Course syllabus for Graphical interfaces

Course syllabus adopted 2021-02-26 by Head of Programme (or corresponding).

Overview

  • Swedish nameGraphical interfaces
  • CodeTDA493
  • Credits7.5 Credits
  • OwnerMPIDE
  • Education cycleSecond-cycle
  • Main field of studyComputer Science and Engineering, Software Engineering
  • DepartmentCOMPUTER SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING
  • GradingTH - Pass with distinction (5), Pass with credit (4), Pass (3), Fail

Course round 1

  • Teaching language English
  • Application code 23116
  • Maximum participants70
  • Block schedule
  • Open for exchange studentsYes

Credit distribution

0115 Project 4 c
Grading: TH		 4 c
0215 Laboratory 1.5 c
Grading: UG		 1.5 c
0315 Examination 2 c
Grading: TH		 2 c
  • Contact examiner
  • 12 Apr 2022 am L
  • 26 Aug 2022 pm L

In programmes

Examiner

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Eligibility

General entry requirements for Master's level (second cycle)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Specific entry requirements

English 6 (or by other approved means with the equivalent proficiency level)
Applicants enrolled in a programme at Chalmers where the course is included in the study programme are exempted from fulfilling the requirements above.

Course specific prerequisites

To be eligible for the course the student must have a Bachelor degree of 180 credits. Additionally, the course TDA289 Human - computer interaction, 7.5 credits, or the equivalent is required. It is recommended that students completed the course CIU175 Prototyping in interaction design.

Aim

After the course, you should be able to design a relatively complex graphic user interface, and be able to provide a valid design rationale for it.

Learning outcomes (after completion of the course the student should be able to)

Knowledge and understanding

  • Know how and when to use different graphical interface elements
  • Know how to use keypaths and scenarios to create an interaction sequence
  • Know about commonly used interaction design solutions for graphical interfaces.
  • Give account of the differences between touch-based interfaces and regular interfaces.

Skills and abilities

  • Design a graphical user interface adapted to a specific use and user in terms of: layout, interaction sequence, correct use of controls and look and feel.
  • Design a graphical user interface which is manipulated via mouse/pointer+keyboard
  • Design a graphical user interface for a touch-based interaction

Judgement and approach

  • Solve interaction design problems related to graphical interfaces and motivate your solutions
  • Design a relatively complex graphical interface, and be able to provide a valid design rationale for it.
  • Being able to select and apply previouly existing design solutions to new graphical interfaces.
  • Being able to, from a scenario, extract a users needs in terms of graphical interface solutions. 

Content

Content includes, but is not limited to:

  • Commonly used interaction design solutions in graphical interfaces
  • Designing for users on different levels (e.g. beginners vs. experts)
  • Designing interaction sequences
  • Layout of graphical user interfaces;
  • Designing look and feel; using color, text and graphics
  • Correct use of graphical user interface elements such as controls, toolbars, menus, dialogues etc.
  • The difference between regular user interfaces and touch-based interfaces. 

Organisation

The course is highly practical. Lectures and literature give a theoretical foundation, but this theory is immediately put into practice. When practicing, focus is upon motivating, making and analyzing the design decisions made. Most of the work is done in groups of various sizes but there is also a significant amount of individual work.

Literature

"About Face - The Essentials of Interaction Design" by Cooper et al, Wiley, 2014, fourth edition.

Examination including compulsory elements

The course is examined through three modules, namely: - Group-based lab exercise (Fail, Pass) - Individual sit-in exam, (Fail, 3, 4, 5) - Individual design project (Fail, 3, 4, 5) To pass the course, one has to pass all parts of it.

The course examiner may assess individual students in other ways than what is stated above if there are special reasons for doing so, for example if a student has a decision from Chalmers on educational support due to disability.