UX Design Institute 2023 - 2024
Professional Diploma in UX Design
Course Overview
The Professional Diploma in UX Design is intended to give students a foundational understanding of the UX Design process. The focal point is that UX is a problem solving discipline with a strong emphasis on the role that user research plays in creating products that solve those problems for the user. The course is a strong qualification for anyone wishing to build a career in user experience design.
User Research
Topics Covered - Competitive Benchmarking, Online Surveys, Note Taking
and Usability Testing
User Research is the central element of sound and robust user experience design. As a principle task, this is the part of the process where we learn about existing problems which we must provide solutions to. There are many different techniques in the research arena such as online surveys, card sorting, A/B testing and interviewing. However, the core skill of user testing is critical to identifying and solving problems.
Analysis Techniques
Topics covered - Affinity Diagrams, Customer Journey Maps, Triangulation, Personas
Gathering research is one thing, but it is critical that we understand what your data means. As a designer looking to communicate solutions to problems, analysis is an essential skill for anyone who wants to make digital products that users love. Going through the process of creating affinity diagrams and customer journey maps is a great way to a road map or plan for where your research should be informing your designs.
Conceptualising Your Product
Topics covered - Flow Diagrams for Desktop and Mobile, Screen States
and Interaction Design
When we conceptualise or create a concept product, is when we imagine our product for the first time, or conceive the idea. What must our product have? What should our product have? What could our product have? and what won’t our product have? Known as the MoSCoW approach, we apply what we learned during user research sessions to answer those questions. Again, using the findings in our user research we are able to employ skills with flow diagrams and interaction design to to imagine what it will feel like to use the end product.
Design
Topics Covered - Interaction Design for Mobile, Flow Diagram for Mobile, Registration,
Onboarding, Sign In, Payment Flow, Perception of Security,
Wireframes, Prototypes, Touch and Targets
The design process continues with the creation of wireframes. Generally, wireframes will outline the specific screen states a particular task can possibly present the user with. To do this, the designer will imagine each individual interaction a user could make while completing a process. Each different interaction with the screen determines how the software/screen communicates back to the user. With great user research in the beginning, we can design seamless experiences for the user knowing they will come back time and again to use a tried and tested product that they trust.
Web Technology (BSc) Hons 2017 - 2021
Year One 2017 - 2018
Introduction to Database Application
Using software such as Microsoft Visual Studio with C# I learned the basics of how database-driven websites work. The module also gave students a beginner’s insight into MySQL and how to structure simple queries. The construction of a small eCommerce website was the goal. Products could be selected by different categories and then added to and deleted from a basket. Although fantastic education, Database Application was somewhat of a baptism of fire, some might say!
Introduction to Web Programming
Web Programming taught me the basics in web page construction from bare-bones to styled content using a simple text editor such as Atom or Sublime. As well as using HTML5 and CSS3 the module gave me an understanding of accessibility, responsive design, code validation and how to host your new files on a server using SFTP. The later part of the module looked at the basics of JavaScript.
Visual Design
Visual Design was very much centred on using design-based software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign. The module concentrated on subjects such as branding and logo design along with print and poster production. Producing a digital sketchbook for each project was an essential way to record your research and the progress of your artefact or product during any project.
Digital Media
This module was split into two halves. For the whole year we would work teams learning to understand the full process of designing and building a basic static website. During the first semester the initial component was all about the user research and analysis, content structure and navigation, interface design, product development and product design. while in the second semester the focus was on conceptualising, user modelling languages such as use case diagrams, class diagrams and object sequence diagrams. The module concluded by looking at specification and project development, professional, legal, ethical and social issues (P.L.E.S.I). The teams then complete the module with evaluation and a coded website.
Digital Media Asset Production
Studying Digital Media Asset Production was where I had my first experience with content management systems. I learned to build applications using WordPress, not too dissimilar to this portfolio, and to produce ePublications with free software such as Sigil. Content management software can still be reasonably complex and time-consuming to use. Although good fun you may find yourself investing some time learning to use the likes of WordPress. If you want to get information or services online fast this is a great way to get it done.
