INF9591 – Advancements in interaction design

Course description

• Course content
• Learning outcome
• Admission
• Prerequisites

• Overlapping courses
• Teaching
• Examination

Course content

The course approaches interaction design as a multidisciplinary field, emphasizing the understanding of diverse design practices. It moves beyond research methods used in human-centered design and shaping of digital technology for people’s use to include other approaches, e.g., design thinking and reflexive design practices. In addition, human values, feasibility, viability and sustainability in design, are discussed in greater detail. The course uses studio approach, that is, emersion in a design with technology practice full time. Design practices in this class are all of collaborative nature, in teams (not just a group, but a team that gets the job done), aimed at being a transformative experience in itself.

Learning outcome

After completing INF9591 you will be able to:

1. Learn and understand the difference between diverse design practices, both from HCID and those from design disciplines.
2. Learn what it means to be a reflexive practitioner and you will be able to work as one.
3. Make appropriate decisions around choices of design methods.
4. Understand what makes a good design team.
5. Learn about group creativity.
6. Work more effectively in multidisciplinary interaction design teams.
7. Set up an exhibit, including the design of the exhibit space and showg the results of the course work in some public space.
8. Learn how to formulate and argue your views and reflections around interaction design practice or other topics that the course covered. This will be done by co-authoring a paper or an publishable essay

Admission

Students who are admitted to study programmes at UiO must each semester register which courses and exams they wish to sign up for in Studentweb.

If you are not already enrolled as a student at UiO, please see our information about admission requirements and procedures.

10 students can be admitted. PhD students will be prioritized as followed:

1) PhD-students at the Department of Informatics with INF9591 on their approved study plan and having passed INF4060 or equivalent.

2) PhD-students at the Department of Informatics and having passed INF4060 or equivalent.

4) PhD-students at the Department of Informatics

5) Other qualified PhD-students

Prerequisites

Recommended previous knowledge

INF1500 – Introduksjon til design, bruk, interaksjon (continued) and INF1510 – Bruksorientert design (continued)

Strongly recommended: INF4060 – Interaksjonsdesign (discontinued) or INF2260 – Interaksjonsdesign (discontinued)

Overlapping courses

• 10 credits overlap with INF5590 – Advancements in interaction design (continued)
• 10 credits overlap with INF5591 – Advancements in interaction design (continued)
• 10 credits overlap with INF9590 – Advancements in interaction design (continued)

Teaching

Since the course is studio-based, taking the course requires presence in the studio and continuous work with rapid prototyping and evaluation. The duration of the course is 5 weeks, and the exhibit during the sixth week. During the five weeks, the first week will be lecture intensive, with three blocks of 2 hours lectures. In addition, at least two guest lectures from other design traditions will be invited. There will be some articles to read on your own, but they would be discussed in the class, three blocks of two hours. The teacher and a teaching assistant will be available in class much of the time to support both the making and understanding during the design process.

Students on the of this course will be given extra curriculum and must write an essay/paper.

Presence during the first week is mandatory; later it is 80% attendance.

Examination

• oral presentation (50 %)
• exhibited work (50 %)

The mandatory assignments must be approved prior the exam.

Both modules must be completed and approved in the same semester.

Grading scale

Grades are awarded on a pass/fail scale. Read more about the grading system.

Explanations and appeals

• Explanation of grades and appeals

Resit an examination

Students who can document a valid reason for absence from the regular examination are offered a postponed examination at the beginning of the next semester.

Re-scheduled examinations are not offered to students who withdraw during, or did not pass the original examination.

Withdrawal from an examination

It is possible to take the exam up to 3 times. If you withdraw from the exam after the deadline or during the exam, this will be counted as an examination attempt.

Special examination arrangements

Application form, deadline and requirements for special examination arrangements.

Other

Note that the first lecture is mandatory.