Outline of Topics

The Interface Design Process

Introduction

Task-centered system design

• The task-centered process
• Developing task examples
• Task scenarios and walk-throughs

User centered design

• User-centered and participatory design
• Prototyping methods and UCD
• Low fidelity prototyping
  • Storyboarding
  • Pictive
• Medium fidelity prototyping
  • Scripted shows
  • Interface builders
  • Wizard of Oz

Evaluating Interfaces with Users

• Why bother?
• Naturalistic vs experimental testing
• Ethics
• Qualitative evaluation methods
  • Introspection
  • Extracting conceptual models
  • Usability testing by direct observation
  • Interviews

Graphical Design Foundations

Psychology of everyday things

• Examples of design failures
• Examples of design successes
• Elements of conceptual models
• Individual differences and human factors

Beyond Simple Screen Design

• Representations
• Information visualization
• Metaphors
• Direct manipulation and engagement

Graphical Screen Design

• Grids
• Important concepts and examples

Principles and usability heuristics

• Guidelines
  • Simple and natural dialogue
  • Speak the users’ language
  • Minimize user memory load
  • Be consistent
  • Provide feedback
  • Provide clearly marked exits, shortcuts
  • Manage errors
  • Provide help and documentation
• Using heuristics to explain usability problems