UX Design & Prototyping

School of Visual Arts, University of Oklahoma

DES 3633: Visual Communication III
Mondays and Wednesdays 1:30 – 4:20 pm
Location: Fred Jones Jr. Art Center Room. 103
Prerequisite: Majors only, DES 2653, DES 2663, Corequisite: DES 3663

Instructor: Raju Maharjan
Email: raju@ou.edu
Office Hours: By Appointment

Teaching Assistant: Bali Ong
Email: bali.e.ong-1@ou.edu
Availability: 12PM – 4PM on Tuesdays and Fridays, 11AM-1:30PM Mondays and Wednesdays

Course Description

This course introduces the design thinking process as a foundation for solving design challenges through meaningful UX design. It combines lectures, user research, hands-on design activities, and critique sessions to build foundational knowledge of design methods and tools. Through a semester-long project, students collaboratively and independently research, prototype, test, and communicate design solutions to real-world problems.

Learning outcomes

By the end of this course, you will be familiar with UX design process and tools. You will be able to:

  • Apply the Design Thinking process to solve design challenges
  • Research and analyze user needs
  • Generate design ideas from based on user requirements
  • Develop design systems and design user interfaces
  • Translate ideas into prototypes
  • Iteratively refine design solutions through user testing 
  • Work independently and collaboratively within a team-based project
  • Effectively communicate the design process through presentations and online 

Texts & Materials

There are no mandatory textbooks for this class. However, I highly recommend:

  • Don’t Make me Think by Steve Krug
  • Designing the User Interface by Ben Shneiderman and Catherine Plaisant
  • Interaction Design: Beyond human-computer interaction (6th Edition) by Jennifer Preece, Helen Sharp, and Yvonne Rogers

Learning Activities

​​This course combines lectures, discussions, individual and team-based design activities, and presentations to support hands-on learning. A significant portion of class time will be dedicated to exploring diverse experiences, perspectives, and design practices through discussion and collaboration.

As emerging designers preparing for professional career, you are encouraged to take ownership of your work. This involves cultivating independence, being proactive, and adopting a self-directed mindset. Please come to class prepared to engage. Bring questions, share your insights, and participate actively. The more you contribute, the more you will gain from the collective learning environment. Our classroom will serve as a collaborative space where learning happens not just through instruction but also through peer interaction and reflection.

Assignments & Group Project

The centerpiece of this course is a final project (website or mobile app) that you will develop collaboratively in teams of 2-3 students over the course of the semester. You will have both individual and group assignments, each contributing to the final project.

You will create your online portfolio this semester. The portfolio will showcase your design projects. Most assignments will involve updating your design project and writing blog posts reflecting on your design thinking process.

Assignment Deadlines & Extension Policy

Late submission will result in reduction of one project letter grade. I am willing to grant extensions, but only if you contact me (in person or by email) before the date on which the assignment is due. At that time, you will set a new deadline for that assignment and will need to meet that second deadline to receive credit for that assignment. I will have the discretion to approve or reject that new deadline.

Assessment

Your final grade will be based on the following components:

  • Assignments: 80%
  • Midterm Presentation + Final: 15%
  • Class Participation: 5% (This is based on my subjective assessment of a student engagement during class. This includes actively participating in discussions, volunteering to share work, providing feedback on peers’ work, and using class time for course-related activities rather than unrelated tasks such as online chatting, shopping etc.)

Work will be graded according to the following scale:

  • A (90–100%): Outstanding work that goes beyond expectations. Demonstrates strong understanding, creativity, attention to detail, and independent learning.
  • B (80–89%): Good work that meets all core expectations. Clear, organized, and shows some originality and self-direction.
  • C (70–79%): Satisfactory work that meets the minimum requirements. Shows basic understanding but may lack depth or polish.
  • D (60–69%): Work fails to meet basic requirements. Incomplete or shows little to no understanding of course concepts. 
  • F (0–59%): No submission.

Attendance Policy

I understand that many of us may be faced with unforeseen circumstances that can prevent us from attending every session. If you miss class, you are expected to contact me. Any assignments that are due on the day you miss the class, would still need to be completed in accordance with our late work policy.

I will excuse absences due to accommodations, as communicated with ADRC, medical emergencies (including mental or physical, with a doctor’s, counselor’s, or ADRC note), illness or death in a close relation, and university sponsored activities. If you’re unsure whether your absence qualifies as excused, talk to me.

Attendance Impact on Final Grade:

  • 1–2 absences (excused or unexcused): No penalty
  • 3+ unexcused absences: Final grade lowered by one full letter
  • 5+ absences: May result in a failing grade

Note: Two late arrivals count as one absence.

