Tag Archives: ux

elective, special topic, undergrad, undergrad-elective-s25

DM-UY 4193 HYBRID VISUAL IDENTITY: DESIGN AND APPLICATION

This course is an advanced, project-based experimental design studio with parallel discussions of readings and critical theories in contemporary visual culture and visual identity creation. Students will devise and construct a visual identity (brand) for an imagined persona, collective or organization, then (as a class, communally, collaboratively) design an application of their brand in the form of a digital experience with the opportunity to incorporate, combine, and hybridize multiple media and disciplines. Students should be fluent in usage of the Adobe Suite, digital design and prototyping using Figma, and an iterative ideation design workflow. Experimentation and intentional misuse of design tools will be central to the course experience. Possible disciplines through which students can draw from and/or explore further include graphic (2D) design, spatial (3D) design, animation (4D) design, sound design, digital prototyping, code, and other digital media skill sets they have developed through their IDM foundation.

instructor : Jesse Seegers (website)

Sample syllabus

elective, special topic, undergrad, undergrad-elective-s25

DM-UY 4193 DARK PATTERNS

“Dark patterns,” malicious uses of good design practices, manipulate and trick users into following UX flows to increase spending and reduce data privacy. Students will identify the design practices at play in dark patterns, design their own manipulative interfaces, and implicate the ethics of UX design practices in a corporatized digital landscape. This course will balance literature analysis with project-based learning to provide students with a well-rounded view of design’s power in a technology-driven world. To enroll in this course, students are expected to have basic knowledge of Figma, UI design, and UX best practices.

Instructors : Edan McDevitt, Casey Judge

Sample Syllabus

class, elective, special topic, undergrad, undergrad-elective-s25

DM-UY 4193 3D FOR AR

In this course, students will learn how to create original content for Augmented Reality (AR) experiences. Far too often, found and premade assets are used in AR experiences. Having to rely on other people’s creations waters down a creators vision and may completely break a user’s experience. AR has the potential to engage an individual’s senses in a unique and deeply engaging way, different than other extended reality technologies like VR. Students will learn a professional pipeline for AR content creation including proper modeling techniques, automated content creation, file optimization, animations + keyframes, and exporting.

Instructors : Mark Skwarek

Sample Syllabus

class, elective, grad, grad-s25-studio, s25, special topic

DM-GY 9103 Future of UX & AI

This graduate course will explore the intersection of artificial intelligence (AI) and user experience (UX) design, with a focus on incorporating user research and Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) principles throughout the design process. Students will learn how to design effective AI-powered user experiences by understanding the capabilities and limitations of AI, and by applying user-centered design methods. Through a combination of lectures, discussions, case studies, and hands-on projects, students will gain the knowledge and skills they need to create AI-powered systems that are intuitive, efficient, and satisfying to use.

Instructor : Setor Zilevu

Sample Syllabus

elective, f24, special topic, undergrad

DM-UY 4913 Design Through Myth and Storytelling

Human beings experience the world through story, and myths are one of the oldest forms of storytelling. Their lessons are essential for meaningful communication, social connection, and a sense of wonder. Explore myths and storytelling techniques both new and old as a way of thinking through design principles and process. Through lectures, hands-on activities, and individual as well as group projects, students will address topics such as idea generation, putting idea into form, the role of users and audiences, asking good questions, playtesting, iteration, and more.

Instructor : Aya Karpinska

class, elective, f24, undergrad, undergrad-elective-s25

DM-UY 2213 User Experience Design (UX)

From interacting with the latest device to cogently communicating complex data, user experience design (UX) is a discipline given increased prominence by the inescapable human relationship with technology. We will cover the UX design process as it relates to interactive interfaces found in websites, mobile apps, hardware, and events.

Sample Syllabi

class, elective, f24, grad, special topic

DM-GY 9103 Speculative Networks

This course focuses on the ethical, political and socio-cultural dimensions of digital platforms and social media. Course readings will explore the implications of digital design practices, and creative workshops will provide a means to creatively reimagine digital platforms through experimentation with networking techniques and platform affordances. Through a combination of seminar discussions, in-class workshops and experimental design projects, students will critically examine and remediate social media and other digital platforms.

