Final deliverables

Due December 4th.

I received emails from a few of you with questions regarding the format for final deliverables, and would like to share my clarifications with the entire class

Term project paper: A written report and finalization of your term project, including improvements suggested after your presentation. Include wireframes and sitemaps/flowcharts, usability test task list and results, or other supporting material and visuals as appropriate. The podcast format was an option for the presentation, but isn’t the right format for this paper. I would in addition accept an interactive piece as final deliverable for this paper, as long as it includes a written report of your project, but not a powerpoint (powerpoint isn’t interactive). Due to the technical and design complications associated with producing an interactive piece, I don’t suggest this format. Please prepare your paper in a printable format (letter size as Word doc or PDF) and post it to your blog so other students can see it. 

Journal summary: This journal entry obeys the same format you used in your previous entries. It should be posted on your blog, under a section for “COM597 - Theories and Practice of Interactivity”, with a date, a time stamp and a title. They should be in good writing, but do not need to be formal! 500-800 words. Please don’t rehash/copy your entire journal entries, just make sure to write about what you learned through them.

Send me an email with a link to your paper and your journal summary on your blog, with the digital file for your paper attached to your email.

Assignment Redos

Everyone may choose to rewrite/improve one journal entry and their project proposals. The delivery date for these edits is Thursday, November 27th. Please send an email with a link to your new entry / project proposal, along with a link to your original entry, to notify me of the redo. I will not accept late entries for this redo.

The journal entries should be posted on your blog, under a section for “COM597 - Theories and Practice of Interactivity”, with a date and a title. They should be in good writing, but do not need to be formal! The number of words is determined in the original assignment.

Term Project Presentation Dates

Thursday 11/13
Brian
Chao-Wei and Sharlen 
Matthew
Sarah
Yijen
Thursday 11/20
Adriana, Kirk and Michael
Amy and Bonnie
Annie and Chris
Michelle
Pei-chieh, Vera and Yen-Ching 
Rita
Tharaa 

Journal Entry 5

Note: powerpoints from last class are posted in the class schedule page.

Deliverable for Thursday, November 6th:

The journal entries should be posted on your blog, under a section for “COM597 - Theories and Practice of Interactivity”, with a date and a title. They should be in good writing, but do not need to be formal! 500-800 words.

Read chapters 1 and 2 of “The Design of Everyday Things” (by Donald Norman) and use the concepts you learn in your reading to observe an object designed by man that you interact with in your daily life. Choose an object where the main interaction is not screen-based.

In-class reading

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/magazine/30brand.html?pagewanted=1&sq=branding&st=cse&scp=1

Journal Entry 4

Deliverable for Thursday, October 30th:

The journal entries should be posted on your blog, under a section for “COM597 - Theories and Practice of Interactivity”, with a date, a time stamp and a title. They should be in good writing, but do not need to be formal! 500-800 words.

Choose a design project that is described as a case study on a design firm’s website. Based on Moggridge book chapter 10, on Amanda McCoy Bast’s presentation, on the video seen in class (”The Deep Dive”) and other resources you may have, what was the design process this design firm went through to arrive at the final solution? If the case study describes the process, comment on their process. Please include a link to the project you selected in your journal entry.

example design firms:
IDEO
frog Design
Teague
Method
Live|Work 

Journal Entry 3 + other deliverables for 10/23

Deliverables for Thursday, October 23rd:

1) Print-outs:

Bring to class: print-outs of your flowchart (which was due on 10/09) and wireframes (which were due on 10/16) on letter-sized paper (8.5″ x 11″), portrait (vertical) orientation. If your layout is better represented horizontally, you may print out landscape on ledger-sized paper (17″ x 11″). Don’t worry about making changes to your flowcharts and wireframes for this week - I would like for you to focus on your proposals. We will critique everyone’s work in class, and the purpose is to learn from what others are doing.

2) Term project proposal:

The term project proposals should be posted on at least one of your group members’ blog, under a section for “COM597 - Theories and Practice of Interactivity”, with a title, the group members’ names, a posting date and time stamp. Choose from one of the term project alternatives: 

• position paper;
• new interactive product;
• case study;
• book review.

Explain your rationale for choosing the topic (why is it relevant and worthy of study? why does this topic interest you, etc.), explain the scope of your final deliverables and mention research references you already know you will be using. Term project proposals should be in good writing, but do not need to be formal! 300-500 words.

3) Third journal entry:

The journal entries should be posted on your blog, under a section for “COM597 - Theories and Practice of Interactivity”, with a date, a time stamp and a title. They should be in good writing, but do not need to be formal! 300-500 words.

01. Based on Shelley Armstrong’s presentation, class readings and design sources, what are the aspects that makes Xbox 360 a successful product? Analyze the success of another interactive entertainment product based on these aspects.

Note: I emailed Shelley, but haven’t had her permission to post the powerpoint deck, so her presentation won’t be available online.

OR

02. Research in depth one of the multimedia/digital artists or game designers listed in the Moggridge book or in the list I’ve provided. Summarize this artist’s/designer’s work. Based on what you have heard in class and class readings, voice an opinion about it.

Designers
Yves Béhar
Henry Dreyfuss
Jonathan Ives

Final Project Recommendations

Flowchart + Wireframe

Next Thursday, October 9th, in addition to your reading assignment and journal entry, you will bring a flowchart and a wireframe for an online purchase experience. Try to create a new scenario, instead of copying the flow and wireframe of an already existing product. How can you make the experience as short as possible, without missing any necessary steps? What are the necessary steps for your product and where do legal considerations come into play?

flowchart for the game "Guy Simplant" (http://depts.washington.edu/simplant/) design team lead by professor Karen Cheng

flowchart for the game “Pigs in Space”

wireframe by Jen Moore

wireframe for profile page on zune.net by zune design team

Additional resources:

A Visual Vocabulary for Describing Information Architecture and Interaction Design

Task Flow Modeling:

Get in the Flow (Task Flow that is)

Wireframing:

“Real Wireframes Get Real Results”

Interactive Games

On 10/02, we will discuss what makes a good game.

I will bring in a Wii and an Xbox game, along with examples of online games, and students are welcome to select recreational games and bring them to class for sharing as well. Games can be screen-based or not - dominoes would be great! Students will play these games in pairs.

Record the characteristics that make the game an exciting or dull experience.
Record the types of behaviors possible in the game.
Discussion: What makes the game fun? Why do people prefer certain games?
What are the physical, psychological and social aspects of game playing?

Assignment for your first journal entry:
Summarize broad principles for game design.

In addition, we will have a game developer present the designs of a game he has worked on at DigiPen, one of the cutting edge game developer schools.