This module will enable students to define the diverse criteria that influence the success or failure of the complicated process of designing interactive digital projects. Candidates will implement design standards with an emphasis on the visual/graphical creation and design (i.e. using Photoshop, Illustrator, et al). Basic design theory will be given along with practical details on a number of graphic design software and methodologies. Candidates will consider practices in non-screen media as well as selected computer-based examples that exemplify the best practice in design and usability. Device and input affordances, alongside stringent HCI usability requirements, will inform the design work, strategies, and rationale of the students.
- Mapping affordances and constraints
- Design-a-Brief
- Models and analysis/critique of real world examples (computer-based and non-computer-based)
- Information organisation and presentation
- Lifecycle of the design process; testing; feedback implementation and retesting
- Design concepts
- Requirements for screen (e.g. colour, font and legibility – typeface and interface, control layout, visual metaphors, controlling the denotative and the connotative aspects of design
- Requirements for interactive digital artifacts
- Effective use of design to impart important information in the visual modality
- Understanding user experience of on-screen visual presentation; usability and emotion, usability/attractiveness beyond usability
- Photoshop and Illustrator: basic and advanced techniques (alpha channels, colour channels, layering, blending modes, masking, image compositing)
Learning and teaching will consist of lectures and tutorials to ensure students have a firm theoretical grounding alongside a set of robust practical skills and abilities as well as more innovative, student-based learning methods such as case studies and practical project work.
| Module Content & Assessment | |
|---|---|
| Assessment Breakdown | % |
| Other Assessment(s) | 100 |