Designing Interactions (Spring 2021)

Abstract

This specialisation focuses on theories, practices and methods from Human Computer Interaction and Interaction Design and enhances the students ability to critically analyze, understand and develop interactive technologies through hands-on experiments in a studio workspace.

Description

In the first specialisation module, ‘Designing Interactions’, the students will engage in design and programming of interactive prototypes based on research areas in HCI and Interaction design. The specialisation offers an advanced approach to researching and creating interactive artefacts from digital, physical and hybrid points of view. The first part of the specialisation focuses on analysis and exploratory design of mobile, web, and physical technologies, exposing students to different technologies and design briefs. 

The specialisation enables students to innovate existing interactive products, and take a lead role in defining features for products and systems and set product development strategies. Job profiles in interaction design include design product manager, creative technologist, design consultant, interaction designer, or industrial design researcher.

Topics will cover (for instance, but are not reduced to):

• Web and Mobile (JavaScript, CSS, HTML, or related frameworks)

• Physical Computing (Arduino and similar)

• Networking Technologies (MQTT, PubNuB)

• Ubiquitous Computing

• Embodied Interaction

• Speculative Design

Formal prerequisites

The course builds upon knowledge from the courses of the 1st semester of the KDDIT programme and students should have completed those courses or obtained similar knowledge elsewhere. 

This course is part 1 of the Designing Interactions specialization. 

Intended learning outcomes

After the course, the student should be able to:

• Identify and apply theories, methods, and tools for analysing interactive qualities of digital products and applications.
• Design and program interactive prototypes.
• Reflect and theorize on the nature of interaction with interactive systems and technologies.

Learning activities

PART 1 : 'Designing Interactions'

The first part of the specialisation focuses on historically important theories in interaction design, methods for developing and analysing product interaction, and hands-on interaction design projects in which novel interactions are programmed and prototyped. It will particularly emphasise designing and programming interactive web, mobile, and physical technologies. Designing Interactions provides students with a solid theoretical backbone, a vocabulary to articulate qualities of interactive artefacts, methods for approaching designing interactive systems, and the technical skills to analyse, explore, and demonstrate working interactive prototypes.

Course literature

http://designthinkmakebreakrepeat.com

Student Activity Budget

Estimated distribution of learning activities for the typical student

• Preparation for lectures and exercises: 10%
• Lectures: 25%
• Exercises: 25%
• Project work, supervision included: 30%
• Exam with preparation: 10%

Ordinary exam

Exam type:
D: Submission of written work with following oral, External (7-point scale)
Exam variation:
D22: Submission with following oral exam supplemented by the submission.

Time and date