More information available once the quarter begins
3-4 units. Studio-based class meets Tue, Thu 10:30 AM - 11:50 AM at STLC 119 (potentially subject to change)
Prerequisite: CS 147 or equivalent. 247 recommended, but not required. Offered on an experimental basis in Spring 2018. Enrollment limited to 25 students.
Complex problems require sophisticated approaches. In this project-based hands-on course, students explore the design of systems, information and interface for human use. The design of systems is about modeling the flow of interactions, data and context, exploring the possible inputs and outputs and crafting a design response that is useful, appropriate and robust. Through the design of user scenarios, information flows, maps and models, students will also gain an understanding of the differences and synergies between design and the organization of information, and the ability to evaluate and analyze the success of a system to achieve the intended goals. We will also examine the ethical consequences of design decisions and explore current issues arising from unintended consequences.
This course is about the meat and potatoes of interaction design and information architecture, and how they come together in emergent ways. In an age of Facebook fake news, unconscious bias embedded in algorithms, we are designing in a world of unintended consequences Software has unprecedented levels of complexity and users are ill equipped to navigate it, partially because the software designers are undertrained to design it with a human in mind. While a ten-week class can only do so much to remedy that, you will learn core approaches, including systems thinking and game thinking, and gain awareness of consequences.
Potential topics for projects include exploring the rise of fake news and determining and messaging authority, creating spaces for dialog in polarized social systems, abuse and reputation systems, and more. The projects will be topical, to keep students highly engaged and aware while teaching fundamental design methods.
(Projects & readings TBD, but representative examples given)
Throughout the course we will play games: systems games, social games and collaborative games. Games are uniquely suited to demonstrate interconnected systems. And they are fun.
Unit I: Simple Systems – Class 1-4
What is a system?
Modeling simple systems
Analysing inputs and outputs
Project: Understanding Fake News
Create a model that explains how fake news is propagated. Project includes research on the rise of fake news and how it affected the election and primary research with users about news consumption.
Readings on Systems Thinking, Modeling Systems and Technically Wrong about biased algorithms
Unit II: Information Systems – Class 5-10
What is information?
Information in systems
Metadata, taxonomy and classification
Wayfinding
Social interface concepts in systems
Project: Classifying Humans for Diversity:
Create a tool that allows recruiters to get diverse candidates.
Or Let’s Talk: creating dialog spaces for diverse-political views or….
Project will include primary research with users, content audits, taxonomy creation and usability testing.
Readings from Information Architecture 4th edition, Women Fire and Dangerous Things (Lakoff) and Designing Social Systems
Unit III: Complex Systems – Class 11-20
What is complexity?
Modeling complex systems
Leverage points & systems
Synthesis
Project: The Game of Consequences:
Design a game that reveals the complexity of an ecosystem. Project will include competitive analysis, prototyping, playtesting and iteration. Final game will be digital or physical, but must be high fidelity.
Readings from Game Design Workshop, Challenges for Game Designers, and The Game Design Reader