Workshops
DOIT - The Design of Interactive Things (CHI23)
The Design of Interactive Things teaches participants how to quickly and effectively design innovative interactive systems from the user's perspective. Intended for both UX designers and HCI researchers, the course provides coherent overview of the interaction design process, followed by detailed descriptions of four key design methods: Story Interviews, Video Brainstorming, Video Prototyping, and Generative Design Walkthroughs. Working in small groups, participants will apply these methods and to design and present a video prototype of a novel interactive system, using materials and tools provided in the course. These methods have been extensively tested in both industry and research settings, and are especially appropriate for participatory co-design with users.
Note: The full site is accessible to students signed up for the course during CHI'23.
About
The goal of this course is to provide participants with an overview of the interaction design process, and how to decide which design methods are appropriate at which phase of the design. Participants will also gain practical, hands-on experience with four critical design methods that are often discussed, but rarely explained in detail. The course will teach how to conduct an effective Story Interview that provides concrete, useful information about users that is directly relevant to the design brief. Participants will also learn the benefits of transitioning from static standard brainstorming to video brainstorming when exploring a design space. They will also learn how to create rapid 3-minute scenario-based video prototypes that both illustrate the design and highlight design issues. Finally, participants will learn how to conduct a generative walkthrough to both evaluate the existing design and generate ideas for the future. Learning these techniques will help both UX designers and HCI researchers to actively incorporate information from users throughout the design process.
The course begins with a lecture on the four key phases of interaction design and a discussion of the different types of design methods appropriate to each. Some methods focus on the user, some focus on the system, and some focus on the interaction between users and the system. Some methods serve to expand the design space of possibilities, while others help select among options. Some methods are generative, others are evaluative. The key is that these methods all involve the creation of design artifacts that are created to inform the design, and build upon each other as designers delve into the details of the design. This lecture provides participants with an overview of the design process and gives them strategies for determining with design methods are appropriate at which stage of their particular design process. After the initial lecture, participants will work in groups on four exercises, using materials and tools provided. At the end of the course, each group will present their video prototypes to the rest of the class.