ITM21616 User-centered Design (Spring 2018)

The course is connected to the following study programs

This course is compulsory in:

• Bachelor in Digital Media
• Bachelor in Digital Media and Design

Elective course in other study programmes

The student's learning outcomes after completing the course

Knowledge

The student

• is familiar with important theories and principles of user-centered design
• is familiar with methods and techniques for involving users in the design process, including prototyping
• is well acquainted with participatory design methods

Skills

The student is capable of

• practical application of theories and methods of involving users in the development of IT systems
• linking his/her own work to theories and concepts in the field of participatory design
• initiating, organising and implementing projects in participatory design
• applying knowledge of participatory design to new areas of application and user groups

General competence

The student

• has acquired competence in critical reading and reflection and has gained experience of project work in groups
• is capable of analysing relevant challenges associated with participatory design as a method of system development
• is capable of disseminating theories and challenges associated with participatory design and action research to both researchers and other groups of people

Content

The course comprises four main parts:

• An introduction to theories and concepts for involving users in design of information technology
• Principles and concepts of participatory design
• Methods and techniques of participatory design, including prototyping, in order to involve users in design of information technology
• Work in interdisciplinary groups

Forms of teaching and learning

Lectures, seminars and project work.

If students from international partners attend courses, the lectures will be conducted in English.

Workload

4 hours lectures per week, lab exercises and supervision

Examination

Individual portfolio exam

Portfolio exam comprising of 3-4 assignments. The assignments must be submitted by given deadlines and in accordance with specifications issued by the course instructor. A grade will be awarded on the basis of an overall assessment.

Grading scale from A to F is used.

In the event of a resit or rescheduled examination, all parts of the portfolio must be re-submitted. Any resit or rescheduled examinations will have to be taken in connection with the next ordinary course examination.

Course evaluation

This course is evaluated as follows:

• Mid-semester evaluation (optional)
• Final evaluation (compulsory)

The course instructor prepares a course report on the basis of student feedback and on his/her own experiences of the course. Course reports are discussed with the Committee for Study Quality at the Faculty of Computer Sciences.

Literature

• Bannon, L. & Ehn, P. (2012) Design: Design Matters in Participatory design. Routledge International Handbook of Participatory Design In Simonsen, J. & Robertson, T. (Eds.) (2012). Routledge International Handbook of Participatory Design (pp. 37-63). New York: Routledge.
• Kensing, F. & Greenbaum, J. (2012). Heritage: having a say. In Simonsen, J. & Robertson, T. (Eds.) (2012). Routledge International Handbook of Participatory Design, pp. 21-36 New York: Routledge.
• Brandt, E., Binder, T. & Sanders, E. (2012). Tools and Techniques: ways to engage telling, making and enacting. In Simonsen, J. & Robertson, T. (Eds.) (2012). Routledge International Handbook of Participatory Design (pp. 145-181). New York: Routledge.
• Bratteteig, T., Morrison, A., Wagner, I., Stuedahl, D. & Mörtberg, C. (2010) Research Practices in Digital Design. In Wagner, I., Bratteteig, T. & Stuedahl, D (Eds) Exploring Digital Design Multi-disciplinary Design Practices.London: Springer-Verlag, pp. 17-54.
• Mörtberg, C., Bratteteig, T., Wagner, I., Stuedahl, D. & Morrison, A. (2010) Methods that Matter in Digital Design. In Wagner, I., Bratteteig, T. & Stuedahl, D (Eds) Exploring Digital Design Multi-disciplinary Design Practices.London: Springer-Verlag, pp. 105-144.