Year Two 2018 - 2019
Cyber Security (Option Module)
Cyber Security was an optional module in year two. This module was based very much on the principles of security awareness and being able to protect yourself and your work in the digital world. If like me, studying computing is something you are very new to, you will need to stay alert to keep up with this module. The module looks at subjects such as authentication (passwords & Biometrics) basic and advanced cryptography, access control, malware & malware detection, professional, legal & ethical issues, machine learning, digital forensics and so on.
Web Design & Programming
Web Design and Programming moved on quite quickly from the first year. The module introduced me to PHP, PHP data objects (PDO) database design and SQL. In the second half of the year, the module moved on again quickly into functions, MVC (Model, View, Controller) sequence diagrams, class diagrams, use cases and object-oriented programming. The module finished with a look at object-relational mapping and using libraries and frameworks. Again, if you want to keep up, keep alert.
Year Two Project
Year Two Project acts as a precursor for the individual project you complete in the final year. The module is focused largely on research and the production of a poster and written report at the end of the module.
Team Project
Team Project follows on from Digital Media in the first year. This is a chance to work in larger teams and to get involved as a scrum master if you think you’re up to it! In this module we work with virtual stakeholders, take time to consider personas and user stories while producing a more interactive product.
Designing Information Systems for People (User Experience)
UX Design is at the heart of designing information systems for people. In this module, we looked at the differences between low fidelity and high-fidelity prototyping. Again, this module was heavy on the research side of the project. Doing research is how we find out what features and functions your application should have. So, what should it look like and what should it do? The module covers user research (personas and stories) user requirements, developing sitemaps and wireframes, paper prototyping and prototype testing and heuristic analysis. Having a lifelong creative streak and an interest in design I enjoyed UX very much. I thought this was a fantastic module and would be a great career choice for me having previous design experience.
Year Three 2020 - 2021
Individual Project
This module was a self-directed study where the subject matter is of your own choice. Individual Project is what other degree courses would describe as your Dissertation. The project runs for the whole of the final year. As well as taking into account the production of digital artefacts, products, prototypes and written academic papers, there is a heavy focus on research, literary review and evidential reporting, comparing and concluding. In this module I chose to conduct ‘An investigation into the design limitations of Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning’. The aims of the project were to show that we could produce a multi-faceted, multi-featured, all-in-one artefact that would be useful to teams working in all kinds of different industries and their sectors. Having a product that would not only accommodate the masses, but also help and educate them about team working, how users fit into a team, how a job role fits with a team or teams and how team members affect and integrate with each other would surely be a first in CSCL and CSCW.
Advanced Front-End Web Development
Dynamic programming in its most basic form was the focus for Advanced Front-End Web Development in final year. Responsive Web Design, a term coined by Ethan Marcotte, single page websites and APIs were all on on the agenda in this module. Looking back at my summary of implementation and systems I learned to use tools such as BEM (Block, Element, Modifier) and SASS (SCSS) which are used to set certain rules for how the application will look. Techniques such as Responsive Web Design dictated how the application would display on (respond to) devices with differing screen sizes. The application was programmed to load data from outside sources using Ajax. The use of Json files enabled me to create objects that are then loaded into the page and I was also able to use different approaches such as usability or visual design.
Advanced Visual Design (Option Module)
Using context in Visual Design was what this module was all about in final year. With a choice of assignments and working with the different principles and elements of design this module really did delve into contextual design in a completely different way to that that I’d experienced on a regular Art and Design course. Advanced Visual Design was a module that introduced me to Adobe XD. Although this was my first outing with the application and that my first prototype left a lot to be desired, I’ve worked with XD since and have a good handle with some its powerful functions. XD is one of Adobe’s applications I have really enjoyed working with.
