Introduction
Responsive Spiritual Environments
Lecturers: Karmen Franinovic
Video mentoring: Nicole Foelsterl
Date: 19.04.2011 - 13.05.2011
Time: 9:30 - 17:00
Room: 1st semester studio
This year topic is religion and spiritual experience (see Background and Projects).
Course description
Interaction design process course is about the methodology that designers use in order to create an interactive experience. It is the core of interaction design practice and is based on a variety of methods applied to different stages of the project. A design method is always related to a specific design question it aims to answer and a specific goal it aims to accomplish. Interaction design process applies different methods in several stages of project development: Context/User Inquiry, Concept Generation, Idea Testing, Prototype Development, Evaluation and Concept Iteration.
The course is project-based and will allow students to have a hands-on experience with a range of methods at different stages of interaction design process. Organised in groups, students will develop innovative design concept for a product, a service or an experience. Following a structured stages of observation, creation, and evaluation we will discuss and apply from situated and user-centered methods to creative design practice (eg. bodystorming, context analysis, video scenarios). The final concept will be grounded in the research and be represented in the form of video, one of the most convincing ways of communicating an interactive experience.
Your project development is structured in following steps:
- Into the Wild!
STEP 1 User, context and/or technology inquiry
- Methods: direct and participatory observation, video ethnography, interviews, questionnaires, cultural probes etc.
- Ideas Bloom ...
STEP 2 Idea Generation
- Methods: sketching, bodystorming, brainstorming, participatory methods, extreme characters,etc
- Fake it!
STEP 3 Evaluation and Iteration
- Methods: participatory methods with mockups, cartoon scenarios, acting out an experience etc.
- Convince!
STEP 4 Video Scenario
- Methods: video prototyping
During the course the student will learn:
- how to design through personal exploration and in communication with others (participatory design)
- how to search for new possibilities/opportunites/alternatives for interactive products, rather than responding to a set of given requirements
- how to use a variety of methods and tools which can be existing design practices, can be borrowed from other disciplines and can be developed by designers themselves
Final Deliverables
1. Documentation of assignments and your design process in this blog
2. Convincing presentation of an interaction design product, a service and/or an experience grounded on the understanding of the user and the context