Interface Design

Sustainable Development Goals (SDG)

• 4. Quality education

Objectives

This course focuses on the fundamental principles and practices of user interface (UI) design. The goal of UI design is to make the user's interaction as simple and efficient as possible, while accomplishing the goals of the user. Designers thus aim to create designs that users will find easy to use and pleasurable, where the intended audience and context plays a central role. A number of topics this course will cover include: UI vs UX, the UI design process and its conventions, visual principles, components design, or hierarchy and composition.

Learning outcomes

• Correctly uses graphic expression tools and design patterns to create user interfaces.
• Conceptualises an interaction scheme to design the appropriate interface.
• Prepares written reports and documents (mainly technical) with spelling and grammar correction in English.
• Applies his/her knowledge, understanding, and problem-solving skills in complex or professional work settings and specialised skills that require the use of creative and innovative ideas.

Competencies

General skills

• Desire to take part in lifelong learning, innovate, create value and acquire new knowledge.

Specific skills

• Apply techniques and tools of artistic expression and graphic representation with creative spatial awareness through digital technology.
• Conceptualise, design, implement and assess interfaces and interaction schemes, putting into practice standard models of assessment.

Core skills

• Use oral, written and audiovisual forms of communication, in one's own language and in foreign languages, with a high standard of use, form and content.

Content

1. Core concepts and conventions of UI design
2. Look and feel, and moodboards
3. Visual principles and style guides
4. Designing UI components
5. Visual hierarchy and composition
6. Design workflow (wireframes, mockups and prototypes)

Evaluation

Your grade will be determined based on the following activities:

• Practical projects (mostly individual): 50%
• Assessment test (individual): 35%
• Attendance and involvement (individual): 15%

In case of failure, the student will be able to recover up to 35% of the mark by doing a second-chance activity. Such activity aims at recovering either the test or a practical project.

Methodology

Classes will consist on lectures and practices around UI design. The topics of the week and the in-class exercises are designed to give you a broad theoretical, analytical and conceptual understanding of UI design. Our goal is to understand what is UI, while you are expected to create your own UI designs throughout the course.

Bibliography

Key references

• Cooper A., Reimann R., Cronin D., Noessel C. (2014). About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design (4 ed.). Wiley.
• Johnson, J. (2014). Designing with the Mind in Mind: Simple Guide to Understanding User Interface Design Guidelines (2 ed.). Morgan Kaufmann Publishers.
• Saunders, K., Novak, J. (2012). Game Development Essentials: Game Interface Design (2 ed.). Delmar.

Further reading

Teachers will provide complementary bibliography and compulsory reading throughout the course via the Virtual Campus.