Start semester
70 512
Credits:
24
Full course name in Norwegian Bokmål:
Interaction Design 1: Explore
Course code:
70 512
Level of study:
Master
Teaching semester:
2024 Autumn
Assessment semester:
2024 Autumn
Language of instruction:
English
Year:
2024
Maximum number of students:
24
Person in charge
Hans Gerhard Meier
Required prerequisite knowledge
Admission to AHO and successful completion of three years bachelor level studies (180 ECTS). Digital design knowledge and interaction design experience with developing and prototyping digital products and interfaces asre required.
AHO students must have chosen interaction desing specialization in GK5 and GK6 and international students must have been accepted for interaction design.
Knowledge about to prototyping digital experiences with tools like Figma is expected.
Course content
This master-level course dives into the playful and experimental sides of interaction design and technology, with an emphasis on prototyping, iteration, storytelling, and user testing. Building on core interaction design skills, this course invites students to delve deeper into creative explorations and develop experiences, interfaces and digital products that resonate with users. It is expected that students investigates and include emerging technologies, such as spacial ux, vr/ar, AI, embedded computing, generative design, in their projects. The combination of different technologies, both as software and hardware, will be introduced and explored. The course is made up of a series of modules that are designed to make the students more self reliant as the course progresses with an extensive final collaborative task.
Special attention will be placed on understanding user experiences and needs, contexts, and behaviours to inform the design process. The course will challenge students to think critically about the role of design in technology and society, encouraging innovation that is both socially relevant and technically advanced.
Learning outcome
Upon completion, students will be able to:
• Master advanced prototyping and iterative design techniques to address complex interaction design challenges.
• Use storytelling as a powerful tool for designing engaging user experiences.
• Conduct thorough user testing to refine and validate design decisions.
Communicate design concepts effectively through diverse media and presentation platforms.
Knowledge: A deeper understanding of how to craft compelling user experiences as a foundation for interactions.
Skills: Combining a variation of interaction design building blocks, such as programming to UX/UI and tangible designs, to develop working prototypes. Designing with microcontrollers, APIs, AI tools and spatial audio are among the skills we focus on in this course.
General competence: Students will have a broad understanding of interaction design's challenging and experimental aspects, proficiently engage in iterative design processes, and an understanding of the user narrative.
Working and learning activities
Each module has an introductory element, a lecture, a workshop or a field trip (and combinations of these). The course features exploration, rapid prototype development, reflective activities, and communication exercises. Methods and tools, such as sketching and wireframing with feedback from usertesting, are regarded main goals. Collaboration with experts in the field of IxD and storytelling is covered. Projects are undertaken in pairs or small groups, fostering a co-learning environment broadening the students’ competencies. Peer testing and engagement is highly valued and expected.
There will be an excursion to Gothenburg visiting related design destinations, academic and commercial.
| Form of assessment | Grouping | Grading scale | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portfolio assessment (Vurderingsmappe) | Individual | Pass / fail | All modules are leading up to the final semester project which will be a group effort. Throughout the semester there will be in-class show and tell-sessions. We will assess student engagement and prototyping efforts individually. Attendance and peer to peer evaluation are crucial throughout the semester. A large portion of the presentations will rely heavily on storytelling and user-engagement. In the final module ending the semester, students are expected to run their process independently, with less involvement from the teaching staff. An external sensor will assess and give feedback on the final project. Føyer til: All deliveries/presentations from throughout the course must be completed in order to be assessed. |