Generative AI Policy

You are welcome to explore Generative AI tools and how they can be used to assist you in accomplishing the goals of this course. In this course, you:

  • May use any free Generative AI tools, including those provided to you by the university, such as Copilot and AI tools with Adobe Creative Cloud (available in campus computer labs). This will allow everyone in the course to have the same access to Generative AI. 
  • Are expected to cite your usage of Generative AI, including any direct quotes or paraphrasing of ideas/content generated by AI.
  • Must keep a design blog reflecting your experience in the design process including your AI usage statement.

If you have any questions about this policy, please talk with me.

Consequences for Violating the Generative AI Usage Policy: Deviating from the acknowledgement, citation, and reflection guidelines described here may be considered a violation of the academic integrity policy of this course. Per our usage policy, you will be responsible for accuracy, including appropriately citing and summarizing any articles you find through AI research tools, and thus must read the material you are citing. Submitting data or research that is not real (a risk when overly relying on Generative AI) may result in an academic integrity violation for falsifying information. Additionally, there may be times, such as in-class quizzes, midterms, or finals, where Generative AI usage is prohibited. Any use of AI in those cases will be considered a violation of the academic integrity policy.

My Use of Generative AI: I will model appropriate Generative AI usage by clearly disclosing when I use it and why. Expected use cases include: revising quiz or exam questions and responses (with my oversight), drafting case studies or educational games to help connect our course topics to the real-world, using my notes and previous PowerPoints to improve the structure of my lectures so that they are clearer to you all as students, graphic design, revising assignment instructions and rubrics to improve clarity for students, receiving feedback on how I communicate with students, and using AI research tools to find current articles to update our course readings. I will never use Generative AI to grade your work.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

The goal of this course is YOUR learning. To demonstrate that, all work you submit must be your own. This includes writing in your own words, properly citing sources, and showing your own understanding of the material. If you’re unsure about academic integrity or plagiarism, ask. My goal is to create an environment where you can learn and grow, while also maintaining academic honesty and a clear representation of your learning. Penalties for serious offenses include a zero on the assignment and egregious offenses can even result in expulsion from the university.

Plagiarism as defined by the OU Integrity Office includes:

  • Copying words and presenting them as your own writing.
  • Copying words, even if you give the source, unless you also indicate that the copiewords are a direct quotation
  • Copying words and then changing them a little, even if you give the source.
  • Even if you express it in your own words, it is plagiarism to use someone else’s idea as your own.

Visit the OU Integrity Office for more information on what constitutes plagiarism.

University Policies

The University of Oklahoma has in place a number of policies intended to make the classroom a safe, nurturing environment. This class will adhere to all such requirements. 

Mental Health Support

Support is available for any student experiencing mental health issues that are impacting their academic success.  Students can either been seen at the University Counseling Center (UCC) located on the second floor of Goddard Health Center or receive 24/7/365 crisis support from a licensed mental health provider through TELUS Health.  To schedule an appointment or receive more information about mental health resources at OU please call the UCC at 405-325-2911 or visit  University Counseling Center. The UCC is located at 620 Elm Ave., Room 201, Norman, OK 73019.

​​Title IX Resources and Reporting Requirement

Support is available for any student experiencing mental health issues that are impacting their academic success.  Students can either been seen at the University Counseling Center (UCC) located on the second floor of Goddard Health Center or receive 24/7/365 crisis support from a licensed mental health provider through TELUS Health.  To schedule an appointment or receive more information about mental health resources at OU please call the UCC at 405-325-2911 or visit  University Counseling Center. The UCC is located at 620 Elm Ave., Room 201, Norman, OK 73019.

The University of Oklahoma faculty are committed to creating a safe learning environment for all members of our community, free from gender and sex-based discrimination, including sexual harassment, domestic and dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, in accordance with Title IX. There are resources available to those impacted, including: speaking with someone confidentially about your options, medical attention, counseling, reporting, academic support, and safety plans. If you have (or someone you know has) experienced any form of sex or gender-based discrimination or violence and wish to speak with someone confidentially, please contact OU Advocates (available 24/7 at 405-615-0013) or University Counseling Center (M-F 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 405-325-2911) 

Because the University of Oklahoma is committed to the safety of you and other students, and because of our Title IX obligations, I, as well as other faculty, Graduate Assistants, and Teaching Assistants, are mandatory reporters. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This means that we are obligated to report gender-based violence that has been disclosed to us to the Institutional Equity Office. This includes disclosures that occur in: class discussion, writing assignments, discussion boards, emails and during Student/Office Hours. You may also choose to report directly to the Institutional Equity Office. After a report is filed, the Title IX Coordinator will reach out to provide resources, support, and information and the reported information will remain private. For more information regarding the University’s Title IX Grievance procedures, reporting, or support measures, please visit Institutional Equity Office at 405-325-3546.

