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UI Design

Week 1 – Introductions

UI design is a critical and yet single part of the broader user-centred design process. Investigate why, where and how it fits in and review options for your ongoing course project.

Week 2 – Design principles and methodologies
A look into the UI principles and methodologies. Identify which apply most and how to articulate their importance. 

Week 3 – User needs, audiences and accessibility
Define clearly who your users are and acknowledge their needs with honesty and empathy. Learn about international standards and expectations. 

Week 4 – Brand identities and design systems

Create the language of your UI and align it with both pre-existing brand pallets and future engineering requirements. 

Week 5 – User journeys and happy paths

The user interface is more about journeys than single screens. Plot happy paths through potential complexity. 

Week 6 – Digital environments and beyond

From desktop, to mobile, to voice, augmented reality, to who knows where next. Extend your UI and design system beyond the obvious. 

Week 7 – The importance of typographic hierarchies

Strip everything back and recognise the most powerful UI element of all. A look at how content design is inseparable from user interface.  

Week 8 – Spacing, ​grids, contrast ​and ​conventions

Apply more subtle strategies and design techniques to unconsciously support users through your UI.

Week 9 – Images, icons, symbolism and internationalisation

Investigate and question how imagery and other familiar elements may cause more noise than benefit. Find the line between decoration and UI design. 

Week 10 – UI ​design ​as ​a ​professional ​practice

Meet and hear from a guest speaker, talking about their path and practice as a professional UI designer and how they apply the themes covered in the course.

Week 11 – Final project presentation and critique

Test and develop your new abilities. Pitch your UI design project and sell the importance of UI design nuances.

Week 12 – Feedback ​and ​next ​steps

Individual sessions with the course director, focusing on progress through the course and setting next steps toward your UI design practice aspirations.

This course is ideal for creatives seeking to gain practical design skills and enhance their ability to contribute to prototypes and the delivery of digital products. You have some formal education in design and want to specialise in UI design to advance your career. Or you are already an experienced professional looking to transition from another discipline, such as design research, service design, or content design, into a more UI-focused role.

This course is designed for those who want to deepen their understanding of UI design and integrate it into their existing expertise – it is not suitable for beginners. We require some experience with visual communication and a good grasp of common design tools like Figma. If you’re unsure about your level, start with our on-demand courses or contact us to determine if this is the right fit for you.

• Context of UI Design in UCD teams
• Core UI design principles
• Importance of hierarchies and layout
• Design system theory and practice
• Translating journeys into interfaces
• Designing for multi-platform UIs
• Empathy for user needs and accessibility
• How to apply creativity to established conventions
• How to sell the importance of UI design
• Portfolio piece(s)