Description

Course Description & Learning Objectives:

From mobile phones to augmented and ubiquitous technologies embedded into our everyday spaces, society has become increasingly mediated by technologies that influence human relationships and behavior. As such, designers have an opportunity to develop a sense of cultural sensitivity to the ways in which we navigate our everyday lives not only using devices but in the public spaces we inhabit. Cultivating an effective comprehension of user experience requires nuanced observation and analysis of human behavior.

The course will develop an introductory awareness of user behavior and usability testing thorough methods combining design thinking, cultural anthropology, urban and ethnographic studies. Through analysis of everyday public spaces such as public transportation, hawker centers and others, as well as through group discussions and exercises, students will gain an ability to evaluate how user centered design will help build comfort, convenience and ease of use without compromising the performance of designed products and experiences. Students will have learned how to research, develop and critique a product or service as well as create an original proposal and proof of concept for a product or service applying the concepts and techniques introduced in the class.