Design Principles and User Interfaces

Knowledge and Understanding
Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

• use central concepts and principles in digital design
• use central concepts and principles for usability and user experience

Skills and Abilities
Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

• apply brand identities and design systems on user interfaces
• use relevant tools intended for the creation and further development of user interfaces
• demonstrate practical skills when working with user interfaces
• translate theoretical knowledge within usability and design in practical terms based on given criteria

Valuation and Approach
Upon completion of the course, the students will be able to:

• evaluate design based on usability and user experience
• reflect on design choices based on problem and context

This course covers theory and principles for design and usability through work with user interfaces. The theoretical work deals with, for example, alignment, balance, contrast, colour, shape, and understanding of the user’s own experiences of design. Through the analysis of existing user interfaces, students increase their insight into usability and user experience.

Based on theory, graphic design is made to attract and orient users, and user interfaces are created or further developed based on given criteria as part of the practical work. In the course, the ability to adapt artifacts to given conditions and limitations is trained through work with relevant tools when designing interface design. Reflections on design are made based on problems and context.

• Assignments

The grading scale used for the final course grade is U–G.

Grades are reported as follows:

• Assignment (theory 1) - 1.5 Credits | U–G
• Assignment (usability) - 1.5 Credits | U–G
• Assignment (theory 2) - 1.5 Credits | U–G
• Assignment (digital design) - 1.5 Credits | U–G
• Assignment (tools) - 1.5 Credits | U–G
• Assignment (user interface) - 3 Credits | U–G
• Assignment - 4.5 Credits | U–G