Course description
This course explores user-centered design principles and methods of mobile interaction design. We will study the social and technological possibilities of mobile interactions through research, discussions, and project assignments. Students will be asked to collect examples, participate in class discussions, and create compelling mobile experiences in two individual projects.
Course goals + objectives
We’ll learn to incorporate an iterative, user-centered design approach to create mobile experiences from ideation and design development to prototyping. Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
- Explore the creative potential of mobility by broadening the notion of mobile interaction
- Understand the opportunities that exist around new mobile technology
- Ideate and iterate interaction design concepts
- Create mockups and experiential prototypes
- Present and critique design works
Field study
- Part 1. In-Class Exercise — Choose a partner in class and spend 15-20 minutes learning as much as you can about their experiences with mobile devices. What defines a “mobile experience” for this person?
- Part 2. Research plan — Write a short plan for a quick (30 minute) contextual inquiry study with your partner. Using details from your first conversation, narrow the focus of your inquiry to one context. Sample: http://bit.ly/id2-sample-plan
- Part 3. Conduct study — Schedule a time to meet your partner and execute your plan. Document the encounter in as many ways as you can — written notes, photographs, sketches, recordings, etc. (Always disclose and get permission before you record someone!)
- Part 4. Summarize — Summarize your research in a single tabloid-sized PDF to present to the class. Include who you tested, what your goals were, what you took away from the encounter, and any artifacts you generated that might be helpful.
App analysis — competitive landscape
Pick a category of native mobile application and analyze the competitive field. Spend some time exploring the appropriate app store or searching articles about your chosen category. Get a sense of the options available in the market. Choose 3–4 examples and evaluate them on the following criteria (at a minimum — your specific category might suggest a slightly customized list):
- Feature set
- Onboarding (if applicable)
- Ease of use
- Design
Prepare a presentation for the class summarizing your impressions of the category as well as a comparison of your apps. Draw some conclusions about which one is the weakest, and which one is the strongest based on your criteria. Include screenshots, notes, and tables/charts to support your conclusions.
App analysis — consulting proposal
Imagine you are a consultant who has been hired to improve one of the apps from last week’s analysis. Building off your findings, build a recommendation for your client that includes one of the following options:
- Add a feature that is missing
- Improve an existing feature
Include the following elements in your proposal — as well as anything other supporting sketches or diagrams that make your case:
- Slide(s) justifying your choice of improvement
- A flow diagram of how the feature works today (if applicable)
- A flow diagram showing your proposed changes
Final project
Propose and design a mobile experience that solves a problem. Some suggested themes to start your brainstorming:
- You are here
- Leveling the playing field
- Connection / Disconnection
- Sustainability
Collect documentation of each week’s work and be prepared to present it to the class during the final review. Walk us through the problem you’re trying to solve, how your solution best addresses it, and what your design process was to arrive at your final design.
- Week 1: Define the problem you are trying to solve and what types of users benefit from your solution. Brainstorm how your proposed solution might work and do some exploratory sketching
- Week 2: Prepare a list of use cases for your mobile experience, and map the flows a user would go down for each. This can be a series of small diagrams or one large diagram with annotations
- Week 3: Prepare low-fidelity wireframes of your final project
- Week 4: Prepare a paper prototype of your final project and have it ready to test on your classmates
- Week 5: Review mid-fidelity prototypes. From this week onwards you should have one working prototype to review in class
- Week 6: Review high-fidelity prototypes
- Week 7: Final review