BTH540 - Design for User Interfaces

Subject Title
Design for User Interfaces

Subject Description
For any interactive system, the user's convenience depends largely on the ease of use of the interface, and its visual impact. In this course, students learn the User-Centred Design (UCD) process for software development. Through labs and assignments, students explore the fundamentals of cognition, the steps in conducting user research, and prototyping techniques. The rudiments of visual design, the importance design principles and design guidelines, and the impact on users of fonts, colours, and other elements of screen displays in human-computer interaction are also introduced.

Credit Status
1 credit (3 units)
Required for BSD - Bachelor of Technology (Software Development)

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this subject the student will be able to:

• Explain the design implications of cognitive aspects to user interfaces.
• Connect usability and user experience goals to the design of user interfaces.
• Demonstrate the applicability of the User-Centred Design (UCD) process to software development.
• Create personas based on identifiable user needs, goals, and characteristics.
• Generate user interface requirements and workflows using information from task descriptions.
• Create user interface mock-ups from user needs and task descriptions.
• Apply design guidelines and design principles to the layout of user interfaces.
• Explain how customization design rules are applied to achieve universal usability.
• Apply heuristics evaluation rules to criticize the design of user interfaces.

Academic Integrity
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Please visit the Academic Integrity website http://open2.senecac.on.ca/sites/academic-integrity/for-students to understand and learn more about how to prepare and submit work so that it supports academic integrity, and to avoid academic misconduct.

Discrimination/Harassment
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Accommodation for Students with Disabilities
The College will provide reasonable accommodation to students with disabilities in order to promote academic success. If you require accommodation, contact the Counselling and Accessibility Services Office at ext. 22900 to initiate the process for documenting, assessing and implementing your individual accommodation needs.

Camera Use and Recordings - Synchronous (Live) Classes
Synchronous (live) classes may be delivered in person, in a Flexible Learning space, or online through a Seneca web conferencing platform such as MS Teams or Zoom. Flexible Learning spaces are equipped with cameras, microphones, monitors and speakers that capture and stream instructor and student interactions, providing an in-person experience for students choosing to study online.

Students joining a live class online may be required to have a working camera in order to participate, or for certain activities (e.g. group work, assessments), and high-speed broadband access (e.g. Cable, DSL) is highly recommended. In the event students encounter circumstances that impact their ability to join the platform with their camera on, they should reach out to the professor to discuss. Live classes may be recorded and made available to students to support access to course content and promote student learning and success.

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