Digital Media Showcase
In Digital Media Showcase I worked on an assignment that became known to me as the Brightspace project. Brightspace is an existing application used by students as a learning hub where they can access all manner of information about their studies, course, modules, careers, support, health & well-being, local and university life and more. My assignment was to create an addition to the application as there seemed to have been an oversight in its creation relating to the collation of grades so students can track their performance all in one place. This was a smaller project in terms of creation of a product. The assignment was rather more concerned with the creation of ideas as opposed to design principles and the aesthetic beauty of an artefact. I enjoyed this module and the idea really did fit the assignment however, I was always disappointed with the product and have recently spent some time on the design aspect of the project. You can view two videos in the Media Portfolio on this site showing the new design.
Team Project
Team project was another WordPress assignment in final year. As team modules go in university, they are filled with personalities and not at all a reflection of team collaboration in the real world. I’d likely be excused by some of Huddersfield’s finest academics for admitting that I’d give the module a wide berth if I’d had the choice! However, with the subject matter being the Brönte Stones, a project commissioned by University of Huddersfield Lecturer Michael Stewart, and having involved singer Kate Bush as she had written the verses that had been engraved into the rock it made for an exiting project. Putting the website together involved some brand design in terms of a logo that depicted the stones. Also, the website had to include a shop, so there was some eCommerce and product creation in order to make the shop work. Again, as team projects go, this turned out to be a good one.
Access to Higher Education (Level 3 Diploma) 2016 - 2017
Course Overview
Leeds College of Art, now Leeds Arts University was a turning point for me in terms of ditching the call centres, warehouses and retail environments that I have previously worked in. Access to Higher Education gave me the stepping stone I needed to reach university. Going back to college has to have been one of the most exciting times of my life. I will certainly have fond memories of LCA for many years to come.
Access to Higher Education was a fantastic course when it came to preparing for higher education. The modules offered were Visual Studies, Contextual Studies and Communicate & Investigate Through Drawing. There was also a Final Major Project. Much of the course was based on the idea of experimenting with different ideas. The Visual Studies module also provided a unit in photography. Again, the module was based on experimentation. However, I did leave this module with a good knowledge of the digital single-lens reflex camera!
Part of Access to Higher Education was Communicate & Investigate Through Drawing. It wasn’t the most orthodox of drawing modules. I have been used to more rigid longer sessions of life drawing. This was more intense, moving from one task to the next in quick succession. This is drawing with a difference, but I did learn to look beyond the norm.
We looked at the history of art, some great philosophers and subjects such as Modernism and Postmodernism. Attending Contextual Studies throws you headlong into the world of academic writing. This is where the real preparation for degree-level study begins. Pouring over word choice, sentence construction and reference building isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. However, I enjoyed this a great deal and gained a lot from the experience.
B-Tec First Diploma in Art & Design (Level 2 Diploma) 1991 - 1992
After leaving Hollingworth High School in 1991 I attended Hopwood Hall College in Rochdale to further my education. Here, I studied Art & Design where I gained a B-Tec First Diploma in 1992. Hopwood Hall is where I achieved some of my best artwork. I sometimes wonder where I might have ended up had I honed my talents for a further thirty years. However, I suppose we’ll never know!
Course Overview
The First Diploma in Art & Design offered a range of modules. 2D and 3D Visual Studies were included. Design Studies which included Graphic Design. I achieved a distinction here. 3D and Audio-Visual Studies also formed part of the diploma. For newcomers to Art & Design, this course offered modules not typically associated with art. I had to complete Business & Professional Studies. Historical & Contextual Studies were also integral. In addition, a final major project rounded off the year.
Importantly, students were also graded on their personal skills. This was better known as your common skills profile. I achieved merits in managing & Developing Self and Applying Technology. Other skill sets included Managing Tasks & Solving Problems and Applying Design & Creativity.
There is always a trip to a national gallery or sculpture park as most art courses go. On this occasion, there was a day trip to London. We visited the Tate Modern and the Victoria and Albert museums. This was all a long time ago. I have since discovered at Leeds College of Art that education has changed slightly.
This qualification was worth four GCSEs at C grade. The first diploma was a great way to progress especially if you didn’t get the grades at school. In summary, I enjoyed my time at Hopwood Hall but believe I could have achieved much more.