Unit Description The unit focuses on the paramount importance of the user within successful interactive design. It explores the notion of the identification of, and designing for, specific user needs. It considers the notion of user testing and feedback as a crucial aspect of interactive multimedia - a means of allowing the designer to re-evaluate the design and functionality of the project. It also emphasizes the importance of project planning and management. Syllabus The students will explore the needs of a specific group, or client, isolate specific design problems, and make proposals for a website that fulfills those requirements. They will present their research findings and initial proposal to the group. They will be asked to produce the website, working together with the user to achieve a suitable outcome. The website should be subject to extensive user testing before the project is finalised. Learning Outcomes On completion of this unit the student will be able to: - Demonstrate an awareness of the importance of user requirements. - Demonstrate an awareness of design constraints, and related issues. - Show an awareness of navigation issues. - Show an awareness of project planning and management (including user testing), with the ability to meet deadlines. - Demonstrate the ability to critically appraise the outcome of their work in relationship to their stated intention. - Demonstrate a reasonable understanding of screen design and conventions. - Demonstrate familiarity with a range of software essential for Internet-delivered interactive multimedia. Teaching and Learning Methods This unit is studio based, with an emphasis on responsive, student-centred experiential learning (including peer group learning). Workshops will provide the technical skills necessary for the student to produce sophisticated Internet-delivered interactive multimedia. Assessment The learning outcomes will be assessed through: - the completion of a 'live' website and a written self-appraisal which includes initial proposal, research findings and project log (weighting 100%). Assessment criteria include: quality of content (appropriateness to user requirements, coherence and relevance); appropriateness/quality of research; effectiveness of organization (planning, preparation and time-management); the visual quality, navigation, structure and "usability" of the work; progress; and the technical learning and effectiveness. Indicative Reading Students will be expected to engage fully in on-line research activities, facilitated through the digital environment that supports Interactive Multimedia (at www.newmediahull.net). Blattner, M & Dannenberg, R, Multimedia Interface Design, ACM Press, 1992 Carroll, J (ed), Designing Interaction, Cambridge University Press, 1992 Doheny-Farma, S, The Wired Neighbourhood, Yale University Press, 1997 Flemming, J, Designing the User Experience, O'Reilly. 1997. Landow,G, Hypertext - the Convergence of Contemporary Critical Theory and Technology, John Hopkins U.P., 1992 Marcus, A, Graphic Design for Electronic Documents and User Interfaces, ACM Press, 1992 Moran, Thomas (ed.), Special Issue on Context in Design. Human Computer Interaction 9:, Winter, 1994 Mullet, Kevin and Sano, Darrell, Designing Visual Interfaces, Suntoft Press/Prentice-Hall, 1995 Nielson, J, Designing Web Usability, New Riders, 2000. Norman, Donald, The Design of Everyday Things. New York: HarperCollins, 1990 Roszak, Theodore, The Cult of Information, Lutterworth, 1986 Tognazzini, B, Tog on Interface, Addison-Wesley (Massachusetts), 1992 Tufte, E, The Visual Display of Quantitative Information, Graphic Press, 1983 Tufte, E, Envisioning Information, Graphic Press, 1990 Veen, J, The Art & Science of Web Design, New Riders. 2001. Technical Reading (latest versions), Software Manuals, On-Line Documentation Relevant Quickstart Guides Magazines Create Online, Computer Arts, Digit, Creative Review etcf. |