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The examination of this course is to create a portfolio. It contains:
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Improved and extended versions of three exercises which you have already carried out in the course. You may choose any three exercises you like. “Improved and extended” means that you have not only improved your design according to the inspiration you got from the feedback, but also have taken it a step further, extending it outside the boundaries of the original exercise. You will get examples on how to do this with each exercise. Read more about this in the “Exercise”-section.
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The three exercises "Calculator on the Runway", "The new Office Assistant", and "The Cube". You choose two of these, which you will do on your own without any supervision or feedback. Read more about this in the “Exercise”-section.
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An essay: “My view on aesthetics of interaction” See instructions below.
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The portfolio itself, i.e. how you put together and present the exercises and the essay. See instructions below.
These different parts are awarded certain amount of points as follows
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Improved and extended exercises: 10 points each = 30 points in total |
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Portfolio exercises: 20 points each = 40 points in total |
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Essay: 15 points |
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Portfolio design: 15 points
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The total sum of points that can be earned this way is 100 points. (yet another 25 points can be earned by handing in the literature assignments and making the oral presentation.)
Grading: What is important?
One thing that I will look for when grading is consistency, and in this context it means that the design is consistent in what it is trying to “do” and in they ways it does it. If it for instance aims to be provoking and inconsistent, then it will be graded on how consistently it does this. This consistency is almost always dependant on the chosen or demanded aesthetics (i.e. there are certain boundaries for cartoon aesthetics etc). So, grading is based on the following:
Ex 1: Super Hero Gadgets: Consistency in design, how well you apply super hero aesthetics
Ex 2: Cartoon: Consistency in design, how well you apply cartoon aesthetics
Ex 3: Designing Emotions: Consistency in design, how well you manage to evoke or express angst.
Ex 4: Interaction Themes vs. Things: Consistency in design, how well you manage to invoke your special type of interaction.
Ex 5: Temporal Paint: Consistency. Novel use of the temporality aspect in design.
Ex 6: InfoArt part II: Consistency in design, how well you apply your own aesthetics.
Ex 7: Design the Apple: Consistency in design, how well you manage to transfer your chosen applications' aesthetics to your artifact.
Portfolio exercise: Calculator on the Runway: Consistency in design, how well you apply your own aesthetics.
Portfolio exercise: The New Office Assistant: Consistency in design, how well you manage to make your assistant's behavior logical and rich.
Portfolio exercise: The Cube: Consistency in design, how well you apply your own aesthetics.
Portfolio design: Consistency in design, how well you apply own aesthetics. Essay: Solid argumentation, referenced, commenting counter arguments, well written and structured.
The essay: My View on Interaction Aesthetics
There are two reasons for writing this essay. One is that it helps you in formulating your view on aesthetics of interaction. Another is that your portfolio cannot be graded without taking your view on aesthetics of interaction into account – can you follow your own biddings? Since this essay, and my understanding of it, is so important, we will have a feedback discussion about it before the portfolio work starts.
In this essay, you base our opinions on arguments you will find in literature (referencing required!) and of course your own opinions in relation to them. Again, I wish to stress that there is not one correct standpoint, just different approaches. Anyhow, you must discuss the following issues:
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What is aesthetics of interaction? Define the term as clearly as you can. Note that if you use fuzzy terms like “beauty”, “pleasing” etc. you need to define/discuss these too. |
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Can aesthetics of interaction be missing, broken or “non-working” in some way or is it just a matter of user and situation? |
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Is there a difference between aesthetics in general and aesthetics of interaction? I.e. are there new or other aesthetic aspects that you as an interaction designer need to consider in your work? |
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According to you, which dimensions are of importance when designing the aesthetics of interaction of an artifact? |
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During the design of an interactive artifact, how can you focus on the aesthetics of it? |
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How do you know if you “succeeded” in creating the aesthetics of an artifact? (I'm not expecting a detailed measuring method here, just indications.) |
Portfolio design
The portfolio too, is a piece of design onto which you need to apply your view on aesthetics as well. There are no “rules” for what the portfolio must look like. It can be a flash presentation, a web site, a booklet, a report, a poster or whatever. The important thing is that it is somehow consistent (and not only from a graphic design perspective!!!) and in line with your own views on aesthetics.
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