Author: Tanecia Nunlee

IXD-701 UX DESIGN STUDIO III

The Graduate Studio I, II, III, and IV courses are,designed to address projects of increasing,complexity and progressively strengthen your,problem-solving skills in UX Design. Students will,solve a design problem rooted in a creative,industries-related context, requiring substantive,research and concept development phases,,refinement, and execution phases. Research,methodologies, design approaches, and techniques,students learned in the UX-centered courses will,be applied to develop and evaluate their,solutions. These courses are structured to,simulate the professional studio environment with,formally scheduled milestones and defined,deliverables and will be reviewed by faculty and,industry professionals through formal,presentations.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: IXD 601, IXD 602

GRT-605 DIGITAL VISCOM I

This course introduces multiple 3D modeling and,rendering tools, techniques, and processes,required for both analyzing and realizing complex,formal design expressions. These are then,executed as final, technical digital 3D model data,sets that are capable of further engineering,assessment and fabrication. Special attention is,given to the rapid exploration and development of,3D vehicle exterior form through extensive use of,a range of 3D digital modeling and rendering,software including Zbrush, Alias, VRED, Keyshot,,Blender &/or Unreal Engine.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

GRT-612 3D RENDERING & ANIMATION II

This course introduces advanced 3D digital,animation techniques for animating vehicle designs,and interactive interior experiences. Students,will be introduced to Blender as the main,animation & rendering software and will also,incorporate other digital assets and software for,rigging 3D models and video editing.

Credits: 1.5

Prerequisites: GRT-611

GRT-702 STUDIO IV: PROFESSIONAL FOCUS

This course has two main components. The first,half of the semester will concentrate on the,completion of a compressed project. This can be a,stand-alone mini-project that provides yet another,opportunity in the area of desired professional,specialization, or the project can be an extension,and completion of the one conducted in the,previous semesters’ GRT-701. For example, if a,vehicle exterior was the focus for GRT-701, the,mini project in GRT-702 could be the interior for,that exterior or vice versa. The second half of,the semester will then focus on the finalization,and refinement of student portfolios and online,promotional presence in preparation for the end of,the year exhibition and industry interviews. This,course will result in a final exterior or interior,design executed as a technical digital 3D model,data set capable of further engineering,assessment, fabrication, and/or animation.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: GRT 701

GRT-790 INDEPENDENT STUDY

Independent Study is available to graduate,students with a cumulative grade point average of,3.00 or above. The student may receive approval to,work in an area or on a project that is not,otherwise offered or addressed in the regular,curriculum. An Independent Study should include,opportunities for individual student voice and,provide a space for diverse perspectives. Students,may receive credit toward graduation for no more,than 6 credit hours. The student must,submit to the chairperson of the department in,which they wish to study, an Independent Study,Proposal of 150 words (no less) of the student’s,plan for study and her/his reason for choosing to,study,independently. Once the department chairperson,provides approval and the instructor for the,Independent Study is determined, the faculty,member must write an Independent Study Syllabus,with,education goals, learning outcomes, meeting dates,,course expectations, timelines, and due dates.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

IXD-601 UX DESIGN STUDIO I,PROTOTYPING

Based on a foundation of web technologies, this,class teaches students the concepts and use of,programming languages to complement and extend,their capabilities as designers. Students learn,how to think like a computer and to structure code,(functions and algorithms, not markup) to perform,data manipulation tasks, to enable user,interaction that incorporates devices and,services, and to gain facility across multiple,programming languages. As a result, students will,better understand the strengths and limitations of,digital systems and, therefore, how programming,may enhance (or limit) their user experience,design goals. With this foundation, students will,gain a solid stepping stone towards entering the,realms of mobile and web applications development,,physical computing, and the exciting world of the,Internet of Things, or the Internet of Everything.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

IXD-625 SOUND DESIGN FOR INTERACTION

This class explores the benefits of working with,sound to enhance interactions and/or various,interfaces. Students explore ways of creating new,sounds, study techniques for sound design as it,applies to UI and Interaction Design, and,generates a final project that will exemplify the,techniques studied and learned in class.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

IXD-636 ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

As humankind shifts from the era of the Personal,Computer (PC) to that of machine learning (ML),,Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quickly becoming,ubiquitous, radically changing the relationship,between humans and computing. This course explores,the symbiotic relationship between User Experience,(UX) design and artificial intelligence (AI),,enhancing students’ understanding the core AI,methodologies and their relevance in shaping user,experiences and their diverse applications in,contemporary UX design practices. Students learn,about fundamental AI methods and examine how they,intersect with and enhance the user-centered,design process. Through practical exercises and,projects, students learn various machine learning,approaches and their application to create,next-generation human-AI interfaces to unlock new,human capabilities. Furthermore, they will explore,practical examples of AI applications in multiple,UX design disciplines, such as UI design, gaming,,simulations, and robotics, and understand their,impact on user engagement and interaction.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: IXD 621

IXD-606 UX RESEARCH (USER TESTING)

Students learn the principles of UX (user,experience) design, enabling them to conduct,comprehensive research, analyze user behavior, and,apply their findings to create user-centric,designs in various digital contexts. Students,learn how to map user journeys and prototype,meaningful scenarios informed by research and,iterative modeling and testing. Students utilize,and apply user-centered research and co-design,methods. They learn various research methods, such,as user interviews, surveys, usability testing,,and data analysis. They also explore techniques,for collecting and interpreting user data.,Furthermore, the course will cover prototyping,techniques to translate research findings into,tangible designs, allowing students to work on,projects where they can apply their acquired,skills in real-world scenarios. By the end of this,course, students will have a solid grasp of UX,research principles, be able to conduct research,independently, and make design decisions based on,user insights.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites:

IXD-605 USER INTERFACE DESIGN

This course introduces the fundamental concepts,,methods, and practices of UI design, emphasizing,the crucial interconnection between User,Experience (UX) and User Interface (UI) design.,The course covers the step-by-step process of,creating a user interface, including ideation,,prototyping, iteration, and implementation. It,will familiarize its students with technical,aspects, design tools, methodologies, and,techniques commonly used in the industry. Students,delve into the UI development process through a,blend of individual exploration and collaborative,teamwork. They gain hands-on experience and refine,their abilities to express and communicate their,ideas through narrative media and deliver visual,mockups and prototypes. The User Interface Design,course adopts an in-studio format that cultivates,an environment supportive of group discussions,,constructive critiques, and compelling,presentations. This structure ensures that,students understand the complexities within UX and,UI Design and prepares them to thrive in this,dynamic and constantly evolving field.

Credits: 3

Prerequisites: