User Experience Research & Design

UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN User Experience Research & Design Individual Plan of Study Proposal Lambert, Andrew Thomas 5/23/2011

2 User Experience Research & Design Contents Andrew Lambert... 3 Rationale... 4 Long-term goals... 4 Short-term goals... 5 Description... 6 User Research... 6 Human-Computer Interaction (HCI)... 7 Product Design... 8 The Economics & Business of New Product Development... 9 Differences from Conventional Programs... 10 Specific Courses... 11 LAS Distribution Requirements... 12 IPS Course List by Semester... 13 Related Courses... 14

3 User Experience Research & Design Andrew Lambert Portfolio: http://www.atlambert.com/ UIN: <not available to public> Date: 2/26/2011 Address: <not available to public> Semester Hours Completed: 123 (as of 5/24/2011) Phone: 563-528-9273 Current Dept.: Business Administration (College of Business), Informatics minor Anticipated Date of Graduation: May 2012 Formal IPS Advisor(s): o Dr. Christian Sandvig (Communication) o Dr. Michael Twidale (Library & Information Sciences) o Dr. Deana McDonagh (Industrial Design) o Dr. Karrie Karahalios (Computer Science) o Dr. Paul Magelli (Business) o Dr. Alma Gottlieb (Anthropology)

4 User Experience Research & Design Rationale This section describes what the student hopes to accomplish through IPS in terms of both short-term and long-term goals. Long-term goals I entered the UIUC College of Business in fall 2008 with the expectation of developing new products. I began to take human-computer interaction courses but realized that designing a 2D desktop interface does not encompass the entire design space. I first began investigating creating my own major with Dean Fernandez-Ramirez in October 2009. After an internship at the University of Michigan School of Information, I returned to this idea in October 2010. I want to explore the field of user experience, which focuses on how products are used in peoples lives to fulfill their needs. The Nielsen Norman Group, a usability consulting company co-founded by The Design of Everyday Things author Donald Norman and Northwestern University Psychologist, offers a definition of user experience: User experience encompasses all aspects of the end-user's interaction with the company, its services, and its products. The first requirement for an exemplary user experience is to meet the exact needs of the customer, without fuss or bother. Next comes simplicity and elegance that produce products that are a joy to own, a joy to use. True user experience goes far beyond giving customers what they say they want, or providing checklist features. In order to achieve high-quality user experience in a company's offerings there must be a seamless merging of the services of multiple disciplines, including engineering, marketing, graphical and industrial design, and interface design (http://www.nngroup.com/about/userexperience.html). tml). Despite the commercial tone of this definition, creating compelling user experiences requires a broad body of knowledge, which is the mission of the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Apple Cofounder and CEO Steve Jobs supported this idea when introducing the ipad: It's in Apple's DNA that technology alone is not enough it's technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our heart sing (http://o.seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ businesstechnology/2014381153_brier03.h Social research courses unlock the methods of anthropology and sociology for understanding users motivations and goals. Drawing upon human-computer interaction and product design, I will create compelling software and device experiences. Finally, understanding the economics and business of new product development enables me to launch these products.

5 User Experience Research & Design I am interested in designing systems that use game mechanics to solve problems. During summer 2010, I designed a Facebook game-based health intervention as a Research Intern at the University of Michigan School of Information. Over summer 2011, I will design games as a Research Associate for Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development, Inc. in Cambridge, MA. Short-term goals I will work in industry as a User Experience Designer, and will consider graduate studies after a year of experience. I am interested in many kinds of firms: Technology firms Innovation labs Design & innovation consultancies Video game development firms

