CS 247 - HCI Design Studio

This class teaches advanced techniques in human-computer interaction design, with a focus on challenging design contexts. Topics include visual communication, diary studies, journey maps, theories of behavior change, wireflows, design patterns, design systems, information architecture, grid systems, and remote usability studies.

Week	Project	Tu/Wed, Studio A	Th/Fr, Studio B
January 7–11	Course application Project 1	Sketching	Sketching interactions Observation
January 14–18	Project 2 Sketchnotes: Rohde, Sketchnote Handbook	Diary studies	Behavior change theories
January 21–26	Sketchnotes: Kuniavsky, Diary Studies	Advanced interview strategies: e.g., critical incident analysis, managing status differentials	Journey maps System design models
January 28–February 1	Sketchnotes: What do prototypes prototype	Wireflows	Longitudinal field studies
February 4–8	Sketchnotes: Towards and Ethics of Persuasive Technology	Project 2 prototype fair	Design ethics: behavior change
February 11–15	Project 3 Sketchnotes: Learning From Strangers	Project 2 presentations	Comparative user research Remote testing
February 18–22	Sketchnotes: Technically wrong	Conceptual models Metaphors	Information architecture Navigation
February 25–March 1	Sketchnotes: On Web Typography	Design patterns RITE testing	Grids
March 4–8	Sketchnotes: How I Got My Mom to Play Through Plants vs. Zombies	Design systems Style tiles	Unmoderated remote testing
March 11–15		Project 3 draft feedback	Project 3 presentations
March 20 (finals)	Final due on March 20 at 11:30 AM (the latest final exam slot for any of our studios)

Instructors

Christina Wodtke Office hours (by appointment)
Julie Stanford Office hours: Wed/Fri 11:30–12:30, McMurtry 350
Michael Bernstein Office hours: Tues 4:15–5:30, Gates 384

Teaching assistants

Carah Alexander Office hours (by appointment)
Catherine Xu Office hours (by appointment)
Trijeet Mukhopadhyay Office hours (by appointment)

Studios

You will be enrolled in and attend one studio.

Studio 1: Michael Bernstein
Wed+Fri 2:30–4:20pm, STLC 114
Studio 2: Julie Stanford
Wed+Fri 9:30–11:20am, McMurtry 350
Studio 3: Christina Wodtke
Tu+Th 9:30–11:20am, Tuesdays STLC 104 and Thursdays 200-013

Learning goals

Students will learn advanced design techniques including:

Visual communication: sketching.
Needfinding: diary studies, journey maps, interviewing with critical incidents and status differentials.
Interaction: wireflows, information architecture, navigation design, design patterns.
Visual design: grids, design systems, style tiles.
Evaluation: longitudinal field studies, remote usability studies.

HCI design studio

January 7–11

January 14–18

January 21–26

January 28–February 1

February 4–8

February 11–15

February 18–22

February 25–March 1

March 4–8

March 11–15

March 20 (finals)

Instructors

Teaching assistants

Studios

Learning goals