76-487 On-line Information Design

Units: 9.0 Department: English Prerequisites: (76-270 or 76-271 or 76-379 ) and (76-480 or 76-382 or 51-261 or 51-262) Cross-listed: 76-887 Related URLs: http://hss.cmu.edu/HTML/departments/engl This course introduces students to issues and practices in the design of on-line information, and includes a semester-long Web site development project in which students will analyze and report on user needs, iteratively design and develop a Web site, and perform usability tests on their work. The course has the following interrelated goals: -Introduce students to the major theories, methodologies, and practices of on-line information design. -Develop students' skills in evaluating on-line information designs. -Develop students' skills in analyzing and reporting on user needs prior to design, and verifying a given design's effectiveness through usability testing. -Develop the background knowledge necessary to succeed in the interdisciplinary world of information design. The course's primary focus will be on the design of textual information typical of Web sites, though issues in on-line design for other media such as pictures, sound, animation, and video, will be discussed. In addition to the course project, coursework will include homework assignments, in-class presentations, and presentations to a client. Topics for in-class lecture and discussion will include: methods for exploring users' needs and tasks (interviews, observation, and more); characteristics of effective Web site design (organization, navigational design, link labeling, form and search design, visual design); methods and artifacts of iterative design and evaluation of Web sites; methods for evaluating and reporting on a design's usability. Special lecture topics will include personalization, Web communities, and on-line help. See http://muffin.hss.cmu.edu/76-487-887-A/www/home.html for the Spring 04 syllabus.

Popularity index Rank for this semester: #155 Rank in this department: #9   Students also scheduled 67-373 Software Development Project 76-488 On-Line Information Design Lab 67-475 Information Systems Applications 82-135 Intensive Elementary Chinese 62-371 Photography, The First 100 Years 60-453 Advanced PDP: Painting 76-480 Document Design 67-305 Special Topics: Application Softwar... 76-390 Style 95-717 Professional Writing

Spring 2005 times

Sec	Time	Day	Instructor	Location
A	1:30 - 2:50 pm	T	Instructor TBA	TBD TBD
		R	Instructor TBA	TBD TBD