6 User Experience Research & Design Description Specify the components and explain how they relate to one another. Be sure to make clear how these components and the courses you have selected relate to the objective outlined in the rationale. Keep in mind that your IPS program serves as your major, and should consist of approximately 51-70 semester hours. My proposed plan of study in User Experience Research & Design is divided into four areas: (1) User Research, (2) Human-Computer Interaction, (3) Product Design, and (4) The Economics and Business of New Product Development. I have listed the proposed courses, with alternates, for each area below. Courses already taken are denoted with a * in the Department & Course Number column. I will petition to attend 500-level courses as an undergraduate. User Research o User experience researchers focus on using the methods of social science to understand technology itself and how users employ products in their lives. Dpt. & Course Number Course Title Hours Frequency Offered SOC 380 Social Research Methods 4 SOC 480 Methods of Field Research 2 to 4 ANTH 411 Methods of Cultural Anthropology 3 or 4 Fall and summer I ANTH 230 Sociocultural 3 Every semester Anthropology ANTH 160 Contemporary Social Issues 3 Spring 2012 w/ Dr. Rosas ANTH 280 Personal Anthropology 3 Fall 2011 w/ Dr. Gottlieb ANTH 103 Anthro. in a Changing World 3 Every semester ANTH 471 Ethnography through Language 3 or 4 Irregular ANTH 464 Ethnography of Local Cultures 4 Irregular ANTH 414 Writing Ethnography 3 or 4 Irregular ANTH 380 Ethnography of the University 3 Irregular ANTH 374 Anth. of Science & Technology 3 Irregular ANTH 390 Individual Readings 2 to 4 Every semester ANTH 496 Indiv. Field Research 3 to 4 Every semester ANTH 497 Indiv. Field Data Analysis 3 to 4 Every semester CMN 529 Ethnographic Methods 4

7 User Experience Research & Design Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) o HCI is often described as a combination of psychology and computer science. I focus on designing computing systems to solve consumer problems. I m particularly interested in using game mechanics in personal health management systems. Next, understanding software engineering processes and computer science concepts are critical to being accepted on any software development team. Dpt. & Course Number Course Title Hours PSYC 358 Human Factors 4 PSYC 456 Human Performance & Eng. Psyc. 3 or 4 PSYC / AVI 429 Human-Computer Interaction Lab 4 CS 105* Intro to Computing: Non-Tech 3 INFO 103* Introduction to Programming 3 ECE 101 Exploring Digital Info. Tech. 3 ART 199 JS* Artists & Computers 3 INFO 202 Social Aspects of Information Technology 3 CS 125* Intro to Computer Science 4 CS 225* Data Structures 4 ARTS 344 Interaction I 3 ARTS 444 Interaction II 3 CS / LIS 465 User Interface Design 3 CS 467 Social Visualization 3 INFO 490 GG* Video Game Design 3 CMN 496 CS Play and Technology 3 LIS 490 ITU* Entrepreneurial IT Design 3 CS 498 FU3 Socio-Computer Interaction 3 CS 498 HI3 Health Informatics 3 CS 565 Human-Computer Interaction 4 CS 591 BPB Computing and Creativity Seminar 1 CS 591 HCI Human-Computer Interaction Seminar 1 CS 598 KGK Social Computer Mediated Communication 4

8 User Experience Research & Design Product Design o An element of human-computer interaction is user interface design. Learning about industrial design, however, allows me to consider design opportunities that lie beyond the 2D screen, such as with the device that the computer is embedded in. Steve Jobs supports this idea of considering more than the user interface: The hardware and software need to intertwine more than they do on a PC. We think we're on the right path with this (http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/02/live-from-apples-ipad-2-event/). Dpt. & Course Number Course Title Hours ARTD 201 Industrial Design I 4 ARTD 202 Industrial Design II 4 ARTD 301 Industrial Design III 4 ARTD 302 Industrial Design IV 4 ARTD 401 Industrial Design V 4 ARTD 402 Industrial Design IV 4 ARTD 225 Design Drawing I 3 ARTD 330 Design Drawing II 3 ART 299 A2 Drawing for Non-Majors 3 ARTD 210* Intro to Graphic Design 3 ARTD 299 JT / ENG 298 UCD* User-Oriented Collaborative Design 3 ARTD 299 ID1 Disability & Relevant Design 3 ARTD 391 Special Problems in Design 1 4 ARTS 341 Image Practice 3 ARTD 328 Human-Centered Product Design 3 ARCH 423 Social & Behavioral Factors for Design 3 CHP 396 C* The Arts, Experience, & Knowledge 3 GE 101 Engineering Graphics & Design 3 ARTD 228 Computer Applications I 3 ARTD 334 Computer Applications II 3 ART 299 A1 Design Thinking Laboratory 3

