DSGN 156 Usability Studies and Research

5 credits

This course is an introduction to user research and will focus on user behaviors, needs, and motivations while guided through feedback methodologies. Students will explore interviews, surveys, research groups, heuristic reviews, content analysis, usability tests, and other methods. Students will also study selection of appropriate research tools, conducting ethical user research, and transferring the collected data into design requirements.

Prerequisites: DSGN 117 or DSGN 263

Course Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course students will be able to:

Develop advanced skills in arranging text and images to create visually compelling and effective layouts with a focus on principles of hierarchy, alignment, and spatial organization to enhance readability and aesthetic appeal
Create comprehensive book layouts, including multi-page documents, cover design, and typographic integration, ensuring cohesive and functional design across all elements
Gain hands-on experience with design software to execute complex typographic designs and layouts
Make professional-quality designs by leveraging the full range of tools and features available in design software
Explore advanced typographic concepts such as grid systems, typographic hierarchy, and the interplay between type and imagery to create cohesive and engaging designs

College-Wide Learning Outcomes
This course teaches to the college-wide learning outcome of Information Literacy, the ability to recognize when information is needed, to choose the appropriate tools to locate the required information, and to effectively gather and evaluate the information.

Total Hours: 70 Theory (Lecture) Hours: 30 Guided Practice (Lab or Clinical) Hours: 40