Outline

Overview

This unit introduces students to the fundamentals of user interface design. Interface design is an important element of a human-centred design approach to the development of interactive computational systems. Students will learn about industry standard user interface design and usability principles and guidelines, based in visual design theory and visual perception. They will acquire practical knowledge through the application of tools and techniques for designing and evaluating user interfaces for a variety of different platforms. This includes (1) low-fidelity prototyping (hand sketches, wireframes, clickable prototypes); (2) usability testing and heuristics; (3) web and mobile user interfaces and/or emerging technologies. The aim is to develop appreciation of visual design principles and their impact on the user experience of interactive products. The knowledge and skills developed in this unit will equip students with the essential capabilities for working in the interaction design and user experience profession. This unit is a foundational core unit in the Master of Interaction Design and Electronic Arts program.

Unit details and rules

Academic unit	Design Lab
Credit points	6
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Prohibitions ?	None
Assumed knowledge ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff

Coordinator	Martin Tomitsch, martin.tomitsch@sydney.edu.au
Lecturer(s)	Martin Tomitsch, martin.tomitsch@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Tutorial quiz	In-class quizzes Online Quizzes	20%	Multiple weeks	5 quizzes, 10 minutes each
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Interactive prototype Visual report and interactive prototype	50%	STUVAC Due date: 31 May 2022 at 23:59	25/30 pages for groups of 2/3 students
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Wireframes Visual report	30%	Week 08 Due date: 14 Apr 2022 at 23:59	25/30 pages for groups of 2/3 students
Outcomes assessed:
= group assignment ?

Assessment summary

In-class quizzes: 5 quizzes, worth 4% each, due during tutorial time in weeks 1-5
Wireframes (visual report)
Interactive prototype (visual report and prototype)

Assessment criteria

The University awards common result grades, set out in the Coursework Policy 2014 (Schedule 1).

As a general guide, a High distinction indicates work of an exceptional standard, a Distinction a very high standard, a credit a good standard, and a pass an acceptable standard.

Result name	Mark range	Description
High distinction	85 - 100	Work of outstanding quality, demonstrating mastery of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows significant innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or exceptional skill.
Distinction	75 - 84	Work of excellent quality, demonstrating a sound grasp of the learning outcomes assessed. The work shows innovation, experimentation, critical analysis, synthesis, insight, creativity, and/or superior skill.
Credit	65 - 74	Work of good quality, demonstrating more than satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed, or work of excellent quality for a majority of the learning outcomes assessed.
Pass	50 - 64	Work demonstrating satisfactory achievement of the learning outcomes assessed.
Fail	0 - 49	Work that does not demonstrate satisfactory achievement of one or more of the learning outcomes assessed.

For more information see guide to grades.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

This unit has an exception to the standard University policy or supplementary information has been provided by the unit coordinator. This information is displayed below:

School policies apply for late penalties

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic integrity and the resources available to all students. The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic integrity breaches seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breach. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of academic integrity breaches, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) and automated writing tools

You may only use generative AI and automated writing tools in assessment tasks if you are permitted to by your unit coordinator. If you do use these tools, you must acknowledge this in your work, either in a footnote or an acknowledgement section. The assessment instructions or unit outline will give guidance of the types of tools that are permitted and how the tools should be used.

Your final submitted work must be your own, original work. You must acknowledge any use of generative AI tools that have been used in the assessment, and any material that forms part of your submission must be appropriately referenced. For guidance on how to acknowledge the use of AI, please refer to the AI in Education Canvas site.

The unapproved use of these tools or unacknowledged use will be considered a breach of the Academic Integrity Policy and penalties may apply.

Studiosity is permitted unless otherwise indicated by the unit coordinator. The use of this service must be acknowledged in your submission as detailed on the Learning Hub’s Canvas page.

Outside assessment tasks, generative AI tools may be used to support your learning. The AI in Education Canvas site contains a number of productive ways that students are using AI to improve their learning.

Learning support

Simple extensions

If you encounter a problem submitting your work on time, you may be able to apply for an extension of five calendar days through a simple extension.  The application process will be different depending on the type of assessment and extensions cannot be granted for some assessment types like exams.

