User Interface Design

COMS 4170 · Spring 2019

Hey! This is an old version of this class.
The examples might be embarrassingly outdated!

Columbia COMS 4170 Spring 2020 is here.

Goals

1. Build websites that suit the needs and abilities of users.
2. When the needs and abilities of users are uncertain, design systems by learning from iteration.


TAs
  • Angelina Lam OH: Tue 5:15-6:30, CS TA room
  • Daniel Li OH: Thur 4-5, CSB 506 (Canceled 2/21 and 2/28)
  • Eleanor Murguia OH: Thur 11-12, 502 Milstein
  • Katie Pfleger OH: Tue 4:15-5:15, CEPSR 6th floor lounge
  • Melanie Sawyer OH: Thurs 5-6, CS TA room
Weekly schedule
  • Lecture
    Monday, Wednesday
    4:10–5:25pm
    451 CSB

Grading

Grade Buckets
Expect grades not to be curved.
90% <= A
80% <= B < 90%
70% <= C < 80%
60% <= D < 70%
 0% <= F < 60%
Grade Breakdown
  • In-class participation: 15%
  • Assignments: 70% (5% each)
  • Final Project: 15%
We will drop your lowest homework score and
your lowest 2 participation scores.

Late Policy
Assignments may be turned in up to 3 days (72 hours) late.
Each day late (each 24 hours) represents 10% deducted from the grade.
Late work will not be accepted after 3 days (72 hours).

If you have an illness or emergency, and request an extension you must send an email to Prof Chilton before the deadline with your timeline for turning in the work.
We cannot extend the deadline past 3 days.

Class participation points can only be made up when the absense is excused.
You must first provide us with evidence that the absense is excused with:
(1) advanced notice of missing class and
(2) a note from your advising dean or doctor.

Next you can make up participation by doing both of the following:
(3) write a 1-page summary of the key points of the lecture and
(4) go over the summary with a staff member in their office hours. (print a print out of the summary)


Syllabus

Monday Wednesday
January 21

No class

January 23

Usability Heuristics

Homework 1 out.
Due Friday 1/25 at 4pm on Courseworks
January 28

Information Design

Homework 2 (v3 1/30 11:40) out.
Due Friday 2/1 at 4pm on Courseworks
January 30

Layout and Grids

February 4

Color, typography, and gestalt

Homework 3 (v2 out 2/3 14:02) out.
Due Friday 2/8 at 4pm on Courseworks
February 6

User Interaction Models

February 11

JavaScript, Widgets, & Events

Homework 4 out (v3 out 2/13 13:26).
Due Friday 2/15 at 4pm on Courseworks
February 13

Events and Feedback

February 18

Direct Manipulation and MVC

Homework 5 out (v2 out 2/19 10am).
Due Friday 2/22 at 4pm on on Courseworks
February 20

No Class - Canceled

February 25

Menus and Navigation

February 27

Client-Server Interaction (Flask)

Homework 6 out
Example Flask app
March 4

Databases and CRUD

March 6

Accessibility
Input Techniques

March 11

Habit Theory

Homeworks 7 and 8 out
March 13

Computational Design

March 18

Break — No class

March 20

Break - No class

March 25

Brainstorming

Homework 9 out

March 27

Iterative Design

April 1

Low-Fi Prototypes

Homework 10 out
April 3

Group meetings - only come to your section

April 8

Technical Feasibility

Homework 11 out
April 10

Groups meetings - only come to your section

April 15

User Feedback

Homework 12 out
April 17

Groups meetings - only come to your section

April 22

Groups meetings - only come to your section

Homework 13 out
April 24

Groups meetings - only come to your section

April 29

The Final Project

Homework 14 out
Final Project Turn-in
May 1

Groups meetings - only come to your section

May 6

No official class. We will have extra office hours during this time if you want individual feedback.

Homework 15 out