User-Centered Design
This course surveys the theoretical and practical foundations of human-computer interaction and user-centered design, including user research, prototyping, and evaluation.
Instructor: Dipto Das
Term: Fall
Location: Remote (Zoom)
Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30–1:45 PM
Course Overview
This course explores the foundations of user-centered design and human-computer interaction. Students will:
- Understand how human, social, and technical factors shape design
- Conduct user research and analyze qualitative data
- Design, prototype, and evaluate interactive systems
- Engage with critical perspectives on design, power, and ethics
- Complete a collaborative semester-long design project
Prerequisites
- No formal prerequisites
- Interest in design, HCI, or human-centered computing
Textbooks
- Readings provided throughout the semester (research papers, book chapters)
Grading
- Participation: 10%
- Reading Reflections: 40%
- Course Project: 50%
Schedule
| Week | Date | Topic | Materials |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Introduction to User-Centered Design Course overview, syllabus, and introduction to design concepts. | ||
| 2 | Foundations of Design Core principles from classic design literature and everyday interactions. | ||
| 3 | Cognition and Interaction Understanding human cognition and context in design. | ||
| 4 | Design Paradigms Participatory, persuasive, and reflective design approaches. | ||
| 5 | User Research Methods I Interviews, observation, and qualitative research techniques. | ||
| 6 | Prototyping and Ideation Sketching, storyboarding, and early-stage design. | ||
| 7 | Interface Design Tools Introduction to prototyping tools (e.g., Figma). | ||
| 8 | Project Checkpoint Mid-semester review and project progress. | ||
| 9 | Evaluation I Empirical usability testing and evaluation methods. | ||
| 10 | Evaluation II Analytical evaluation and persona development. | ||
| 11 | Evaluation Challenges Bias and limitations in usability evaluation. | ||
| 12 | Power and Politics in Design Examining the social and political dimensions of design. | ||
| 13 | Critical Perspectives Reflecting on limitations of design and evaluation approaches. | ||
| 14 | Future of HCI Emerging interfaces and speculative design. | ||
| 15 | Break / No Class Thanksgiving break. | ||
| 16 | Project Showcase Final presentations and discussions. |