User Interface Design: Applying Heuristics for Improved Usability
Irini Spyridakis · 2021 ASEE Virtual Annual Conference Content Access Proceedings · 2024
It is critical that human computer interaction and product designers consider their audiences when designing and building user interfaces (UIs).To facilitate effective design of user interfaces (UIs), a course module and report assignment were developed to help students learn about effective UI design.The main goal of this paper is to describe a major graded assignment in this module-the UI Design Report-in depth and discuss its success.The assignment takes place in a three-week UI course module in a required junior level, communication and engineering design course in the Department of Human Centered Design & Engineering in the College of Engineering at the University of Washington.Outcomes were qualitatively assessed by examining samples of students' reports versus requirements and students' reflections on the module and report assignment.Outcomes have been positive and reveal that students gain an understanding of effective UI design and the important role of UI designers, and the impact of UI design on society.Educators from a multitude of disciplines that intersect with human computer interaction can use this assignment in helping design products and services with which users interact.