In the course, we will explore the following questions:
• How do social media and digital platforms shape our social world?
• How can we apply digital design methods to reimagine social media and digital platforms?

Speculative Networks is a concept-driven, project-based course that explores theories of digital communication through the creation of three projects around the following themes:

  • Emotion and Affect
    What are the emotional impacts of digital media? How can we creatively reimagine “doomscrolling” and other forms of negative affect towards more empathetic technologies?
  • Attention Economies
    How do digital platforms exploit their users’ attention? What possibilities exist to use digital technologies to refocus attention away from the screen and towards new horizons?
  • Inverse Metaverse
    What are the limitations and possibilities of digital objects and commodities? What alternative forms of value might be embedded in 3D digital assets?

Additionally, we will be exploring design topics such as speculative design, affordance theory, values-oriented design, and user studies.
This course is medium-agnostic – you are welcome to use whatever media you are comfortable working in to create your projects. We will, however, be exploring techniques in gestural interface design, locative media, AR/XR, and machine learning. This is a useful course for students looking to expand the conceptual and critical depth of their interactive digital media projects through intensive thematic assignments.

Instructor: Craig Fahner

class, elective, f24, grad, special topic

DM-GY 9103 Design for Change: UX and Wearables

This course explores the intersection of user experience design, spatial computing, wearable technology, and fashion, with a strong emphasis on social justice. It aims to equip students with the skills to create innovative designs that are not only technologically advanced but also socially conscious and inclusive. Students will gain an understanding of the principles of user experience design and their application in spatial computing and wearable technology. The course will culminate in a prototype that embodies the principles of inclusive and socially responsible design.

Instructors : Reginé Gilbert & Kathleen McDermott

class, elective, f24, grad, grad-s25-studio, s25

DM-GY 7133 User Experience Design

This is an introductory course on user experience design methodologies following a user-centered design process. The course is oriented toward practical methods for approaching a design problem holistically, beyond usability and usefulness. In this class, you will develop an appreciation for the notion of user experience including how to design for it and how to evaluate it. The course will focus on storytelling, sketching, and communication of design ideas within a design team and to potential users. Assignments will focus on hands-on learning through individual assignments, application of design skills in group mini-projects, and peer critique.

 

class, elective, f24, grad, grad-s25-studio, s25

DM-GY 6133 Mobile Augmented Reality Studio

In this course, you’ll gain a deep understanding of the full UX process while also learning how to apply it to the rapidly evolving field of Augmented Reality (AR). Through a structured approach, you’ll master key techniques such as problem definition, user research, ideation, wireframing, and prototype testing. A central focus of the course will be on how these UX fundamentals translate into designing for AR environments—where interaction and engagement happen in entirely new dimensions.

Guided by industry professionals, you’ll have the opportunity to work on projects that bridge UX and AR, exploring how user-centered design principles can be adapted to create immersive, interactive experiences. With hands-on practice, you’ll test, iterate, and refine your designs to meet the unique challenges of AR, from spatial interactions to contextual user interfaces. This course offers a unique technical blend of UX expertise and AR innovation, preparing you to design for the future of digital experiences.

This course examines the potential of mobile augmented reality [AR] and its future impact on society. Augmented reality technology is poised to revolutionize the way we understand the world by overlaying physical reality with real time, interactive digital content. AR will change our interaction with digital media by dissolving the user interface and turning it into a physical experience of sight and sound. This course will explore these emerging possibilities through hands on learning with the latest software and hardware. The class explores techniques and methodologies through guest lectures and regular studio practice to give students an overview of the possibilities and the current state of the art, and to prepare them for thesis work or subsequent course work. Students will gain a strong understanding of the AR industry’s past, present, and especially its future trends.

Instructors: Mark Skwarek and Sana Maqsood