HCI 440 Introduction to User-Centered Design
Summary
Course Overview
HCI 440: Introduction to User-Centered Design introduces you to the fundamental principles and practices that drive effective user experience design. This course provides hands-on experience with the complete user-centered design process, from initial user research through final evaluation and iteration.
What You'll Learn
Throughout this course, you'll develop both theoretical understanding and practical skills in:
- User Research Methods: Conduct observations, interviews, and remote research while learning to recognize and mitigate bias in your findings
- Design Analysis: Apply established design principles to evaluate existing interfaces and identify improvement opportunities
- Design Process: Move from research insights to concrete design solutions through systematic ideation, prototyping, and iteration
- Evaluation Techniques: Use heuristic evaluation, usability testing, and accessibility auditing to refine your designs
- Professional Communication: Document your work and present design decisions to stakeholders using industry-standard practices
- Collaborative Skills: Work effectively in multidisciplinary teams while managing individual contributions and accountability
Course Structure
The course balances individual skill development with collaborative application:
- Individual Work (30%): Build foundational skills through focused assignments in research analysis and current UX challenges
- Team Projects (62%): Apply the complete UCD process in collaborative settings that mirror professional practice
- Professional Development (8%): Engage with course materials and contribute to peer learning through discussions and evaluations
Real-World Application
This course emphasizes practical application of UX principles. You'll work with established design frameworks from industry leaders like Nielsen Norman Group, apply Don Norman's foundational design principles, and use proven research methods from Universal Methods of Design. The coursework is designed to build skills you'll use immediately in professional UX practice.
Learning Environment
Classes combine interactive lectures, hands-on workshops, design critiques, and team collaboration time. Both in-person and online students can fully participate, with flexible options for synchronous and asynchronous engagement. The course emphasizes learning from both successes and failures in a supportive environment that values diverse perspectives and approaches.
By the end of this course, you'll have a solid foundation in user-centered design principles and practical experience applying them to real design challenges.
This syllabus is subject to change as necessary during the quarter. If a change occurs, it will be thoroughly addressed during class, posted under Announcements in D2L and sent via email.
Evaluations are a way for students to provide valuable feedback regarding their instructor and the course. Detailed feedback will enable the instructor to continuously tailor teaching methods and course
content to meet the learning goals of the course and the academic needs of the students. They are a requirement of the course and are key to continue to provide you with the highest quality of teaching. The
evaluations are anonymous; the instructor and administration do not track who entered what responses. A program is used to check if the student completed the evaluations, but the evaluation is completely
separate from the student’s identity. Since 100% participation is our goal, students are sent periodic reminders over three weeks. Students do not receive reminders once they complete the evaluation.
Students complete the evaluation online in CampusConnect.
This course will be subject to the university's academic integrity policy. More information can be found at http://academicintegrity.depaul.edu/ If you
have any questions be sure to consult with your professor.
All students are expected to abide by the University's Academic Integrity Policy which prohibits cheating and other misconduct in student coursework. Publicly sharing or posting online any prior or current materials from this course (including exam questions or answers), is considered to be providing unauthorized assistance prohibited by the policy. Both students who share/post and students who access or use such materials are considered to be cheating under the Policy and will be subject to sanctions for violations of Academic Integrity.
All students are required to manage their class schedules each term in accordance with the deadlines for enrolling and withdrawing as indicated in the University Academic Calendar. Information on enrollment, withdrawal, grading and incompletes can be found at http://www.cdm.depaul.edu/Current%20Students/Pages/PoliciesandProcedures.aspx.
Students who feel they may need an accommodation based on the impact of a disability should contact the instructor privately to discuss their specific needs. All discussions will remain confidential.
To ensure that you receive the most appropriate accommodation based on your needs, contact the instructor as early as possible in the quarter (preferably within the first week of class), and make sure that
you have contacted the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) at:
Lewis Center 1420, 25 East Jackson Blvd.
Phone number: (312)362-8002
Fax: (312)362-6544
TTY: (773)325.7296