290. Interface Aesthetics

How does good design enhance or facilitate interaction between people? How does good design make the experience people have with computational objects and environments not just functional, but emotionally engaging and stimulating? This half-semester seminar will cover visual design basics (e.g., color, layout, typography, iconography) as well as new interface metaphors beyond desktops (e.g., for mobile devices, computationally enhanced environments, tangible user interfaces). Students will get a hands-on learning experience on these topics through course projects, design critiques, and discussions, in addition to lectures and readings.