Lucas' syllabus

ID 498-051
Human Centered Design Workshop
Instructors: Lucas Daniel & Tim Haley
Spring 2007

Context Research Deep Dive
Over the course of 8 class sessions, assignments, and a final presentation of the semester’s work, this class will have you explore, in-depth, up front context research as it relates to the design process. You will engage in all the activities that a professional context researcher does. Each week will explore a different aspect of context research, following its role on a typical design project. Your grade is based on the execution of weekly assignments (35%), a final presentation (35%), attendance (15%) and class participation (15%). You will be required to find people to research and give them incentives for their time (in lieu of text books or software purchases).


01.17 Class 1: RESEARCH IN THE “REAL WORLD”

+ Overview of different types of research in the design process
+ The “real world” of research
+ Quick and dirty research assignment

01.24 Class 2: FINDING THE RIGHT PEOPLE

02.07 Class 3: DISSECTING AN ACTIVITY/PROCESS

02.21 Class 4: METHODS & FIELD EQUIPMENT

03.07 Class 5: CONDUCTING FIELDWORK

03.28 Class 6: PULLING INSIGHTS & CODING

04.11 Class 7: COMMUNICATING RESEARCH & FRAMEWORKS

04.25 Class 8: CLASS REVIEW


Assignment 1: QUICK AND DIRTY RESEARCH (1 week)
For next week, you will work as a team of 3 and build an “obstacle course” of a tool, run 3 users through it, record it, and present 3 major insights from your work.
Details:
 Pick a tool that is easy and accessible, but requires some amount of human interface (coffee maker, alarm clock, cell phone, etc). Get 3 to 4 of these for the research.
 Design an obstacle course of specific activities that all of your users will do.
 Each of you will run one person through the obstacle course as the “moderator” with your own discussion guide. Each course should last between 15-20 minutes.
 Have someone on your team record the research
 As a group, present the top 3 insights from the research
 Be prepared to talk through the process, your methods, and your thoughts