Reasonable Accommodation

The University of Oklahoma (OU) is committed to the goal of achieving equal educational opportunity and full educational participation for students with disabilities. If you have already established reasonable accommodations with the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), please submit your semester accommodation request through the ADRC as soon as possible and contact me privately, so that we have adequate time to arrange your approved academic accommodations.

If you have not yet established services through ADRC, but have a documented disability and require accommodations, please complete ADRC’s pre-registration formLinks to an external site. to begin the registration process.  ADRC facilitates the interactive process that establishes reasonable accommodations for students at OU.  For more information on ADRC registration procedures, please review their Register with the ADRC web page.  You may also contact them at (405)325-3852 or adrc@ou.edu, or visit www.ou.edu/adrc for more information.  

Note: disabilities may include, but are not limited to, mental health, chronic health, physical, vision, hearing, learning and attention disabilities, pregnancy-related.  ADRC can also support students experiencing temporary medical conditions.

Religious Observance

It is the policy of the University to excuse the absences of students that result from religious observances and to reschedule examinations and additional required classwork that may fall on religious holidays, without penalty. [See Faculty Handbook 3.15.2]

Adjustments for Pregnancy/Childbirth Related Issues

Should you need modifications or adjustments to your course requirements because of documented pregnancy-related or childbirth-related issues, please contact the Accessibility and Disability Resource Center at 405/325-3852 and/or the Institutional Equity Office at 405/325-3546 as soon as possible. Also, see the Institutional Equity Office FAQ on Pregnant and Parenting Students’ Rights for answers to commonly asked questions.

Final Exam Preparation Period

Pre-finals week will be defined as the seven calendar days before the first day of finals. Faculty may cover new course material throughout this week. For specific provisions of the policy please refer to OU’s Final Exam Preparation Period policy.

Emergency Protocol

During an emergency, there are official university procedures that will maximize your safety.

Severe Weather: If you receive an OU Alert to seek refuge or hear a tornado siren that signals severe weather.

  1. Look for severe weather refuge location maps located inside most OU buildings near the entrances.
  2. Seek refuge inside a building. Do not leave one building to seek shelter in another building that you deem safer. If outside, get into the nearest building.
  3. Goto the building’s severe weather refuge location. If you do not know where that is, go to the lowest level possible and seek refuge in an innermost room. Avoid outside doors and windows.
  4. Get in, Get Down, Cover Up
  5. Waitfor official notice to resume normal activities.

Additional Weather Safety Information is available through the Department of Campus Safety.

The University of Oklahoma Active Threat Guidance

The University of Oklahoma embraces a Run, Hide, Fight strategy for active threats on campus. This strategy is well known, widely accepted, and proven to save lives. To receive emergency campus alerts, be sure to update your contact information and preferences in the account settings section at one.ou.edu.

RUN: Running away from the threat is usually the best option. If it is safe to run, run as far away from the threat as possible. Call 911 when you are in a safe location and let them know from which OU campus you’re calling from and location of active threat.

HIDE: If running is not practical, the next best option is to hide. Lock and barricade all doors; turn of all lights; turn down your phone’s volume; search for improvised weapons; hide behind solid objects and walls; and hide yourself completely and stay quiet. Remain in place until law enforcement arrives. Be patient and remain hidden.

FIGHT: If you are unable to run or hide, the last best option is to fight. Have one or more improvised weapons with you and be prepared to attack. Attack them when they are least expecting it and hit them where it hurts most: the face (specifically eyes, nose, and ears), the throat, the diaphragm (solar plexus), and the groin.

Please save OUPD’s contact information in your phone.

NORMAN campus:  For non-emergencies call (405) 325-1717. For emergencies call (405) 325-1911 or dial 911.

TULSA campus:  For non-emergencies call (918) 660-3900. For emergencies call (918) 660-3333 or dial 911.

Fire Alarm/General Emergency

If you receive an OU Alert that there is danger inside or near the building, or the fire alarm inside the building activates:

  1. LEAVE the building. Do not use the elevators.
  2. KNOW at least two building exits
  3. ASSIST those that may need help
  4. PROCEED to the emergency assembly area
  5. ONCE safely outside, NOTIFY first responders of anyone that may still be inside building due to mobility issues.
  6. WAIT for official notice before attempting to re-enter the building.

OU Fire Safety on CampusLinks to an external site.