Usability Engineering & User Experience Design

11B2085

Bachelor

German

5.0

winter and summer term

1 semester

Nowadays, user interfaces are mostly graphically oriented. Modern user interfaces use touch technologies, gesture or voice control and automated functionality. The targeted conception and design of these different types of interfaces significantly determines their usability and thus their acceptance by users. In order to be able to evaluate, professionally design and optimise the interface between the user and the technical application, students need to be familiar with the basic concepts of usability engineering and user experience design. The analysis focuses on human cognitive abilities, the requirements of specific target groups in different scenarios and the design of interaction spaces in the sense of ‘user-centred design’.

1. Fundamentals of user experience design and usability engineering
2. Graphical, natural and tangible user interfaces, innovative operating concepts
3. Human perception and cognition
4. Standards and heuristics, qualitative and quantitative methods of behavioural research
5. User-centred requirements analysis
6. Wireframing and prototyping
7. Evaluation and usability testing

The total workload for the module is 150 hours (see also "ECTS credit points and grading").

• Project Report, written

• Field work / Experimental work

The selection of graded and ungraded examination types from the specified options is the responsibility of the respective teacher. In doing so, the teacher must adhere to the applicable study regulations. 

Types of assessment for graded examinations:
Project report (written): 10–15 pages, accompanying presentation 8–10 minutes
Types of assessment for ungraded examinations:
Experimental work: 4–5 milestone tasks from the context of the course

Knowledge of user interface development and web technologies

Students learn and test the essential and current principles from the fields of user experience design, interaction design and usability engineering.

Students have detailed knowledge of user-centred requirements analysis, qualitative behavioural research and prototype production.

Students learn principles and methods for systematically designing modern user interfaces, creating professional designs and testing their usability. They apply these principles and methods in project work.

As part of their project work, students conduct requirements analyses and usability tests with test subjects. They use a professional usability lab and eye-tracking technologies. They produce wireframes and interactive prototypes using the latest tools.

Students apply methods from the fields of user experience design, interaction design and usability engineering.

Students are able to analyse and evaluate the interaction design and usability of interfaces and describe them using the appropriate technical vocabulary. In addition, they must conduct interviews and tests with test subjects in the role of experimenters.

During their internships and final projects, students develop strong teamwork and project coordination skills.

• Ramm, Michaela

• Ramm, Michaela