BEHV 1025 Usable Design

This is an archived copy of the 2021-2022 catalog. To access the most recent version of the catalog, please visit https://hbook.westernsydney.edu.au.

Credit Points 10

Legacy Code 102716

Coordinator Tamara Watson Opens in new window

Description This unit examines the psychological principles underlying users' experience of design. After introducing fundamental principles of human perception and cognition, we will explore the way these principles shape the experience of users when interacting with a designed product. The unit will also introduce the experimental approaches used to study perceptual and cognitive processes, focussing on critical evaluation of design principles and highlighting techniques relevant to user experience evaluation.

School Psychology

Discipline Behavioural Science, Not Elsewhere Classified.

Student Contribution Band HECS Band 4 10cp

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Level Undergraduate Level 1 subject

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this subject, students should be able to:

Demonstrate understanding of the principles of human visual perception and cognition relevant to user experience design.
Explain key experimental techniques used in perceptual and cognitive science.
Identify perceptual and cognitive principles relevant to the design of existing websites and applications.
Evaluate design utility based on perceptual and cognitive principles underlying user experience.
Write a design report, using APA style and formatting.

Subject Content

Introduction: This topic will introduce the design principles used in a range of design contexts. It will focus on ?escreen based?f design and touch on other areas of design.
Basic Visual Pe

Assessment

The following table summarises the standard assessment tasks for this subject. Please note this is a guide only. Assessment tasks are regularly updated, where there is a difference your Learning Guide takes precedence.

Item	Length	Percent	Threshold	Individual/Group Task
Case Study	1,500 words	40	N	Individual
Log/Workbook	5 x 100 words = 500 words in total	25	N	Individual
Final Exam	2 hours	35	N	Individual

Prescribed Texts

Johnson, J. (2020). Designing with the mind in mind. (3rd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann, Waltham MA, USA. ISBN 978-0128182024
Johnson, J. (2014). Designing with the mind in mind. (2nd ed.). Morgan Kaufmann, Waltham MA, USA. ISBN 978-0-12-407914-4

Teaching Periods