9 User Experience Research & Design The Economics & Business of New Product Development o To understand products & their users, designers need to understand the business, its goals, and the new product development process. Dpt. & Course Number Course Title Hours MATH 234* Calculus for Business I 4 MATH 125* Elementary Linear Algebra 3 SPCM 101* Public Speaking 3 ECON 102* Microeconomic Principles 3 ECON 103* Macroeconomic Principles 3 ECON 202* Economic Statistics I 3 ECON 203* Economic Statistics II 3 ECON 302* Intermediate Microeconomic Theory 3 ACCY 202* Fundamentals of Accountancy I 3 ACCY 203* Fundamentals of Accountancy II 3 FIN 221* Corporate Finance 3 BADM 320* Principles of Marketing 3 BADM 350* IT for Networked Organizations 3 BADM 353* Info. Systems Analysis & Design 3 BADM 374* Management Decision Models 3 BADM 377* Project Management 3 BADM 322 Marketing Research 3 BADM 325 Consumer Behavior 3 BADM 310 Management & Organizational Behavior 3 BADM 453 Decision Support Systems 3 BADM 449 Business Policy & Strategy 3 TE 461* Technology Entrepreneurship 3 BADM 329 New Product Development 3 BADM 366 Product Design & Development 3 BADM 525 New Product Development 2 or 4

10 User Experience Research & Design Differences from Conventional Programs Together, the student and advisor should develop a straightforward statement as to why not existing major or combination of majors provide the advantages of the proposed plan of study. As the Nielsen Norman Group definition illustrates, user experience is a broad field that requires seamless merging of the services of multiple disciplines, including engineering, marketing, graphical and industrial design, and interface design (http://www.nngroup.com/about/userexperience.html). User experience professionals combine technical skills with research skills and knowledge drawn from across the Liberal Arts and Sciences curriculum, including Economics, Sociology, Anthropology, Psychology, and Communication. Therefore, a computer science degree alone is inappropriate. The technical focus of a computer science education doesn t leave much time to develop the mindset of a designer or businessman, all of which impact the user experience. In separate discussions with me, Dr. Deana McDonagh of Industrial Design and Dr. John Clarke of Business both said that these ways of thinking cannot be learned just by reading a book or taking a few courses, but that enrolling in the industrial design and business major course sequences is required. Students outside of these programs are typically unable to register for these courses. Additionally, there are only three courses in human-computer interaction, as of fall 2011. An industrial design degree teaches students design thinking and gives them the tools to generate and articulate ideas. These students, however, lack the technical skills of the computer scientist. Next, designers must understand their users, but this requires an understanding of the business. Marketing and IT are the most relevant business fields. An Information Systems & Information Technology degree blends technology and business and allows students to take several consumer-focused marketing courses. Unfortunately, the IS/IT program is focused on enterprise software, not consumer software. Next, this program lacks the technical skills from computer science and the design focus of industrial design. Many enter the user experience field with master s degrees in information science from information schools. Within information schools, students may study library or information sciences. GSLIS is focused on the library side. Other information science-focused schools like the University of Michigan School of Information offer courses like Fundamentals of Human Behavior, Incentive-Centered Design, Graphic Design, and more. These courses come from areas like industrial design, human-computer interaction, and psychology. While I might continue my education with a M.S. in these areas, there is currently no program that offers this eclectic mix of courses for those interested in user experience design at the baccalaureate level.

11 User Experience Research & Design Specific Courses This part of the proposal is essentially a three-way contract between the student, the advisor, and the IPS Advisory Committee: when the proposal is approved, the student will be expected to do the course work he/she has agreed to do, in order to receive the baccalaureate degree. Obviously, some courses come and go from the semester timetables; others turn out to be offered infrequently. The student and advisor would be wise, therefore, to list alternative course, when such variables can be anticipated. A telephone call to departments now, and a plan for this contingency, can help avoid cumbersome petitioning and debate later on. Note also that, although an IPS program is usually interdisciplinary, combining courses from several departments and even colleges, IPS students are required to satisfy the sciences & letters requirements of English composition, general education, foreign language, and advanced hours. They must also complete at least 120 semester hours and satisfy the residency requirement. Once the IPS program is formulated, the student and advisor(s) make formal application to the IPS Advisory Committee by submitting one copy of the completed forms and cover letter(s) to the office of the secretary of the Committee (LAS Student Office, 270 Lincoln Hall). It is the practice of the Advisory Committee for the members to individually study the proposed program, and then to meet to discuss whether the intended program is appropriate for the aims of both the student and the College. Requirements to be noted: 1. Advanced Major Hours. At least 12 hours in courses designated as advanced, i.e., all 300-level courses and a few 200-level courses designated by departments and colleges as advanced (cf. LAS Student Handbook). 2. At least 39 additional hours for your IPS major, either introductory or advanced, for a minimum of 51 hours. (NOT to include Composition I & Advanced Composition satisfiers or other courses not directly related to your IPS major.) 3. If any independent study courses (e.g., 199, 290 designation) are included, give the topic title and a concise description of the content to be covered in the course. Indicate with an asterisk (*) all courses already completed.

