Study Guide

Learning outcomes

The student is able to
- design and implement simple user testing
- understand specific features of designing for touch screen devices
- use modern expert evaluation methods and reporting
- create an interactive prototype for mobile app.

Implementation and methods of teaching

Teaching will take place on Zoom, including lectures, exercises, literature, and a development assignment. The course is especially suitable for students who intend to use usability research in their thesis and are interested in UX/UI design for mobile devices. The preliminary assignment of the course opens in Moodle one month before the first lecture.

Priority is given to students in the field of design. The maximum is 26 students. The course emphasises the perspective of visual communication and utilises related software, mainly Figma. Additional reading is recommended for students outside the realm of design.

The course includes a development task for a mobile digital solution.

Timing and attendance

Tentative program: https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/whh6fz6fxmbhu9p7ul4al/uxuimob24.png?rlkey=vsytcr3uz01khc3y7z3rcm6wj&dl=0

Learning material and recommended literature

McKay, Everett N
UI is Communication: How to Design Intuitive, User Centered Interfaces by Focusing on Effective Communication
Morgan Kaufmann (2013)
https://lut.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/358FIN_LUT/b5ag28/alma992026486806254
(preliminary work will be given from this book)

Additional reading:
Cooper, Alan (2014):
About Face: The Essentials of Interaction Design
https://lut.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/358FIN_LUT/1hujjmv/cdi_skillsoft_books24x7_bks00063431
(eBook)

Hoober, Steven (2021)
Touch Design for Mobile Interfaces
Smashing Media
https://lut.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/358FIN_LUT/b5ag28/alma992041119506254
Näyte: https://www.smashingmagazine.com/provide/eBooks/touch-design-for-mobile/touch-design-for-mobile-interfaces-sample-chapter.pdf

Koponen, Juuso; Hildén, Jonatan; Vapaasalo, Tapio (2016) (pages 69–77; 326–327)
Tieto näkyväksi: informaatiomuotoilun perusteet
Aalto-yliopisto, Taiteiden ja suunnittelun korkeakoulu.
https://lut.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/permalink/358FIN_LUT/1ricsah/alma991595253906254

Figma-tutorials
https://www.figma.com/community/file/1199724949260413441
https://www.thedesignerstoolbox.com/ux-design-tools/figma-tutorials/

Contents

You will learn the special features and requirements of design for touchscreen devices, as well as gain an understanding how to implement basic user testing and how to report its results effectively. Also, we will get to know modern methods of expert evaluation and agile ways to build interactive prototypes for a mobile user interface. Teaching in the course will be in Finnish; slides and materials in English.

Assessment criteria

The final thesis accounts for 50% of the grade. In the final work, emphasis is placed on how well the good mobile UX/UI-practices and standards have been internalized, but innovativeness and visual implementation are also evaluated.

Assessment scale

1-5

Failed (0)

Student did not reach level 1

Assessment criteria: level 1 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student understands the practices of UX/UI design, e.g. how basic user testing works and masters the special features of design for touch-screen devices at a basic level as well as methods of expert evaluation and is able to present a simple interactive prototype for mobile software.

Assessment criteria: level 3 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student knows and manages well the practices and methods of UX/UI design, e.g. how standard user testing works and knows how to plan and implement one if necessary, knows the special features of design for touch-screen devices as well as modern expert evaluation methods and is able to implement an interactive prototype of mobile software in accordance with good UX/UI practices.

Assessment criteria: level 5 (assessment scale 1–5)

The student knows and manages excellently the of UX/UI design practices and methods, can e.g. plan, implement and report standard-compliant user testing without problems, master the special features of design for touch-screen devices as well as modern expert evaluation methods as well as is able to implement an interactive prototype of mobile software in accordance with the best practices of UX/UI design.