Summer 2013
User Experience Design
Course Z2908W
User Experience Design X 481.99AF
IN PERSON Class:
Email tdillmann@gmail.com
Skype: thomasdillmann
Personal Link www.linkedin.com/in/tdillmann/
Online Support Links:
Google Drive
Contains syllabus, lecture slides, a drop folder for assignments, reference
materials and resources.
https://drive.google.com/folderview?id=0B2iQPiS7dl8YWZod2tDS1JuUkU&usp=sharing
Course Website
Contains in depth material from class lecturers, examples, and links.
Contains reading assignments.
https://sites.google.com/site/uclaxspring2013toc/
Google +
This will be our forum. You should engage with your peers, ask questions, review
reading materials and post interesting sites, links and articles you discover about
User Experience Design.
I will need to invite you individually. An invitation will be sent to your email
address.
Office Location: 1 hour before class starts
Office Hours You may schedule time with me for virtual office hours for questions.
Note:
If you need a different time, please submit a request one day in advance for a 20 minute
time slot, 630pm PT and 8pm PT, Monday - Thursday. You may send questions by email
at any time. I will do my best to answer them in a timely manner.
Welcome
Welcome to the User Experience Design Class.
To get started:
1. Go to the Syllabus area and read the entire syllabus.
Assignments Unclear?
If, after reading an assignment, you do not understand what to do, please start by asking
questions in the Google + forum. If you are confused, it is likely that other students are
also confused. This not only allows me to clarify the issue for everyone, but it also
allows other students to answer the question if they happen to be in the course before I
am. This is much better than turning in an assignment that is not done correctly and
losing points.
Personal Issues
For personal issues, feel free to contact me my email or for complex issues, you may
call me.
Thank you for your thoughtful reading of the expectations; I welcome your
comments. Have a great learning experience!
Teaching Method
User Experience Architecture is best learned through doing. We will use several
interactive learning techniques. There will be virtual instruction and assignments as well
as a final personal project incorporating all the elements learned in class.
Note:
This class is not about learning software. You should use what ever design software you
are most comfortable with. Viso, Omnigraffle, Axure and Balsmiq, do have an advantage
in that there are user interface stencils available that enable rapid drawing.
Textbook for reference (not required)
The Elements of User Experience - User-Centered Design for the Web
Jesse James Garrett
http://www.jjg.net/elements/
Class Structure
Each class will impart a component of user experience architecture in the order that you
would professional apply each skill to complete an application blueprint or wireframe We
will apply each user experience technique in class to an example case study.
Case Study Method
In class we will be creating an eCommerce website as a working example.
Personal Project
You will create a personal website/application project using each of the skills learned in
class.
You may use an eCommerce website for your personal project; however, you will need
to slightly increase the complexity of your case. Please make sure that your personal
project is of sufficient interest to keep your attention throughout the whole class.
>>Please submit your project concept for approval after the first class.<<
Collaborative Learning
Each class session is designed to be as practical and interactive as possible. Together,
we will foster a collaborative learning environment.
Weekly Attendance is Mandatory.
Each assignment and class builds on the concepts communicated in the prior class. You
will not be able to complete the assignments without keeping pace with the material on a
weekly basis. As full disclosure there is a significant work demand for this class.
Effort Estimate
You should anticipate that completing the class materials and discussion forms will take
at least 3 hours per week. In addition, your personal project will take up to 30 hours to
complete over the 12 week period. The is about 6 - 10 hours per week. This level of
effort estimate is only to offer guidance is quite likely you will need more time.
Personal Project Level of Effort Estimate
You should estimate the level of effort for your personal project. You will need to
schedule your working period accordingly. I will provide techniques for estimation and
managing the unknown. Make sure your project is not too large
Grading
Assignments
There are 9 core assignments. Each assignment is worth 100 points. There are 900
points possible for completing all assignments.
Participation: Discussion and Interaction
Each week's participation in discussion forums equates 10 participation points. There
are 12 classes, allowing for a possible 120 points to be earned for participation.
Final Project
The final delivery and presentation of your completed personal project is worth: 200
points.
Total Class Points
There are 1,220 total points for the class. Your final grade (A-F or pass/fail) will be based
on attendance, class participation, completion of the assignments, and the final project
deliverable and presentation.
Course Grading
Grades are assigned based on points. All work will be graded within seven days of the
due date. Explanations about discussion questions, assignments, and other course
components appear in the appropriate weekly pages.
1. Discussion and Interaction: (In class or on forum)
__5_ points for initial discussion responses
__5_ points for interaction responses
(two peers for each discussion question)
2. Assignments:
3. Personal Project
TOTAL_1220_ points
A- =
B+ =
B =
B- =
C+ =
C =
C- =
D =
F =
(90% - 94%)
(87% - 89%)
(84% - 86%)
(80% - 83%)
(77% - 79%)
(74% - 76%)
(70% - 73%)
(65% - 69%)
(0% - 64%)
familiarize themselves with the UCLA Student Conduct Code and the official statements
regarding cheating and plagiarism. These and other relevant documents are available on
the Dean of Students Office website: HYPERLINK "http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/
dos/students/integrity/" http://www.studentgroups.ucla.edu/dos/students/integrity/
Discussion Rubric:
This rubric will be used to assess the quality of your initial responses and interaction in
the online discussion forums. Please use this tool as a guide when constructing your postings.
Unsatisfactory
Basic
Proficient
Distinguished
Mechanics of the
Posting
Uses incomplete
sentences, is
unstructured in its
organization, and
includes frequent
or consistent
errors in
mechanics
(grammar,
spelling, usage) in
each paragraph.
