Analyzing the Design and Use of a Digital / Technological City Service

Your task is to pick one of the five themes listed below, all of which revolve around the digital / technological city. (Either the city you are based or Bristol).

Each theme focuses on a service / infrastructure or aspect of the city and asks you to analyse it from the perspective of a specific user group. For the first part of the assignment you will research both the user group and service. You will create a user journey, mood boards, and annotated photographs that analyse the design and use of the service.

From this you will identify good and bad practice.

Then you will create a design brief that summarises your research, analysis and identifies issues that need improvement.

Finally you will suggest recommended changes and a re-design in the form of annotated sketches, annotated diagrams and reworked photographs.

1. Analyse a Bus app from the perspective of an older retired person.
2. Analyse the NHS COVID-19 app from the perspective of an anti-surveillance activist.
3. Analyse a web site of your choice from the experience of someone who has an impairment.
4. Analyse the digital ordering system from a local takeaway food outlet using a local / self created web site / app. From the experience of a partially sighted person.

• Research and imaginatively analyse who the fictional interface has been designed for and what interaction it affords. Discuss what considerations have been made for the imagined user.
• Research and explore the design context that underpins the digital artefact, drawing on themes and texts explored in the module
• Write up your research into a 1200 word referenced report.
• Write an online journal with weekly entries that reflect on each session.

1. You will choose one of the five options above and investigate that service and user group.
2. Using the sessions on visual design, typography, usability and user perspectives (on Blackboard) you will analyse both the visual design and usability of your chose option.
3. In the first instance you will test its usability from your perspective and map your user journey. Then you will research your target user group and consider how their specific needs change the context of the design. You will create a user journey from their perspective.
4. From this research and analysis you will identify good and bad design attributes and aspects that could be improved or changed. (Often called a design ‘problem space’).
5. You will then develop a design brief that summarises your research and analysis and outlines the problem space you intend to focus on.
6. Finally you will generate a set of design recommendations and annotated concept sketches and diagrams that respond to your design brief.

1. Maintain an individual online journal to record your weekly research journey.
2. You will research and find a fictional object (from a film, book, videogame, comic etc) and an digital artefact.
3. You should select interfaces and artefacts that afford interesting interaction and interactivity and have a clear design context.
4. You will research Interaction Design methods and Design Contexts.
5. Identify and analyse the Interaction Design of your chosen objects. This should include using and referencing academic texts and readings.
6. Research the design context of the digital artefact. This should include using and referencing academic texts and readings.
7. You will present your findings and analysis as a 10 minute video presentation.

This presentation needs to be carefully planned and structured (i.e. Introduction, main body, conclusion etc.). It can be delivered in whatever way you feel is most effective in ensuring a lively, flexible and interesting experience. In your presentation, you should discuss why you chose your specific objects, and what you found out and the result of your analysis.

8. You will produce a 1200 word report that synthesises your research and analysis and submit this with four 200 word blog posts.