Unit Outline

This introductory unit explores the principles and practices of Experience Design within structured environments. Working across digital and physical dimensions, this unit focuses on task-oriented experience design. Students will develop an understanding of how users navigate and interact with designed experiences, examining both functional aspects (way-finding systems, interface design, service touch-points) and emotional dimensions (user satisfaction, confidence, engagement). The unit introduces key concepts in perception theory to help students understand how users process information and make decisions within designed environments. Students will learn to apply service design methodologies to map user journeys and identify pain points. They will explore how heuristic principles guide intuitive interactions and develop skills with digital tools essential for prototyping and testing experience design solutions.

Intended Learning Outcomes

As per the Assessment and Results Policy 1.3, your results will reflect your achievement against specified learning outcomes.

On completion of this unit, you will be able to:


1	Identify the fundamental principles of experience design.
2	Apply appropriate service design tools and methods.
3	Analyse how functional and emotional elements influence user interactions.
4	Create cohesive experience design solutions across touchpoints.

Alterations as a result of student feedback

How will I be Assessed?

For more detailed assessment information please see MyLO.

Assessment schedule


ASSESSMENT TASK #	ASSESSMENT TASK NAME	DATE DUE	WEIGHT	LINKS TO INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES
Assessment Task 1:	User Journey & Emotional Mapping Project	Week 4	25 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 2:	Interactive Prototype with Heuristic Evaluation	Week 8	35 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4
Assessment Task 3:	Experience Design Resolution	Week 12	40 %	LO1, LO2, LO3, LO4

Assessment details

Assessment Task 1: User Journey & Emotional Mapping Project

Task Description:

Select an everyday experience and develop a comprehensive user journey map with emotional analysis.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 4

Weight:

25 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Conduct user research with at least 3 participants	LO2
2	Create a visual journey map identifying all touch-points.	LO1
3	Document emotional highs and lows throughout the journey.	LO1
4	Apply emotional design principles to analyse user engagement.	LO4
5	Identify key pain points and opportunities for improvement.	LO3
6	Present findings in a 5-minute presentation with visual aids	LO1

Assessment Task 2: Interactive Prototype with Heuristic Evaluation

Task Description:

Based on the pain points and emotional insights identified in Assessment 1, develop an interactive prototype that improves one aspect of the user journey.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 8

Weight:

35 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Apply appropriate service design tools to analyse the problem	LO2
2	Create wireframes/storyboards showing the proposed solution	LO2
3	Develop a functional interactive prototype (digital or physical)	LO4
4	Conduct a heuristic evaluation using Nielsen's principles	LO3
5	Document user testing with at least 3 participants	LO2
6	Submit a process document explaining design decisions and how emotional design principles were applied	LO1

Assessment Task 3: Experience Design Resolution

Task Description:

Develop a cohesive experience design solution that addresses a specific user need across multiple touchpoints.

Task Length:

Due Date:

Week 12

Weight:

40 %

CRITERION #

CRITERION

MEASURES INTENDED

LEARNING OUTCOME(S)


1	Identify a complex experience requiring both digital and physical interactions	LO1
2	Apply service design methodologies to map the current and proposed experience	LO2
3	Create prototypes demonstrating key interactions across touchpoints	LO4
4	Consider both functional elements (usability, efficiency) and emotional elements (engagement, satisfaction)	LO3
5	Present a comprehensive design solution with justification for design decisions	LO4
6	Include heuristic evaluation of the final solution	LO2
7	Include reflection on how principles of experience design were applied	LO1

How your final result is determined

To pass this unit, you need to demonstrate your attainment of each of the Intended Learning Outcomes, achieve a final unit grade of 50% or greater, and pass any hurdle tasks.

Academic progress review

The results for this unit may be included in a review of your academic progress. For information about progress reviews and what they mean for all students, see Academic Progress Review in the Student Portal.

Submission of assignments

Where practicable, assignments should be submitted to an assignment submission folder in MYLO. You must submit assignments by the due date or receive a penalty (unless an extension of time has been approved by the Unit Coordinator). Students submitting any assignment in hard copy, or because of a practicum finalisation, must attach a student cover sheet and signed declaration for the submission to be accepted for marking.

Academic integrity

Academic integrity is about acting responsibly, honestly, ethically, and collegially when using, producing, and communicating information with other students and staff members.

In written work, you must correctly reference the work of others to maintain academic integrity. To find out the referencing style for this unit, see the assessment information in the MyLO site, or contact your teaching staff. For more detail about Academic Integrity, see Important Guidelines & Support.

Requests for extensions

If you are unable to submit an assessment task by the due date, you should apply for an extension.

A request for an extension should first be discussed with your Unit Coordinator or teaching support team where possible. A request for an extension must be submitted by the assessment due date, except where you can provide evidence it was not possible to do so. Typically, an application for an extension will be supported by documentary evidence: however, where it is not possible for you to provide evidence please contact your Unit Coordinator.

The Unit Coordinator must notify you of the outcome of an extension request within 3 working days of receiving the request.

Late penalties

Assignments submitted after the deadline will receive a late penalty of 5% of the original available mark for each calendar day (or part day) that the assignment is late. Late submissions will not be accepted more than 10 calendar days after the due date, or after assignments have been returned to other students on a scheduled date, whichever occurs first. Further information on Late Penalties can be found on the Assessments and Results Procedure.

Required Resources

Required reading materials

Burickson, A., Lupton, E., & Holeman, E. (2023). Experience Design: A Participatory Manifesto (1st ed.). Yale University Press. https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.6535477

https://www.vlaanderen.be/publicaties/public-service-design-a-guide-for-the-application-of-service-design-in-public-organisations