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Course syllabus - Usability Perspectives

Scope

7.5 credits

Course code

ITE267

Valid from

Autumn semester 2026

Education level

First cycle

Progressive Specialisation

G1F (First cycle, has less than 60 credits in first-cycle course/s as entry requirements)

Main area(s)

Information Design

Organisation

Department of Health Sciences, Innovation and Design

Ratified

2025-12-19

Literature lists

Course literature is preliminary up to 8 weeks before course start. Course literature can be valid over several semesters.

Objectives

The purpose of the course is to give students the opportunity to deepen their understanding of what usability can be and what influences it with a focus on interaction design. This is done through reflection and literature studies. The course offers a structured framework for critically examining design processes and usability perspectives. By reading and discussing relevant texts, the opportunity is given to develop and deepen the ability to analyze and evaluate design decisions in relation to user experience, ethics and context.

Learning outcomes

After completing the course, the student should be able to:

  1. Describe and illustrate a design process with a focus on usability
  2. Analyze steps in the design process according to theories relevant to interaction design
  3. Analyze steps in the design process according to methods relevant to interaction design
  4. Reflect and argue about the role of usability in design, based on literature and own experiences

Course content


The course builds on the students' previous experiences from the program and encourages reflection on how usability has been addressed in previous projects and courses. Through course literature and other relevant literature that the students themselves seek out, they are given the opportunity to deepen their understanding of different perspectives on usability. Discussions are held about design processes and how these affect the user experience, with particular emphasis on critical theory in design and technology. The course includes seminars where students share their reflections and analyses, as well as individual writing assignments where insights from the literature are connected to their own experiences. Case studies of design projects are used as a basis for identifying and discussing different strategies for achieving usability.

Specific requirements

45 credits from completed courses in Information Design, of which 22.5 credits from specialization courses in Interaction Design.

Examination

SEM1, Seminar, 1.5 credits, examines learning outcomes 1 and 4, grade Fail (U) or Pass (G) 
INL1, Assignment, 2 credits, examines learning outcomes 2 and 3, grade Fail (U) or Pass (G) 
INL2, Assignment, 4 credits, examines learning outcomes 1 - 3, grade Fail (U), Pass (G) or Pass with Distinction (VG)

A student who has a certificate from MDU regarding disability study support, can request adaptions for the examination. It is the examiner who takes decisions on any adaptions, based on the certificate and other conditions.

Grade

Three-grade scale