Section 3

Unit Title Principles of Interaction Design

Unit Code ACT102
Programme BA (Hons) Design for Interaction
Credits 15 Level 1 Unit Status Mandatory

Contact Time 50 Access to Resources 30 Independent Study 70

This unit introduces students to the basic building blocks of the

design process with a bias towards the needs of interaction design.
Students will be introduced to the nature of the brief in design and its
interpretation. The unit will look at the role of typography and its
effects on legibility and the representation of meaning through icons
(symbols). The unit begins by looking at the presentation of static
Introduction
information and progresses to look at the presentation of dynamic
information.

The unit explores the conventions that underpin the recognition of

signs and symbols in a variety of media, the semiotics of colour and
the means by which people interact with these symbols.

Topics which may be explored in this unit might include:

• Typography;
• Colour theory;
• Iconography;
Indicative
• Information Design;
Curriculum
• Basic interaction software scripting.
Outline
Students will be introduced to interaction prototyping software. The
unit comprises a series of projects which are a vehicle for looking at
the organisation and communication of information and the inter-
relationship of these two.

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 Section 3

In order to pass this Level 1 unit, students must show that the
following learning outcomes have been achieved:

Knowledge and Understanding

1. An understanding of the ordering of “raw” information and the

way this affects its communication; (LO1)
2. An understanding of the design principles which underpin the
Unit Learning
Outcomes presentation of information across different media. (LO2)

Skills

3. The ability to order and organise information for

communication and interaction; (LO3)
4. The ability to use design software for image generation; (LO4)
5. The ability to use interaction specific software and
technologies in ordering and presenting information. (LO5)

This unit will make use of the following:

• Briefing(s);
Teaching and • Demonstrations and studio based instruction workshops,
Learning which will look at guided software use;
Strategies • Seminars, which will involve discussion of concepts and
direction;
• Student directed study;
• Critique.

The projects involve a design presentation in a number of media and

the production of an interactive clip.

Formative Assessment
Students will submit the design presentation at an interim point in
the unit and will receive written feedback giving them an indication of
their performance in relation to the learning outcomes before the
Assessable final assessment.
Elements
Summative Assessment
Each assessed element will contribute to the final grade, in the
proportions shown in the following table:

Assessable Elements Percentage of Final Grade

Design Presentation 50%
Interactive Clip 50%

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 Section 3

Students will be assessed on the suitability of their designs for the

communication of the given information across a number of media
including:

• Effectiveness of logotype; (LO1)

• Appropriateness of font; (LO1)
• Consideration taken of scalability; (LO2)
Assessment
• Appropriateness of colour selection. (LO2)
Criteria
In relation to the interactive clip used within the interactive
presentation, students will be assessed on:

• The functionality of the clip; (LO5, LO3)

• The degree to which it fulfils the terms of the brief; (LO1)
• The quality of production. (LO4)

Unit Relevant Books

Triedman, Karen. (2002) Colour Graphics: the power of colour on

Graphic Design, Rockport.

Miller, Anistatia and Brown, Jared. (2004) Logos: Making a strong

Indicative mark: 150 strategies for logos that last, Rockport.
Reading List
Lippincott and Margulies. (2004) The Art and Science of Creating
Lasting Brands, Rotovision.

Ware, Colin. (2004) Information Visualization: Perception for design,

Elsevier Science.

Faculty of Design Definitive Document: 21 July 2006