Module Details

Module Code: MMED9026
Title: Fundamentals of UCD
Long Title: Fundamentals of User Centered Design
NFQ Level: Expert
Valid From: Semester 1 - 2023/24 ( September 2023 )
Duration: 1 Semester
Credits: 10
Field of Study: 2130 - Multimedia
Module Delivered in: 2 programme(s)
Module Description: This module provides the students with a practical and critical introduction to the fundamentals of user-centred design (UCD) including expert design skills, user research and user testing to enhance the overall experience a user has while engaging with a digital product or service. As part of this module, students will learn about the landscape of user-centred design, user experience design (UXD) and service design (SD) from its history to the current trends in the field. This module covers why and how we put the human user of systems, services and products at the centre of the design process. It explores the user-centered design paradigm from a broad perspective, emphasising how user research and prototyping can be integrated into different phases of the design process. Students learn to think like a user-centered designer and carry out activities that are key to user-centered design.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Interpret a design brief and evaluate how user centered design produces a positive user experience in terms of design methods, processes and outcome.
LO2 Assess the suitability of different user-centered, user experience and service design methodologies such as contextual design, scenario-based design, participatory design, etc.
LO3 Communicate the iterative user-centered design process for a UX and SD project including user research, analysis, implementation, testing and evaluation.
LO4 Compare and contrast a range of user-centered design methodologies, approaches and perspectives, incorporating analysis, design and documentation in response to a design project.
LO5 Describe and implement a series of UX and SD deliverables including research, design and testing and describe the user-centered design process involved in implementing these deliverables.
Dependencies
Module Recommendations

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is strongly recommended before enrolment in this module. You may enrol in this module if you have not acquired the recommended learning but you will have considerable difficulty in passing (i.e. achieving the learning outcomes of) the module. While the prior learning is expressed as named MTU module(s) it also allows for learning (in another module or modules) which is equivalent to the learning specified in the named module(s).
Incompatible Modules
These are modules which have learning outcomes that are too similar to the learning outcomes of this module. You may not earn additional credit for the same learning and therefore you may not enrol in this module if you have successfully completed any modules in the incompatible list.
No incompatible modules listed
Co-requisite Modules
No Co-requisite modules listed
Requirements

This is prior learning (or a practical skill) that is mandatory before enrolment in this module is allowed. You may not enrol on this module if you have not acquired the learning specified in this section.
No requirements listed
 
Indicative Content
User Centered Design (UCD) and User Experience Design (UXD)
Outlines the field of user-centered and user experience design including core UCD and UX concepts; explains the key stages of the UX design lifecycle; provides the knowledge, skills and competencies required to design and evaluate solutions to different UX design problems; presents key UX activities, including user research, prototyping, testing and iterative design along with various typical UCD and UX methodologies.
User Research
Explores the definition and benefits of user research; an end-to-end overview of the UX research process, from choosing your method to analysing and reporting results; an introduction to the different types of user research, including qualitative and quantitative, generative and evaluative, attitudinal and behavioural, and moderated and unmoderated; tips and best practices for recruiting research participants, conducting stakeholder interviews, designing surveys, and distributing incentives.
Current and emerging trends in UCD and UXD
Explores current trends including the rise of voice-activated devices and smart assistants; finding innovative new methods for interacting with digital interfaces including gesture control, virtual reality (VR), and eye tracking; the growing use of machine learning and artificial intelligence to create more personalised experiences for users and a growing emphasis on user research and testing in order to ensure optimal usability and accessibility.
Service Design (SD)
Explores the definition and purpose of service design; the core principles involved in service design including, a user-centric approach, co-creation and a holistic approach. Outlines the typical service design process from the project start to finish and the crossovers it has with the existing UX or UCD process.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Written Report % of Total Mark 30
Timing Week 6 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3
Assessment Description
Develop a UX/SD Project Proposal which clearly outlines a problem statement and presents a potential solution. The project proposal should articulate the process of research, design and iteration.
Assessment Type Project % of Total Mark 70
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 3,4,5
Assessment Description
Presentation of the UX/SD project and accompanying User Centered Design Documentation which clearly outlines the user research, analysis, implementation, testing and evaluation that was conducted.
No End of Module Formal Examination
Reassessment Requirement
Coursework Only
This module is reassessed solely on the basis of re-submitted coursework. There is no repeat written examination.

The University reserves the right to alter the nature and timings of assessment

 

Module Workload

Workload: Full Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lab Contact Theory and Practical (application of theory in written report and project work) Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Out of class student work primarily focussed on assessment tasks, i.e. Written Report & Project Work Every Week 11.00 11
Total Hours 14.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 14.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
Workload: Part Time
Workload Type Contact Type Workload Description Frequency Average Weekly Learner Workload Hours
Lab Contact Theory and Practical (application of theory in written report and project work) Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Out of class student work primarily focussed on assessment tasks, i.e. Written Report & Project Work Every Week 11.00 11
Total Hours 14.00
Total Weekly Learner Workload 14.00
Total Weekly Contact Hours 3.00
 
Module Resources
Recommended Book Resources
  • Brian Still & Kate Crane. (2017), The Fundamentals of User Centered Design: A Practical Approach, CRC Press, [ISBN: 1498764398].
  • Carol Righi, Janice James. (2010), User-Centered Design Stories: Real-World UCD Case Studies, [ISBN: 0080481558].
  • Don Norman. (1988), The Design of Everyday Things, [ISBN: 9780465067107].
  • Kim Goodwin. (2009), How to create Human-Centered Products and Services, [ISBN: 9780470229101].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Travis Lowdermilk. (2013), User-Centered Design: A Developer's Guide to Building User-Friendly Applications, O'Reilly Media, Inc., [ISBN: 1449359833].
  • Bruce Hanington, Bella Martin. (2012), Universal Methods of Design: 100 Ways to Research Complex Problems, Develop Innovative Ideas, and Design Effective Solutions, Rockport Publishers, [ISBN: 1592537561].
  • Karen Holtzblatt, Jessamyn Burns Wendell, Shelley Wood. (2004), Rapid Contextual Design: A How-to Guide to Key Techniques for User-Centered Design, Elsevier, [ISBN: 9780080515717].
  • Marc Stickdorn. This is Service Design Thinking: Basics - Tools - Cases, BIS Publishers, [ISBN: 9789090636927].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Abras, Chadia, Diane Maloney-Krichmar, and Jenny Preece. (2004), User-centered design, Bainbridge, W. Encyclopedia of Human-Computer Interaction. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications 37.4, p445-456..
  • Vredenburg, Karel, et al.. (2002), A survey of user-centered design practice., Proceedings of the SIGCHI conference on Human factors in computing systems..
Other Resources
 
Module Delivered in
Programme Code Programme Semester Delivery
CR_HUXSE_9 Master of Arts in User Experience and Service Design 1 Mandatory
CR_HUXSR_9 Master of Science in User Experience and Service Design 1 Mandatory