Course

User Interface Design

Faculty
Science & Technology
Department
Computing Science
Course code
CMPT 2363
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15 Weeks
Max class size
35
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This is a project-based course providing a comprehensive introduction to user interface (UI) design. Topics include goals and history of UI design, human-computer interactions and user experience, social impact of UI, and the UI design process. Students will incorporate major aspects of user interface design, including user research, user interface patterns, prototyping, and evaluation, into a group project that provides them with hands-on experience of UI design disciplines.
Course content

The process of interaction design

  • Design quality factors
  • User experience

Conceptualizing interaction

  • Conceptual models
  • Interface metaphors
  • Interaction types
  • Paradigms, visions, and frameworks

Social and emotional interaction

  • Face-to-face vs. remote conversations
  • Expressive and annoying interfaces
  • Detecting emotions and emotional technology
  • Persuasive technologies and behavioral change

The user interface design process

  • Interface types
  • Data gathering
  • Data analysis, interpretation, and presentation
  • Establishing requirements
  • Task description and analysis
  • Prototyping
  • Conceptual and concrete design
  • Using scenarios

Introduction to user interface design evaluation

Learning activities

Methods of instruction will include some or all of the following: lectures, labs, and self-directed learning (assignments and group projects).

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester. Evaluation will be based on the following.

Assignments 0% - 15%
Quizzes* 0% - 15%
Project 25% - 35%
Term Tests* 20% - 35%
Final Examination*

25% - 35%
Total

100%

* In order to pass the course, in addition to receiving an overall course grade of 50%, students must achieve a grade of at least 50% on the combined weighted examination components (including quizzes, term tests, and final examinations.)

 

 

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of this course, successful students should be able to:

  • Describe the process of interaction design and user experience.
  • Identify the problem space and conceptualize human-computer interaction.
  • Identify the role of psychology and human factors in the user interface design process.
  • Describe interface metaphors, models, and paradigms.
  • Identify various types of interaction, including social and emotional interactions.
  • Utilize different user research methods to sketch an effective design.
  • Use theoretical frameworks in data analysis.
  • Evaluate, apply, and adapt various user interface design patterns.
  • Utilize standard tools and techniques to design an appropriate user interface based on the requirements of the specific context and platform of use.
  • Use scenarios to create a conceptual design.
  • Generate prototypes using design rationales.
  • Evaluate the quality and usability of the designed user interface.
Textbook materials

Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials.

Sample text:

Interaction Design: Beyond Human Computer Interaction (latest edition), Sharp, H., Rogers, Y., and Preece, J., John Wiley and Sons, ISBN: 9781119020752

Requisites

Prerequisites

CMPT 2300 or CSIS 3475 with a minimum grade of C

Corequisites

No corequisite courses.

Equivalencies

No equivalent courses.

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers to Other Institutions

Below are current transfer agreements from Douglas College to other institutions for the current course guidelines only. For a full list of transfer details and archived courses, please see the BC Transfer Guide.

Institution Transfer details for CMPT 2363
Alexander College (ALEX) ALEX CPSC 2XX (3)
Athabasca University (AU) AU COMP 2XX (3)
Camosun College (CAMO) CAMO COMP 271 (3)
Coast Mountain College (CMTN) CMTN CPSC 1XX (2)
College of New Caledonia (CNC) CNC CSC 2XX (3)
College of the Rockies (COTR) COTR COMP 2XX (3)
Columbia College (COLU) COLU CSCI 2nd (3)
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) No credit
LaSalle College Vancouver (LCV) LCV WIM 200 (3)
Northern Lights College (NLC) NLC ITEC 255 (3)
Okanagan College (OC) OC COSC 341 (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CMPT 363 (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU COMP 3450 (3)
University Canada West (UCW) UCW CPSC 2XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) UBCV CPSC_V 344 (3)
University of Northern BC (UNBC) UNBC CPSC 299 (3)
University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) UFV COMP 3XX (3)
Vancouver Community College (VCC) VCC CSTP 1304 (2)
Vancouver Island University (VIU) VIU CSCI 310 (3)

Course Offerings

Fall 2025

CRN Days Instructor Status
Maximum seats
35
Currently enrolled
34
Remaining seats:
1
On waitlist
0
Building
New Westminster - South Bldg.
Room
S0620
Times:
Start Time
12:30
-
End Time
14:20