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User Centred Design: Instructions

This document contains an 8 question examination on user centered design. The questions cover topics such as: distinguishing between interaction design terms; defining usability factors like visibility and affordance; assessing different approaches to user classification; describing the interface and interaction design processes; defining fundamental design principles; comparing the waterfall and star models of design; discussing methods of interface evaluation; and explaining concepts of graphic design applied to interfaces like harmony, balance and simplicity. Students are instructed to answer all questions, spending approximately equal time on each, in a total of 80 marks.

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80 views

User Centred Design: Instructions

This document contains an 8 question examination on user centered design. The questions cover topics such as: distinguishing between interaction design terms; defining usability factors like visibility and affordance; assessing different approaches to user classification; describing the interface and interaction design processes; defining fundamental design principles; comparing the waterfall and star models of design; discussing methods of interface evaluation; and explaining concepts of graphic design applied to interfaces like harmony, balance and simplicity. Students are instructed to answer all questions, spending approximately equal time on each, in a total of 80 marks.

Uploaded by

Ash
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Deakin University

School of Information Technology


User Centred Design

Instructions
This examination contains eight (8) questions. All questions must be answered. You
should spend approximately the same amount of time on each question. Each question is
worth 10 marks. There are a total of 80 marks on this paper. Answer all questions in the
answer booklet provided. Use a new page for each question.

1. Distinguish between each of the following pairs of interaction design terms.


a) Effective and Affective usability.
b) Prototype and Walkthrough.
c) Naturalistic and Experimental evaluation.
d) Mental Model and Conceptual Model.
e) Perception and Cognition.
(2+2+2+2+2 = 10 marks)

2. The usability of any interface can be measured in terms of the key factors visibility and
affordance.
a) Define the term visibility.
b) Define the term affordance.
c) Outline an example of an interface interaction that exhibits high visibility. Give
reasons for your answer.
d) Outline an example of an interface interaction that exhibits high affordance. Give
reasons for your answer.
(2+2+3+3 = 10 marks)

3. Kunal has been asked to design a new interface for a bank customer application. The
interface will be built within a Flash application. The application will be used by new
potential home owners to investigate whether they can afford a home loan. Kunal has
determined that typical users can be divided into three groups: novice, intermediate and
expert. Katie, Kunal’s manager, disagrees with Kunal’s assessment of user types.
a) Explain why Katie thinks that Kunal’s assessment is wrong.
b) Explain what kind of user classification you might suggest to Kunal.
c) Interaction designers generally create and use a number of user profiles or personas to
describe the characteristics of users. Why is this considered to be a better approach?
Why are a number of personas developed and not just one?
(2+3+5 = 10 marks)
4. In constructing interfaces for computer systems, designers will employ the processes of
interface design and interaction design.
a) Describe, using examples, what the designer will do and produce in an interface
design.
b) Describe, using examples, what the designer will do and produce in an interaction
design.
(5+5 = 10 marks)

5. The fundamental design principles that apply to the development of interfaces are
learnability, efficiency, flexibility, robustness and memorability.
a) Define, using an appropriate example, each of these terms as they relate to interface
and interaction design.
b) Choose one of these principles and describe the factors that affect its implementation
explaining how interfaces can incorporate this principle.
(5+5 = 10 marks)

6. The general process used to build software systems is called the “Waterfall model” which
is characterised by a linear progression through the stages. The development of interfaces
uses a different model called the “Star model”.
a) What are the six stages found in the Star model used for interface design? Name and
briefly describe each stage.
b) Give reasons why this model is preferred by interface developers to the Waterfall
model. In your answer explain why the non-linear process is preferred over the linear
process.
(6+4 = 10 marks)

7. There are many methods by which interfaces can be evaluated. Typical methods include
Heuristic Evaluation, Naturalistic Evaluation and Experimental Evaluation but there
are others. Choose one method of interface evaluation and:
a) Explain its key characteristics.
b) Describe when and how it is used by designers.
c) Identify and describe how designers use the results of the evaluation to improve their
product.
(2+3+5 = 10 marks)

8. Graphic design can be described as one which blends the use of harmony, balance and
simplicity.
a) Describe, using examples, each of these concepts in relation to interface design.
b) The three concepts can best be achieved through four design methods: refinement,
restraint, unity and modularity. Explain each of these terms in relation to interfaces.
c) Identify how designers can use these concepts to improve the design of their
interfaces.
(3+4 +3 = 10 marks)

END OF EXAMINATION

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