Work:

• Discuss application of user-centered to a variety of different project methodologies