Course syllabus

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The course gives an introduction to, and practice in, creation of different types of prototypes in Interaction Design. The contents cover both physical prototypes (e.g. paper prototypes, prototyping through controllers and micro-controllers, and prototyping through tinkering and physical modelling) and digital, screen-based prototypes (sketching, coding and design of interactive prototypes, video prototypes). The student can choose to have focus on either a physical or screen based prototyping path, but should have basic skills and experience in both.

After the course you should have a clear understanding of the use and idea of prototyping in Interaction design, as well as be able to create prototypes at different levels of fidelity using appropriate tools and technologies.

Learning objectives

Knowledge and understanding

- Describe how prototypes are used in interaction design.
- List the pros and cons with different types of prototypes.
- Explain what can be learned from a certain prototype and why.
- Explain what can NOT be learned from a certain prototype and why.

Skills and abilities

- Create physical prototypes in various materials, with various techniques.
- Create video prototypes to present a concept or proposal.
- Create simple illustrations and carry out basic image manipulation.
- Create graphic user interface designs using mock-up tools.
- Perform basic programming of micro-controllers connected to sensors and actuators.
- Program simple interactive prototypes.

Judgement and approach

- Decide which type of prototype to use in order to find out what needs to be learned or tested, taking possible constraints into account, e.g. time and budget.
- Evaluate a prototype.
- Incorporate suitable prototypes at the right stages in a design process.

Examination

The examination is based on three parts:

  • The practical performance and oral presentations during participation in workshops, usually done in groups. This work has a fail/pass grading.
  • Written, relatively short documentation from each workshop, written on an individual basis. Including text, sketches, audio, images, video and code (as relevant for each workshop). This work has a fail/pass grading.
  • Final home exam (written essay), written individually. The essay must include references to course literature and central topics presented during the course, as well as discussions of how your own work related to the theories and models.

In order to receive a final grade on the course, a student needs to pass both workshops and the home exam.

Grading guidelines

The home exam will be graded on the ability to (critically and constructively) reflect about course related matters (like suitability or consequence of various materials and methods, or related aspects being brought up in the project, exercises, literature, lectures etc.). Here are some guideline principles to exemplify the grading:

Points approximately corresponding to grade 3 (Chalmers) or G (GU):
Retell things that have been brought up in the course, in course literature or other related materials. Demonstrate a comprehension of methods and material and able to give cause for and argue in favour of a point of view. To some extent also present own insights and points of view.

Points approximately corresponding to grade 4 (Chalmers) or G (GU):
Conduct an own line of arguments about design work and prototyping, think for oneself and put knowledge into new or other contexts. Analyse and position oneself in relation to matters of the course, choose a point of view and give good cause for it.

Points approximately corresponding to grade 5 (Chalmers) or VG (GU):
Critical thinking. In addition to the things mentioned above, be able to identify and present potential problems and imperfections with approaches, methods or materials in sketching and prototyping together with own suggestions of solutions. Choose a point of view and present constructive suggestions. For example, not only be able to give good causes for a new method within interaction design, but also be able to identify potential problems and shortcomings with it, and present suggestions of solutions.

Contact details

N.B. When getting in touch with course responsibles, please include all three as recipients of your email.

Student representatives

Information about the role of a student representatives: https://student.portal.chalmers.se/en/chalmersstudies/courseinformation/courseevaluation/Pages/default.aspx

Notes from mid-course meeting: Notes from mid-course meeting.pdf

Schedule

TimeEdit

Course literature

Literature for the Prototyping course

Syllabus

Link to the syllabus Chalmers.
Link to the syllabus GU.

Course summary:

Date Details Due