12 User Experience Research & Design LAS Distribution Requirements Area Courses Hours A. Foreign Language HSLES -- B. English Composition I RHET 105 4 C. Advanced Composition CHP 396 C 3 General Education Area I Literature & the Arts ENGL 103 3 Hist. & Phil. Perspectives HIST 142 3 Social Sciences ECON 102 3 Non-Western/U.S. Minority Cultures AIS 199 JB Indigenous Governance course via Campus Honors Program Western Cultures HIST 142 3 General Education Area II Physical/Life Science #1 ASTR 121 3 Physical/Life Science #2 Campus Honors course 3 TBA, ENVS 101/NPRE 101, PSYC 210, or MCB 170 Behavioral Science PSYC 100 3 Quantitative Reasoning I CS 105 3 Quantitative Reasoning II ASTR 121 CS 125 3 4 3 Advanced Hour Courses ECON 302, TE 461, BADM 350, BADM 377, etc At least 12

13 User Experience Research & Design IPS Course List by Semester Provide a semester-by-semester list of courses in your IPS major, indicating both those courses you have already completed and those upcoming courses, as you now project their completion. To-be-completed semesters are denoted by *. Transfer Credit ACCY 202 (as ACCY 1--) Fundamentals of Accountancy I ACCY 203 (as ACCY 1--) Fundamentals of Accountancy II Semester II CS 105 Intro to Computing: Non-Tech ECON 103 Macroeconomic Principles INFO 103 Introduction to Programming MATH 234 Calculus for Business I Semester IV BADM 350 IT for Networked Organizations BADM 377 Project Management ECON 203 Economic Statistics II FIN 221 Corporate Finance Semester VI* LIS 490 ITU Entrepreneurial IT Design CHP 396 C The Arts, Experience, & Knowledge ENG 298 UCD User-Oriented Collaborative Design ARTD 210 Introduction to Graphic Design INFO 490 GG Video Game Design Semester I ECON 102 Microeconomic Principles MATH 125 Elementary Linear Algebra SPCM 101 Public Speaking Semester III ART 199 JS Artists & Computers CS 125 Intro to Computer Science ECON 202 Economic Statistics I ECON 302 Intermediate Microeconomic Theory TE 461 Technology Entrepreneurship Semester V BADM 320 Principles of Marketing BADM 353 Info Sys. Analysis & Design BADM 374 Management Decision Models CS 225 Data Structures Semester VII* ANTH 411 Methods of Cultural Anthropology CS 498 FU3 Socio-Computer Interaction CS 598 KGK Social Computer Mediated Communication INFO 490 CSU Play and Technology BADM 329 New Product Development Semester VIII* CS 565 Human-Computer Interaction ARTD 202 Industrial Design II ARTS 444 Interactivity II ARTD 330 Design Drawing II Physical/Life Science #2 Campus Honors course TBA, ENVS 101/NPRE 101, PSYC 210

14 User Experience Research & Design Related Courses In my research, I discovered many relevant courses that I may have taken if I d learned about them earlier in my undergraduate career. I have only two semesters remaining, so there are several courses that I will be unable to take. I have included these courses below so that other students may benefit from my research. User Research Department & Course # Course Title Hours --- --- --- Human-Computer Interaction Department & Course # Course Title Hours PSYC 406 Statistical Methods I 4 PSYC 407 Statistical Methods II 4 LIS 220 The Design of Usable Information Interfaces 3 LIS 351 Design Info Interfaces 3 LIS 590 RPE / CS 598 RPE Rapid Prototyping and Evaluation 4 LIS 590 SBD / CS 598 SBD Scenario-Based Design 4 LIS 590 II Interfaces to Information Systems 4 Product Design Department & Course # Course Title Hours LIS 409 Storytelling 3 ME 170 Computer Aided Design 3 ARTD 226 Product Innovation 3 ENG 333 Creativity, Innovation, Vision 4 The Economics & Business of New Product Development Department & Course # Course Title Hours TMGT/BADM 366 New Product Development 3