COMM 611: User centered web design
Winter 2011 <TR: 3:30-5:18p> <JR 353>
Instructor:
Elise Woolley
271B Journalism Building
woolley.9@osu.edu
688-3323
Class website: carmen.osu.edu
Tuesdays 5:30-6:30pm and by appointment
Course Description
This course introduces students to a process driven, user centered
approach to web design. It is structured to provide information and
insight in the area of web design — covering research, prototyping,
conceptualization, and usability testing. Students will apply course
principles by creating an interactive website or mobile application
that integrates functional and emotional user needs.
Format
This is a progress-oriented course that requires active student
participation. Class will meet 2 days a week for approximately 2 hours
each day. Class sessions will be comprised of lectures, demonstrations,
assignments and tutorials. An equal balance between theory and practice
will be expected.
Objectives
• Gain understanding of a research and process driven design approach
• Design research methods
• Get exposure to user centered design approach
• Learn how to identify and create user personas
• Understand wireframing as technique for web page creation
• Visual literacy and design as it applies to web design
• Visual conceptualization of web pages
• Brief exposure to concepts of emotional usability
• Introduction to functional usability testing methods and experience
implementing them
• Learn to work on interdisciplinary team,
• Formally present ideas and concepts and participate in critiques
Requirements
Attendance is mandatory. Any unexcused absences may result in a
lowering of the final grade. Three unexcused absences may result in
failure of the course at the instructor’s discretion. Failure to
appear on time will be counted as a ½ day absence. Please notify me in
advance at 688-3323 or woolley.9@osu.edu if you will be late or absent
for any reason.
Students will be expected to come to class prepared to work and will be
expected to work diligently throughout the course’s duration. Students
should be prepared to present their work at any time. All handouts and
note should be stored in a notebook.
Many of the project resources will be delivered online via email or
Carmen (carmen.osu.edu). Therefore, it is required that you have access
to the Internet and a working OSU e-mail address.
Poor cell phone etiquette is frowned upon.
silent, and do not answer them in class.
Please put all phones on
Class Participation/Critiques/Presentations
In this class you will be required to participate in many presentations and critiques. At the end of
each presentation there will be an amount of time dedicated to critique. This is an opportunity for
each group to get feedback from colleagues and the instructor. It is also an opportunity for
students to use what they are learning about design in a practical situation. You will be required
to talk during critiques.
Required Materials
Texts:
• Don’t Make Me Think, Steve Krug, Second edition, 2006
• Elements of User Experience, Jesse James Garret, 2003
Recommended Texts:
• Design of Everyday Things, Donald Norman, 2002
• Rocket Surgery Made Easy: The Do-It-Yourself Guide to Finding and
Fixing Usability Problems, Steve Krug
Other:
• 1 GB USB flash drive
Office Hours:
Tuesdays 6:30-8:30pm and by appointment
If you have any questions concerning assignments, or any other issues
related to this course that cannot be answered during class times,
please see me during office hours. Please do not expect to receive
substantial advising outside of class times and office hours.
Evaluation and Grading
Students will be evaluated on participation in class discussions,
presentations, ability to apply course material to projects, ability to
create professional quality work, and the ability to exchange ideas and
responds to constructive criticism. The highest standards of quality
work will be expected. Students must demonstrate the ability to work
independently and responsibly.
Each assignment, paper, and or presentation will be assigned a
numerical grade equating from A to E.
Each project will be assigned a numerical grade. Percentages will be
applied as follows:
Midterm Presentation/Deliverable: 25%
Final Presentation: 40%
Final Deliverable Book: 15%
Peer Evaluations: 10%
Class Participation: 10%
Late assignments will receive a failing or lowered grade, at the
instructor’s discretion. Incompletes will not be granted except under
extreme circumstances. Extra credit or make-up projects will not be
available.
Grading Scale
A = 94-100
A- = 90-93
B+ = 87 -89
B = 83-86
B- = 80-82
C+ = 77-79
C= 73-76
C- = 70-72
D = 60-69
E = 59 or below
Disability Services
Any student who feels s/he may need an
accommodation based on the impact of a disability
should contact me privately to discuss your
specific needs. The Office for Disability Services
is located in room 150 Pomerene Hall, 1760 Neil
Avenue; telephone 292-3307; TDD 292-0901.
