About This Course

This course teaches advanced theory of interaction design, specifically as related to dialogue, discourse, semantics, experience, and communication. Students will explore discourse related to the philosophical and sociological aspects of technology, and will relate this discourse to issues of wicked problems in society and culture.


Core Concepts and Ideas

This class emphasizes the following main ideas, themes, and concepts:

  • Aesthetics, related to the visual, temporal, and cultural qualities of design solutions
  • Poetics and rhetoric, including the role of design in shaping both culture and behavior
  • Semantics and the subtle qualities of form in non-physical product, service or system design

Reading List

Outcomes and Competencies

The following outcome statements articulate the competencies, abilities, and skills a student will have as a result of completing this class. Students will...

  • Be able to describe complicated issues of design theory as related to design practice
  • Understand the historical underpinnings of the methods and processes used in design
  • Understand how to ground design decisions in a historical, philosophical context
  • Understand the relationship between behavior change, impact, and design

Course Schedule

Section 1: History and Precedent in Interaction, Technology, and Experience
Present the role of technology in the world, and argue its importance.

  Topic In Class Readings for This Class

Tue, 1/8

Introduction
Interaction & GUI History

Understanding This Course
Discussion of Computers and Computing

 

Thu, 1/10

Technology

Discussion of Readings [1A]

[1A] Marsden – People are People

[1A] Mann – Continuous Lifelong Capture of Personal Experience

[1A] Sterling – Design Fiction

Tue, 1/15

Context

Discussion of Readings [1B]

[1B] Dourish – What We Talk About When We Talk About Context

[1B] Bell – Making by Making Strange

Thu, 1/17

Experience and Emotion

Discussion of Readings [1C]

[1C] Boehner – Affect & Emotion

[1C] Forlizzi – Understanding Experience

[1C] Sanders – Scaffolds for Experiencing

Tue, 1/22

Persuasian and Behavior Change

Discussion of Readings [1D]

Lecture: Applying Behavior Design

[1D] Fogg – Model for Behavior

[1D] Lockton – Making the User More Efficient: Design for Sustainable Behavior

Thu, 1/24

Presentation of Position Artifact

Lecture: Interaction Design Principles

 

Section 2: Creativity, Strategy, Design
Describe the relationship between creativity, knowledge, and strategy.

  Topic In Class Readings for This Class

Tue, 1/29

Creativity

Discussion of readings [2A]

[2A] Cross – Discovering Design Ability

[2A] deBono – Serious Creativity

[2A] Schon – Problems, Frames & Perspectives

Thu, 1/31

Design Strategy

Discussion of readings [2B]

Lecture: Design Strategy

[2B] Hamal – Strategic Intent

[2B] Martin – Management Education

Tue, 2/5

Sensemaking

Discussion of readings [2C]

[2C] Weick – Organizing and Process of Sensemaking

[2C] Peirce – The Three Cotary Propositions

Thu, 2/7

Perception

Discussion of readings [2D]

[2D] Mahlke – Visual Aesthetics and the User Experience

Tue, 2/12

Presentation of Position Artifact

Lecture: Types of Interaction Design

 

Section 3: Innovation and Social Entrepreneurship
Describe and define social entrepreneurship.

  Topic In Class Readings for This Class

Thu, 2/14

No Class

 

 

Tue, 2/19

Social Innovation

Discussion of readings [3A]

[3A] Wyatt – Design Thinking

[3A] Martin – Social Entrepreneurship

Thu, 2/21

Behavioral Economics

Discussion of readings [3B]

Lecture: Making Decisions

[3B] Ariely – Predictable Irrational (book)

Tue, 2/26

Business Models

Discussion of readings [3C]

[3C] Elkington – Win Win Win

[3C] Dees – The Meaning of Social Entrepreneurship

Thu, 2/28

Presentation of Position Artifact