The posting is
unreadable and
there is a distinct
lack of tone.
Participation in
the Discussion
Provides minimal
comments and
information to
other participants
in the forum.
Content of
Posting
Writes a general
or superficial
posting that is
unrelated to the
discussion at hand
and/or posts no
comments.
Uses complete
sentences and the
posting is
comprehensible.
The organization
could be improved
to present a more
coherent
argument,
statement, or
question. Includes
2-3 mechanical
errors grammar,
spelling, usage)
per paragraph.
The tone is
respectful.
Provides
comments, and
some new
information on a
sporadic basis.
Interacts with only
2 participants in
the forum.
Uses complete
sentences,
organization is
evident, and the
posting includes
no more than one
mechanical error
(grammar,
spelling, usage)
per paragraph.
The tone is clear
and respectful
Uses complete
sentences,
organization is
clear and
thoughtful, the
posting is
grammatically
correct, and free
of spelling errors.
The tone is clear
and respectful.
Provides
comments,
discussion,
questions, and
new information
on a fairly regular
basis. Interacts
with three or more
participants in the
forum.
Demonstrates a
restricted
understanding of
the concepts,
topics, and ideas
as evidenced by
posting
information that
could be derived
from prior posts
and/or including
highly general
comments.
Demonstrates an
adequate
understanding of
the concepts,
topics, and ideas
as evidenced by
posting superficial,
or general
statements in the
forum. Includes a
few details in the
posting.
Provides
comments,
discussion,
questions, and
new information
on a regular,
active, and weekly
basis. Shows a
high degree of
interaction with
five or more
participants in the
forum.
Demonstrates a
solid
understanding of
the concepts,
topics, and ideas
as evidenced by
thoughtful
responses and
questions that
show a clear
connection (are
integrated) with
the course
material at hand.
The posting
shows depth, and
includes many
supporting details.
Critical Thinking
Evidenced by
Posting
Provides no
evidence of
agreement or
disagreement with
an existing
discussion.
Indicates
agreement or
disagreement with
an existing
discussion but
provides no
justification or
explanation for
comments.
Indicates
agreement or
disagreement with
an existing
discussion
including a limited
explanation or
justification.
Provides
comments,
discussion, and
questions without
a clear connection
to the course
material at hand.
Demonstrates a
critical analysis of
an existing posted
idea or introduces
a different
interpretation to
an existing
concept or idea.
Includes
comments,
discussion, and
questions that
have a clear
connection (are
integrated) with
the course
material at hand.
Schedule
Week 1 - Introduction and Overview of User Experience
Topic: What is the project?
Overview of class structure. Review of user experience process - learning road map.
Introduction to and examples of each UX process step. Introduction to case study
method. Understanding and interpreting a production requirement document and a
creative brief. Writing a requirement document
Week 1: Discussion Forum Conversation:
Week 1 - Discuss the the steps involved in the user experience process.
(Due Wednesday)
Why are the steps sequenced in this particular order?
What is gained at each step? Can you skip steps?
Week 1 - Discuss techniques to help understand and interpret a production requirement
document.
(Due Thursday)
How would you confirm requirements? Will you always have requirements? What do you
do if you do not have requirements? Why Is it best to show prototype work and then
adjust?
Week 1 Assignment:
(Due Monday)
Write the requirements for your personal project and conduct user and stakeholder
interviews.
Post your completed user and stakeholder interviews summaries to the Week 1
Post your completed user personas to the Week 2 Peer Review Thread.
Post your completed competitive analysis to the Week 2 Peer Review Thread.
scale of your project? Did the feature grid help you narrow or expand your vision for your
project?
Week 4 - Discuss: Site map
(Due Thursday)
What do you think one of the benefits will be to use a designer to have a site map to
reference? How would the site map help the user? Did it help you realize how many
pages your site has?
Week 4 Assignment:
Create a site map and feature grid for your personal project.
Week 4 - Site Map, Content Outline & Feature Grid Peer Review
Please post your completed weekly assignment to this thread. Provide at least two (2)
feedback comments to other students.
Week 4 Reading Topic:
What is a Wireframe and using Sketch wireframes
Week 5 - Interaction Design 1: How to start
Topic: How to create a wireframe.
Basic design elements of a wireframe. Wireframe building blocks. How to use a sketch
wireframe approach and design the primary navigation. Building the wireframe
deliverable for flexibility.
Week 5 Discussion Forum Conversation:
Week 5 - Discuss: Wireframe building blocks
(Due Wednesday)
Did you get comfortable with using wireframe building blocks? Did you find any
interesting insights as you began to work with ratios and dimensions of the first pass of
your wireframe?
Week 5 - Discuss: Sketch Wireframes
(Due Thursday)
What are some of the advantages of sketch wireframes? How else can you focus on
getting feedback? Where you able to get your ideas out faster using a "sketchy" style?
Week 5 Assignment:
Create a sketch wireframe of your personal projects of the primary navigation, change
states, homepage and two main landing pages.
User Acceptance Testing. Paper Prototype Testing. A/B Split Testing. Continuous
Testing.
Week 9 Discussion Forum Conversation:
Week 9 - Discuss: User Acceptance Testing
(Due Wednesday)
What are the benefits of UAT? How extensive does UAT have to be? When can you
preform UAT?
Week 9 - Discuss: Rapid Prototype Testing Techniques
(Due Thursday)
If you need to do a quick and dirty test to get feedback what could you do?
Can you think of any new methods that are available?
Week 9 Assignment:
Conduct a paper prototype test of your personal project so far.