Multimedia Design
Unit 18 Multimedia Design Syllabus
Unit 18: Multimedia Design and Authoring
Learning hours: 60
NQF level 4: BTEC Higher National — H1
Description of unit
Through this unit learners will learn to design and evaluate a prototype multimedia system
using an iterative approach. Through research and practice learners will identify users’ needs
and content. Learners will design the structure, interaction and components of the interface. A
psychological understanding will be encouraged to give learners a broad understanding of the
use of colour, metaphors and navigational systems. Prototypes will be designed through
exploration of software prototyping tools and techniques.
Summary of learning outcomes
To achieve this unit a learner must:
1. Research and define users’ needs through task analysis
2. Originate and plan a structure for interaction and interface design
3. Assemble audio and visual components of multimedia prototype
4. Evaluate, develop and present prototype.
1 Task analysis
Research: literature, publications, journals, electronic data, observation, questionnaire,
interview, survey
Users’ needs: content, existing systems or methods, other similar systems, environmental
issues, location, social context, tasks, constraints of a system, delivery platform, input, output
devices
Task analysis: observations, task being performed, difficulties encountered, hesitations,
question expectations, question requirements and opinions, visual perception, attention span,
dexterity, confusion, organisation, learning, memory constraints
Prototype system: user-centred design, storyboards, flow diagrams, scripts, musical scores,
structure map, design standards and guidelines, copyright laws
Cultural and contextual sensitivity: political, sexual, ethnic, minority groups, religious,
cognitive and physical special needs, disabilities, discrimination awareness
Audio components: sampled sound, generated sound, digital audio, synthesised sound, audio
feedback (sounds made in response to the users’ expectation of an everyday object or
interaction with an element on screen, eg camera click, light switch clicking on and off,
turning a page over, to reinforce an action), speech feedback, environmental sound, music for
example
Prototyping tools: proprietary drawing and painting software, for example
Originate: production of original source materials, production of appropriated source
materials with particular attention paid to copyright licensing laws, scanned material, digital
photography, digital video, cultural sensitivity, political propriety
2 Interaction and interface design
Screen design: quantity of information presented, grouping and prioritising of information,
highlighting techniques, standardisation of screen display, presentation of text, use of
Keyword
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Multimedia Design
Unit 18 Multimedia Design Syllabus
typography, use of graphics, use of colour for highlighting, prioritising and drawing attention.
Screen metaphors, navigation systems, video, guides or agents, animation, visual feedback,
language and dynamics of screen design, innovation and creativity. Intrinsic and extrinsic
rewards, feedback and playback
Communication styles: menus, windows, navigation systems, direct manipulation,
formfilling, question and answer dialogues
3 Multimedia prototype
Plan structure: system diagram, flow chart, storyboard animation sequences, video, sound
track, screen design, interaction, navigation system, flow chart of the system, to indicate depth
and breadth of system, linking of screens, of information, information flow indicating input
elements and output elements
4 Develop and present prototype
Evaluate with: target users, computer users and non-computer literate users
Evaluate for: cross-platform file compatibility using Macintosh file formats, using Windows
file formats, browser friendly palettes, file size, file economy, file quality, and file
compression techniques, frames (Java), internet browsers (Debabeliser), assessing, evaluating,
checking, requirements, usability, accuracy
Develop: improve, amend edit, rearrange, replace, as a result of evaluation
Presentation considerations: file size, format, compression techniques, stand-alone
applications, compiling, screen-based, point of sale, educational, entertainment, information
kiosk, CD-Rom pressing techniques, worldwide web publishing
Outcomes Assessment criteria for pass
To achieve each outcome a learner must demonstrate the ability to:
1 Research and define users’ needs through task analysis
 Research and identify user needs, context, environment, and possible constraints
 Observe and record target users engaged in existing methods or practices
2 Originate and plan a structure for interaction and interface design
 Design a basic structure from which to build a multimedia prototype
 Create, design or collect audio and visual components of a multimedia prototype
3 Assemble audio and visual components of multimedia prototype
 Produce multimedia prototype
 Assess screen design, audio and interaction and adjust if necessary
4 Evaluate, develop and present prototype
 Evaluate multimedia prototype with a range of users
 Develop multimedia prototype
 Produce a written evaluation of working methods and the prototype
Keyword
D:\106748282.Doc
06/03/2016
Colin Chappell
Page 2 of 2