Course Title: Create user interfaces

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term1 2024

Course Code: COMM5475C

Course Title: Create user interfaces

School: 515T Creative Industries

Campus: City Campus

Program: C4422 - Certificate IV in Screen and Media

Course Contact: Suzanne Thomson

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 8428

Course Contact Email: suzanne.thomson@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Nominal Hours: 60

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None.

Course Description

In this course you will develop the skills and knowledge required to create a user interface for animation, gaming and/or visual effects products.

The course applies to those who respond to design briefs and produce user interfaces that incorporate user-centred design principles and comply with platform standards. They typically work in a team environment with some supervision or guidance.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUADIG413 Create user interfaces

Element:

1. Clarify project requirements and plan approach

Performance Criteria:

1.1 Interpret design brief requirements in consultation with required personnel

1.2 Identify text content and media assets to be integrated into user interfaces

1.3 Determine file output format according to delivery platform requirements of interactive media products

1.4 Identify industry-standard graphics software options

1.5 Discuss and select graphics software with required personnel

Element:

2. Produce user interfaces

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Develop structure for user interfaces based on design brief using selected graphics software

2.2 Source, create and integrate all graphic interactive components

2.3 Develop user interfaces according to design brief requirements

2.4 Apply principles of user-centred design and standards for accessibility to development of user interfaces

2.5 Document styles for text and presentation for use in style sheets, templates, and themes

2.6 Save user interfaces in required output format that meets technical parameters

2.7 Adopt safe ergonomic practices when using equipment for long periods of time

Element:

3. Finalise user interfaces

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Plan and implement testing of interface with sample users

3.2 Review user interface testing and evaluate effectiveness of interface components with required personnel

3.3 Discuss additional requirements or modifications to interface with required personnel, and adjust interface as required

3.4 Obtain final agreement on finished designs from required personnel


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this course you will have developed and applied the skills and knowledge required to demonstrate competency in the above elements.


Details of Learning Activities

Details of Learning Activities

This course consists of 2 Units of Competency that are clustered together for delivery and assessment. The other unit of competency in this clustered course is: CUADIG413 Create user interfaces

In class learning activities may include, but are not limited to:

• lectures and/or lab work
• teacher directed group activities and projects
• concept development of group and individual projects
• group discussions and class presentations
• peer and teacher feedback
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection

Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:

• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data to your RMIT OneDrive account
• accessing online tutorial resources
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT


Teaching Schedule

Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and the availability of speakers and resources.

WeekTopicAssessment / Learning activities
Week 1

Introduction to Digital Design

  • Industry standards and processes
  • Prototyping and user testing, what is it and why is it important

Software learning: Introduction to Figma 
Developing your first click-through

 
Week 2

Figma software skills

Explore the basics of industry-standard prototyping software. Explore the basic standards and principles of digital design including, grid systems, shapes, typography, and basic interaction rules. 

 
Week 3

How to work on a client brief

  • Explore clarification of brief and understanding of the objects and target audience.
  • Work on developing a timeline that sets out stages of work and priorities of the project. 
  • Understand aspects of safe ergonomic practice

Software learning: Basic introduction to standard graphic software, like Illustrator. Look closer at what software skills are required to complete the brief and how AI can help kick-start the process. 

AT1 Part A
Week 4

Research, copyright, accessibility and visual design principles

  • Explore why research is important and investigate the history and contemporary application of the project you are designing. 
  • Take into account the IP and copyright considerations
  • Explore how to consider accessibility when designing
  • Learn more about the visual design principles and the importance of user testing, 

Activities 

As part of your assessment development, you will complete research, develop a mood board, and continue with upskilling your software skills. 

 
Week 5

Concept workshop 

Participate in a workshop that explores how to develop concepts and iterate your design ideas. 

  • Explore the importance of feedback and how it can help the design process
  • Develop UI concepts through sketching techniques and other digital methods
  • Exploring asset options for a design solution 
AT1 Part B
Week 6

Developing design solution 

Time dedicated to work on the design and interaction prototype for your assessment. 

Focused on developing a user flow, prototype draft, and testing plan. 

 
Week 7

Developing design solution

Work on a design solution, by conducting user testing and making changes as needed/required to ensure finalised solution meets the client brief. 

 
Week 8

Finalise design solution 

Work on finalising your design solution, prototype interaction and documentation. 

AT1 Part C Due
Week 9 Software workshop
Exploring and expanding software skills in range of tools including Photoshop and AI integration.
 
Week 10 Clarification of brief
Get started on your second assessment, by working on clarification of the brief.
State outcomes and objectives of the brief
Develop a timeline for the project
Defining the target audience
Identifying the software needed for the project
AT2 Part A
Week 11

Research, Resources

Spend time researching and developing resources suitable for the project. 

  • Create mood boards
  • Collect resources following copyright procedures
 
Week 12

Concept Idealisation Workshop

Participate in a workshop that explores how to develop concepts and iterate your design ideas. 

  • Explore the importance of feedback and how it can help the design process
  • Develop UI concepts through sketching techniques and other digital methods
  • Exploring asset options for a design solution
AT2 Part B
Week 13

Draft solution

Time dedicated to work on the design and interaction prototype for your assessment. 

Focused on developing a user flow, prototype draft, and testing plan. 

 
Week 14

Test solution

Work on a design solution, by conducting user testing and making changes as needed/required to ensure finalised solution meets the client brief. 

 
Week 15

Refine solution

Work on finalising your design solution, prototype interaction and documentation. 

AT2 Part C Due
Week 16 Review 

 


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts


References


Other Resources


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge and understanding of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, oral presentations and through the application of learned skills and insights to your written tasks. Full assessment briefs will be provided and can be found on CANVAS. 


Assessment Tasks

Students enrolled in Vocational Education and Training qualifications are assessed for Competency.  To be assessed competent means you have consistently demonstrated the required knowledge and skills at a standard expected in the workplace. To be assessed as Competent in this course, you will need to complete each assessment task to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.

You should refer to the assessment brief which is available through Canvas for full assessment criteria

Assessment 01: UI Design

For this assessment, you will use a defined process to clarify, research, generate ideas, create, and test an interactive solution with custom graphics.

Due Week 8

Assessment 02: Application Prototype Design 

For your assessment, you will build upon the skills you have acquired in previous lessons and create a more advanced interactive solution that incorporates your own custom graphics.

Due Week 16

Assessment in this course uses the following grades:

CA - Competency Achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix for this course demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the unit of competency. These matrices are available through Program Administration.

Other Information

Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.

Course Overview: Access Course Overview