Prototyping and Research in Design

Prototyping is one of the most important tools of design research. This course is aimed at two different audiences. Firstly, design students who want to learn to build simple interactive prototypes to illustrate and study their ideas. Secondly, research-oriented students, who want to develop skills needed in design research, as well as the ability to illustrate their ideas with simple interactive prototypes, and an ability to develop those ideas through user-centered methods. In this course, students will learn how to design and prototype user interfaces to address the users and tasks identified in research. Through a series of lectures and exercises, students will learn and practice analog and 3D digital fabrication prototyping techniques; they will learn and apply design principles, how to write a design rationale, and how to design for specific situations including principles and practices of accessible design. This course includes Fab Lab studio hours. This course includes Fab Lab studio hours.