Academic Misconduct
Students are expected to do their own original work within the
confines of the course objectives and evaluation procedures. Any
deviation from the expectation is considered academic misconduct
and Faculty Rule 3335 - 31 - 02 will be enforced. Each instructor
shall report to the committee an academic misconduct all
instances of which he or she believes is academic misconduct.
Note on Influenza
Students should NOT attend class while ill with influenza. Students
with flu symptoms will be asked to leave class. The illness and selfisolation period will usually be about a week. It is very important
that individuals avoid spreading the flu to others.
Most students should be able to complete a successful quarter despite a
flu-induced absence. If you are absent due to the flu, you will be
provided with a reasonable opportunity to make up missed work.
Students with the flu do not need to provide a physician's
certification of illness. However, ill students should inform me via
email or phone call as soon as possible that they are absent because of
the flu.
Schedule (subject to change)
WEEK 1
Jan 4 (T)
Jan 6 (R)
Introduction to course
Intensive design review
A design process and defining the problem
Group assignments and meeting (Assignment: Before end of
class, group must agree on project. Submit proposal by Jan
11th).
Readings: 20 rules handout, EUX: Chapters 1-3
Due: Idea/Client for website
WEEK 2
Jan 11 (T)
Design research methods
5 min presentations on design proposals
Readings: A Designer’s Research Manual, pages 7-100
Due: Group design proposals
Jan 13 (R)
Design Research Methods
Collaboration time
Readings: A Designer’s Research Manual, pages 114-186,
Visualizing Research, pages 93-128
WEEK 3
Jan 18 (T)
Use case/User personas
Readings: Visualizing Research, pages 129-158
Perspectives on Design Research, pages 26-48
Due: Research proposal (1 page plus research tool), end of
class
Jan 20 (R) Web + Interaction design basics: site architecture,
navigation, usability, wire frames
Readings: EUX: Chapters 4
WEEK 4
Jan 25 (T) Web + Interaction design basics: site architecture,
navigation, usability, wire frames
Readings: EUX: Chapters 5-6, Don’t Make me: Chapters 6-7
Due: Research findings brief (2-3 pages)
Jan 27 (R)
Feedback day/Collaboration time
Readings: Principles of Design handout
Due: User personas (Draft)
WEEK 5
Feb 1 (T)
Midterm Presentations: Proposal, research findings, user
personas, site architecture
Due: Presentation and deliverable
Feb 3(R)
Presentation feedback day
Readings: EUX: Chapters 7-8
WEEK 6
Feb 8 (T)
Web design principles (visual)
Readings: Don’t make me think: Intro, Chapters 1-5
Due: Final Site architecture
Feb 10 (R)
WEEK 7
Feb 15 (T)
Web design principles (visual)
Collaboration time to chose/edit wireframes
Web design principles (visual)
Readings:
Due: Final Wireframes
Feb 17 (R)
Visual concept workday
Readings:
WEEK 8
Feb 22 (T)
Usability testing methods
Readings: Don’t make me: Chapters 8-9
Due: Visual design checkpoint (concepts from all group
members)
Feb 24 (R)
Usability test plan group work
Readings: Don’t make me: Chapters 10-12
WEEK 9
March 1 (T) Emotional usability and user experience (?)
Due: One user’s path, fully designed (groups’ final
concept)
March 3 (R) Presentation of test plan, prep for testing
Due: Usability testing plan
WEEK 10
March 8 (T) Usability testing, in class
(bring friends)
March 10 (R)
Discussion about usability findings, plan for
revisions (next steps of presentations)
Standards manual, final presentation preparations
Peer reviews
Due: Usability testing findings brief (2-3 pages)
WEEK 11
March 16 (W)
– 6pm)
Final Presentations, final deliverable book due (3:30
Please note this schedule is subject to change. Students will be
notified in advance of these events.
Additional Readings: Additional readings may be assigned through out
the quarter, at the discretion of the instructor. These readings will
be provided to you.
Note: Students may find differences between the catalog description of
the course and specific content presented by the instructor. Course
change as experiences and resources increase and improve. Therefore, it
is possible that actual content covered may be modified from course
content specified earlier in this or a previous course outline.