Weekly Schedule

Class 1, 9/4 – introductions

• Getting to know each other
• Expectations for the course
• Overview & syllabus
• Overview of the assignments
• Talk about the creative process and project development phases
• In class exercise: Fantasy device 

Assignments due next class:

• Getting To Know You Survey
• Set up a process website and send me your link via Slack
• Read Sketching: the visual thinking power tool and The miseducation of the doodle
• Get/make a sketchbook, planner, journal etc. 
• Draw a self-portrait in your new sketchbook/notebook/pad, etc. 

Class 2, 9/11 – ideation

• Talk about generating ideas
• Sketching as thinking tool
• In class exercise: Mapping inputs
• In class exercise: Brainstorming

Assignments due next class:

• 100 things
• Document it on the Process Website
• Watch Everything Is A Remix
• For more details on brainstorming techniques, read the relevant parts of Module 2

Class 3, 9/19 – research 

• In class critique of 100 things & discussion 
• Immersing yourself (e.g. researching, collecting, remixing) 
• The art of doing research: some methodologies & tools
• Digging deeper:  primary vs. secondary research
• Practice based research 
• In class exercise: Drawing & Storyboarding 

Assignments due next class:

• Time Capsule (part 1)
• Document it on the Process Website
• Read Research through design as a method for interaction design research in HCI 
• For more details, read Module 3 and Module 4

Class 4, 9/25 – MATERIALS & TOOLS

• In class sharing of Time Capsule (part 1) & discussion
• Tour of NYU Makerspace
• In class exercise: From 2D to 3D

Assignments due next class:

• Time Capsule (part 2)
• Document it on the Process Website
• Read Evocative Objects: Things We Think With
• Look at Will Odom’s work. Look at a project and read through on of his published field studies.  

Class 5, 10/2 – Prototype

• In class sharing of Time Capsules & discussion 
• Talk more about rapid prototyping tools and techniques 
• Cornell box for inspiration
• In class exercise: Make something beep, light up or move

Assignments due next class:

• Time Capsule (part 3)
• Document it on the Process Website
• Read The Design of Everyday Things (chapter 1 & 2)
• Read Module 8 (only the Prototyping section)

Class 6, 10/9 – users 

• In class sharing of Time Capsules & discussion 
• The Importance of People
• Stakeholders & Stakeholder mapping
• 5 Methods to conduct research with people
• In class exercise: Design Thinking crash course + discussion 

Assignments due next class:

• 370 Jay Street (part 1)
• Document it on the Process Website
• Look through  Universal Methods of Design
• Look through  The Field Guide To Human-Centered Design
• Read about Cultural Probes 
• Read some criticism on Design Thinking (like this & this & this)

Class 7, 10/16 – INTERACTIONS

• In class discussion of Design Thinking and its critique 
• In class discussion about 370 Jay Street 
• Special topics: Participatory research & co-design
• In class exercise: Make your own participatory activity 

Assignments due next class:

• 370 Jay Street (part 2)
• Document it on the Process Website
• Complete Self Assessment 1 

Class 8, 10/23 – MIDTERM Check-in

• One-on-one meetings 

Assignments due next class:

• 370 Jay Street (part 3)
• Read Brett Victor’s Brief Rant On The Future Of Interaction Design
• Revisit suggestions from one-on-one meeting

Class 9, 10/30 – synthesis 

• In class sharing of 370 Jay Street
• Discuss findings and challenges from 370 Jay Street assignment

Assignments due next class:

• Ways of seeing 
• Document it on the Process Website
• Watch Toaster video 
• Read Emotionally durable design: Objects, experiences and empathy

Class 10, 11/6 – plan

• In class sharing of 370 Jay Street
• In class sharing of Ways of seeing 
• Introduction to larger Project 
• Project planning and development phases 
• Dive into Cultural Probes & Affinity Diagramming 

Assignments due next class:

• City as Site (part 1)
• Begin observation, questioning, method hunting & mapping
• Document it on the Process Website

Class 11, 11/13 – design & SUSTAINABILITY 

• In class sharing of project progress
• Discuss ways to consider sustainability when designing a project
• Introduction to Systems Thinking

Assignments due next class:

• City as Site (part 2)
• Interview, research, collect insights, design 
• Document it on the Process Website
• Readings on Systems: 
  • Introduction to Systems Thinking
  • Overview of Systems Thinking
  • Systemic Design Concepts & Tools
  • Places to Intervene in a System
  • The Systems Thinking Playbook

Class 12, 11/20 – test

• In class early play-testing of projects
• User-testing and Accessibility 

Assignments due next WEEK:

• City as Site (part 3)
• Make, do, experiment, interact and test 
• Document it on the Process Website
• Read Design Meets Disability by Graham Pullin Chapter 1

NO CLASS, 11/27 – thanksgiving break

• But continue working on the project! 
• City as Site (part 4)
• Document it on the Process Website
• Watch Ira Glass on storytelling (all 4 parts)

Class 13, 12/04 – analyze

• Discuss insights gathered from the project so far
• Crafting a narrative and storytelling 
• Ideas on Writing, Publishing & Showcasing work 
• Discuss lessons learnt
• In class work on project

Assignments due next class:

• City as Site (part 5)
• Write a short synthesis of the things you tried in this project, the research you did, the methods you used, what you learnt, what was hard, what didn’t work. Should be between 500 and 1000 words. 
• Document it on the Process Website
• Complete Self Assessment 2

Class 14, 12/11 – showcase

• Showcase and discuss your work with the class
• Course evaluations 

Assignments:

• Wrap up all documentation and tie all loose ends