2019/20 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

DESN5156M Digital and Interactive Design Solutions

15 creditsClass Size: 40

Module manager: Francisco Queiroz
Email: f.queiroz@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 2 (Jan to Jun) View Timetable

Year running 2019/20

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module introduces and explores theories, principles and techniques in digital and interactive design at an advanced level, and discusses how they contribute towards effective, usable and understandable design solutions. The key emphasis will be on the design of interactions and professional production of digital design solutions. Areas of digital and interactive design covered include: User Interface Design (UI), User Experience Design (UX), Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR), as well as online, social and mobile media channels.Students will respond to a set brief in order to put the above theories and principles into practice. They will produce a reflective report to document their research and design process. Students will also conduct usability tests to ascertain the applicability of their design solution to real-life contexts and with real users.Students will be given a choice of 2 briefs: one brief will focus more on UI and UX and another brief will focus more on AR and VR.

Objectives

This module gives students the opportunity to:
- Learn theoretical and practical perspectives regarding advanced digital design skills and understand complex processes of digital and interactive design.
- Explore advanced digital platforms and software essential for the practice of interactive design in general and human-centred design specifically.
- Address the specific needs and motivations of Digital and Interactive Design users by developing creative and effective design solutions.

Learning outcomes
On completion of this module, students will have provided evidence of being able to:
1. Analyse and interpret current challenges, theories and principles of Digital and Interactive Design in order to define a problem or need.
2. Access and critically analyse literature, and plan appropriate research methods for the successful development of a design project.
3. Design and develop effective and visually stimulating design solutions in response to a specific problem or need and in relation to real-life settings.
4. Contribute to the implementation and execution of a project to a professional and commercial standard.
5. Take a proactive role in working with others and contribute to the planning and execution of group work.

Syllabus

This module will deliver la combination of lectures and practical sessions. Lectures will engage students with the theory, research and professional approaches to Digital and Interactive Design. The lecture content will be built around (and inform) each stage of the research and design process by:
1) Identifying the need for digital and interactive design;
2) Reviewing Digital and Interactive design principles and theories;
3) Discussing how to test the digital and interactive message;
4) Analysing digital and interactive design in practice through case studies.
Practicals will give students the opportunity to put their knowledge and theory into practice by planning, designing, developing and evaluating their creative project, as well as their research. Usability testing will give students the opportunity to assess and improve their project in real-life settings with suitable users.

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Lecture	5	1.00	5.00
Seminar	17	1.00	17.00
Private study hours			128.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

In order to gain confidence to develop and articulate their own ideas, students will engage in private study.

Each lecture is supported by material that is available on the Blackboard VLE. This material provides links to appropriate journal papers, books, videos and websites. Digital copies of the lectures will be also available on the VLE so that students can follow up in a systematic and structured manner.

Students will bring and discuss their ideas to the lectures, allowing them to gain confidence in their own critical thinking. Students will also be asked to find and provide design examples to show their understanding of the theoretical content addressed in the lecture.

• Literature search and reading: 30 hours
• Independent research and preparation: 40 hours
• Preparation and evaluation of assessed outcomes - 58 hours

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Student progress will be monitored through:
- Regular attendance at lectures and practicals (absences dealt with through the normal School channels).
- Participation in practicals.
- Regular feedback given in practicals.
- Interim feedback around week 21: formative presentation.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Report	Reflective report (1,000-1,250 words)	30.00
Project	Creative Design Project	70.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

The re-sit will be an individual creative design project and a 1,000 to 1,250 words project report.

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 30/05/2019

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