Special consideration

If exceptional circumstances mean you can’t complete an assessment, you need consideration for a longer period of time, or if you have essential commitments which impact your performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Special consideration applications will not be affected by a simple extension application.

Using AI responsibly

Co-created with students, AI in Education includes lots of helpful examples of how students use generative AI tools to support their learning. It explains how generative AI works, the different tools available and how to use them responsibly and productively.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Overview of the unit	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 01	Interactive tutorial activity: Interface design sprint – a fast paced overview of what you will learn in this unit	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 02	User interface foundations – part 1: What is an interface – a short history of user interfaces and their evolution	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 02	Interactive tutorial activity: Curating a museum of user interfaces – past, present and future	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 03	User interface foundations – part 2: Understanding users – who are we designing for	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 03	Interactive tutorial activity: Conduct an online ethnography to learn more about your users	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 04	Information architecture – part 1: Grid systems, hierarchies and flow	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 04	Interactive tutorial activity: Identifying the user interface requirements	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 05	Information architecture – part 2: Sketching interfaces	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 05	Interactive tutorial activity: Creating the information architecture and application structure for your design / Sketching user interfaces	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 06	Wayfinding and navigation – part 1: Guiding users and making it easy to navigate	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 06	Sketching and wireframing basics / Introduction to Balsamiq (part 1)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 07	Wayfinding and navigation – part 2: Communicating concepts through wireframes	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 07	Wireflows and advanced wireframing / Introduction to Balsamiq (part 2)	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 08	Layout design – part 1: Actions and input controls – designing forms and interface elements for doing things	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 08	Creating interactive high-fidelity prototypes / Introduction to Figma	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 09	Layout design – part 2: Visual identity and design systems	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 09	Creating and using design systems in practice / Introduction to Adobe XD	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 10	Visual design – part 1: Gestalt principles and visual design	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 10	Client meetings: Students present their visual style guide, design system and one example screen (visual high-fidelity mockup) to their "client"	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 11	Visual design – part 2: Aesthetics – choosing the right visual design	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 11	Design critique: Heuristic evaluation	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 12	Working as an interface designer – stories from the industry	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 12	Advanced high-fidelity prototyping / Creating visual context mockups / Introduction to Photoshop	Tutorial (2 hr)
Week 13	Creating interface design portfolios	Lecture (1 hr)
Week 13	Final presentation of interactive prototype	Tutorial (2 hr)

Attendance and class requirements

Please refer to the Resolutions of the University School: http://sydney.edu.au/handbooks/architecture/rules/faculty_resolutions.shtml

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

The weekly lectures and tutorials are loosely based on the book Designing Interfaces written by Jenifer Tidwell, Charles Brewer and Aynne Valencia and published by O'Reilly. Students are encouraged to use the book as a reference and to learn more about the topcis covered in the unit.

Students are able to access the book for free by setting up an O'Reilly account following these instructions.

Additional readings and resources will be provided via the Canvas site.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University's graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. appreciate the fundamental principles and underlying theories of user interface design
LO2. conduct research to explore, inform and critique multiple perspectives on a design problem/solution
LO3. apply user interface design principles and methods, within an iterative, increasing-fidelity design process
LO4. apply industry-relevant techniques in translating visual design and user behaviour theory into high quality concepts
LO5. apply user evaluation methods for improving the quality and usability of user interface products
LO6. demonstrate written and visual communication techniques for the presentation of design work for a range of formats and audiences.

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Responding to student feedback

This section outlines changes made to this unit following staff and student reviews.

Assessment items have been updated since this unit was last offered. The quiz will now run as a series of weekly quizzes, rather than one quiz.

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect

Current students

IDEA9105: Interface Design

Semester 1, 2022 [Normal day] - Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

Overview

Overview

Unit details and rules

Teaching staff

Assessment

Assessment

Assessment summary

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Academic integrity

Learning support

Learning support

Simple extensions

Special consideration

Using AI responsibly

Weekly schedule

Weekly schedule

Attendance and class requirements

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Responding to student feedback

Responding to student feedback

Disclaimer

On this page

Useful links

Media

Student links

About us

Connect