Program Overview

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Course Overview

The course IDG1362, Human-Centered Design, is a foundation course at level I, offering 7.5 credits. It is scheduled to start in the autumn of 2025 and will run for one semester. The language of instruction is English, and the course will be held in Gj黲ik.

Course Content

The core of this course is to introduce students to User-Centered Design (UCD) principles, methods, and techniques. Students will learn how to conduct UCD research to identify problems or needs for specific groups of users. They will be introduced to ideation methods and techniques that will let them suggest and develop ideas and possible solutions in a group setting. They will also learn how to further develop their ideas through sketching and prototyping. Finally, students will learn how to involve design experts and end-users to evaluate their designs.

Topics

• User-centered design principles
• Iterative design processes
• Design research methods
• Ideation techniques
• Sketching and prototyping
• User testing and evaluation methods

Learning Outcome

Knowledge

The student will have fundamental knowledge about:

• What user-centered design is and what phases, methods, and principles are at the core of user-centered design
• The terms User-Centered Design (UCD), User eXperience (UX), and User Interface (UI)
• Regulations regarding research ethics and GDPR as it relates to a researcher handling possible person-sensitive data

Skills

The student can:

• Analyze end-users' needs regarding a specific problem space and identify issues in existing designs
• Make sketches and prototypes
• Use creative techniques to develop solutions to established problems
• Document a design project in a simple formal report

General Competence

The student will have the ability to:

• Participate in a group-based project
• Analyze and agree on a project topic/task as a group and execute the work according to the syllabus
• Recruit representative end-users that suit the task at hand and perform a test among this group

Learning Methods and Activities

The course will consist of lectures and group work. It is offered to exchange students, with English as the language of instruction.

Compulsory Assignments

There are three compulsory work requirements in the course, all of which must be approved to take the exam.

Evaluation

Assessment will be through an oral group exam at the end of the semester, with individual grades given on a letter scale from A to F.

Re-sit Examination

• Re-sit examination for the oral group exam will be held the next semester
• In case of failed compulsory assignments, these need to be re-taken the next time the course is running

Specific Conditions

Admission to a programme of study is required, including but not limited to:

• Computer Science - Engineering (BIDATA) - some programmes
• Digital Infrastructure and Cyber Security (BDIGSEC) - some programmes
• Graphic Design (BMED)
• Interaction Design (BIXD)
• Product Design and Technology (BTEKD)
• Programming (BPROG)
• Web Development (BWU)

Required Previous Knowledge

Requires admission to study programs such as Bachelor in Web Development, Bachelor in Interaction Design, Bachelor in Programming, one year programme in Webdesign, or the one year program in Informatics.

Course Materials

The syllabus will be stated at the start of the semester.

Subject Areas

• Design Methodology

Examination

The examination arrangement is an oral group exam, with a weighting of 100/100. Examination aids are allowed, and the duration of the exam is 20 minutes. The ordinary examination will take place in the autumn of 2025, with a re-sit examination in the spring of 2026.