Module Details

Module Code: MMED9027
Title: UX and SD Tools & Technologies
Long Title: UX and SD Tools and Technologies
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: The aim of this module is to highlight the use and purpose of different tools and technologies as part of the user experience and service design process, e.g. user research, prototyping, usability testing, etc. Students will learn about the purpose and features of everyday user experience and service design tools and they will learn how to utilise them as part of the user experience & service design process. This module prepares participants to utilise user experience and service design tools and technologies for the purpose of implementing a user experience or service design project from start to finish. Students undertaking the module will engage with the history and “state of the art” with regard to the use of tools and technologies for user experience and service design and they will be prepared to use a range of user research, workshop, wireframing, prototyping and design tools.
 
Learning Outcomes
On successful completion of this module the learner will be able to:
# Learning Outcome Description
LO1 Evaluate the tools used by user experience and service designers, their processes and their methods of assessment.
LO2 Appraise and utilise a variety of user experience and service design tools for key UX and SD tasks (e.g. prototyping, design development, workshop facilitation, communication and collaboration).
LO3 Demonstrate a clear understanding of how, when and why to use different user experience and service design tools.
LO4 Apply new knowledge to gather and analyse user data obtained during the user research process using existing data collection and analysis tools.
LO5 Develop and apply new knowledge of using user experience and service design tools to implement a user-centered design brief and create a user experience or service design artefact.
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
Workshop Tools
Outlines how to implement good remote user experience and service design workshops, including what steps to follow and what tools to use. Utilises important workshop tools such as Miro and Mural for online collaboration along with Zoom and MS Teams for hosting the remote workshops. Outlines how best to utilise these tools for the purpose of conducting a UX/SD workshop with clients, stakeholders, staff, etc.
Wireframing and Prototyping Tools
Outlines the best wireframing and prototyping tools on the market for user experience and service designers, describing how and when best to use them. Some of these tools include Figma, Adobe XD, Balsamiq, Lucidchart, InVision Studio, Sketch, Axure, Justinmind and Proto.io.
Design Tools
Outlines the best and most popular design tools used by user experience and service designers. Tools from Adobe's Creative Cloud are typically considered industry standards, including Photoshop, Illustrator, and Adobe XD as well as Figma and InVision Studio.
User Research and Usability Testing Tools
Outlines the best and most frequently used tools for the purpose of collecting and analysing user data as part of the user research process. Such tools include Lumivero (Nvivo), Hotjar, Google Analytics, UserTesting, UserZoom, UsabilityHub, etc. Describes the purpose and how best to use each of these tools during the user research process.
Module Content & Assessment
Assessment Breakdown%
Coursework100.00%

Assessments

Coursework
Assessment Type Practical/Skills Evaluation % of Total Mark 40
Timing Week 6 Learning Outcomes 1,2,3
Assessment Description
Practical skills evaluation using one or more user experience/ service design tools in response to a specific brief (e.g. conduct an online workshop; analyse a specific set of user data, etc.)
Assessment Type Practical/Skills Evaluation % of Total Mark 60
Timing Sem End Learning Outcomes 2,3,4,5
Assessment Description
Create a UX or SD artefact using one or more user experience/ service design tools in response to a specific design brief.
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 practical skills / evaluation) Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Out of class student work primarily focussed on assessment tasks, i.e. practical skills/ evaluation 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 practical skills / evaluation) Every Week 3.00 3
Independent & Directed Learning (Non-contact) Non Contact Out of class student work primarily focussed on assessment tasks, i.e. practical skills/ evaluation 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
  • Gerardus Blokdyk. (2018), UX Tools Complete Self-Assessment Guide, Emereo Pty Limited, [ISBN: 9780655195634].
  • Jakob Schneider, Marc Stickdorn. (2012), This is Service Design Thinking: Basics, Tools, Cases,, BIS Publ., [ISBN: 9789063692797].
Supplementary Book Resources
  • Lisandra Maioli. (2018), Fixing Bad UX Designs: Master Proven Approaches, Tools, and Techniques to Make Your User Experience Great Again, Packt Publishing, [ISBN: 9781787128224].
Recommended Article/Paper Resources
  • Divya Seshadri and John Robert Wilson. (2018), Multi-Display Prototyping Using Any Browser Based UX Tools, Adjunct Proceedings of the 10th International Conference on Automotive User Interfaces and Interactive Vehicular Applications (AutomotiveUI '18). Association for Computing Machinery, New York, NY, USA, 239–242, https://doi.org/10.1145/3239092.3267416.
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