Prerequisite: Completion of a Tier II writing class or permission of the instructor. TC346, TC446, TC445, TC455, or TC498 (or other similar interactive/game design class) strongly suggested, but not required.

At the end of this course, you will:

• Understand the characteristics of Web 2.0 sites
• Understand how these change the way we use the Internet
• Know how to use the basic tools for developing these sites
• Have experience in building your own basic site

Note that this is a project-based course.  To put your knowledge into action, you will do some basic computer programming in a team to develop your final project.  In terms of technologies, we will primarily focus on Ruby on Rails, Apache, and MySQL.  

Interaction Design for Gaming and Simulation will introduce students to the design and scripting of 3D interactive games, simulations, and virtual reality environments. Work in the class will use the Virtools simulation engine for both gaming and virtual environment design. The focus is on procedural skill development. The class will cover conceptualization, storyboarding, design, asset management, and interactive scripting.

Students will be responsible for design exercises, small projects, and may work alone or in teams on a longer 3D interactive design project.

Requirements: Knowledge of 3DS Max or Maya, previous experience with scripting or programming.

More details on the course web site.

TC 848: Information Architecture
taught by Sasha Verhage
Design Lead for Google Small Business
Weekend one credit special topics course
March 31 to April 1, 2007

STUDENT FEEDBACK FROM LAST YEAR:

“Sasha's class was REALLY REALLY good. He's one of the best teachers I have had - he really knew the material and how to express it in a logical way. He also used a lot of good class exercises to supplement the slides.”
 
“He is a very interactive teacher and has great insight on the industry. It was a valuable experience and I hope we keep this program going so that other students can benefit.”
 
“His lecture was amazing !! All the topics he covered , all the information he gave us, talks with people in the industry and the list is endless. Most of all he was an excellent teacher. He had our full attention from 9 to 4 !!   I am so glad I went for his class. Additional to all this he is even giving us 15 miinutes individual time with him to discuss anything we want. wow!!  Thank you so much for giving us a chance to interact with some one like Sasha !!”
 
“I sat in on Sasha's class this weekend, and I attended his speech on Friday afternoon as well, and I just wanted to let you know that I thoroughly enjoyed meeting him and hearing his advice and enthusiasm.
He had such a positive and refreshing view of us as students, and he told us directly that "he believes in us" and I think that is so powerful for students to hear from someone in his position.  He values education and is willing to act as a bridge between education and the industry and that is a very powerful asset for the college and the department.  I appreciate all the work and time that you put into making this class happen.“
 
“This weekend in Sasha Verhage's special topics class on Information Architecture, we had an industry call with Jack Skates, Director of Project Management at Jaman.  Jack was introduced to us as a "thought leader" by Sasha and Jack's described one of his first positions as a web developer "before most people knew what the web was".  The project that he is managing at Jaman delivers digital videos over the web in innovative ways, "not available before."  The Beta version of their product is scheduled to launch in May, around the time of the Cannes Film Festival, and utilizes video, AJAX and Flash technologies.
 
He has really great advice for students.  He said to not "limit yourself to 'web' " and that the "web is just another UI platform."  He explained that the distinction is "getting fuzzy between what is software and what is a website" and this distinction will only continue to become blurred. “

Tentative Schedule:

I. Day 1- Information Architecture
9:30 am Start
A.    Icebreaker- 15 mins.
1.    Who are you? Why are you here?
2.    What inspires you- creatively, emotionally, or spiritually?
3.    Based on your reading or curiosity, write 2-3 questions on post-in note. 
B.    Agenda & Goals- 15 mins.
1.    Inputs
2.    What we'll cover- Daily Agenda
3.    What I expect & project

C.    Design Exercise- 30 mins.
Goal- Learn from example. Engage
1.    Reverse engineer - Dell home page
2.    Designing a vase
3.    Designing an experience

10:30-10:45 Break
D.    Development Process- 1 hr 15 min
Goal- Share industry practices. Establish structure to hang all activities.
1.    Divergent > convergent> divergent 
2.    Common "Development Process" Models
Discover; Define; Concept; Design; Implement 
Investigate; Design; Build
3.    Definition- "Good Design"
4.    Definition- User Experience

12-1 pm LUNCH
E.    Information Architecture- 15 mins.
Goal- Provide definition and clear explanation.
1.    Definition
2.    Need
3.    Consequences
4.    Roles & Responsibilities
F.    User Experience Design Activities- 30 mins.
Goal- Share industry practices. Provide examples. Explain how it fits in process.
1.    Requirements Gathering
2.    Personas (e.g. Y! Auto's team poster)
3.    Task Analysis 
Exercise: Planning a Dinner Party- 30 mins.
4.    Concept Models (e.g. Janus; EA; Y! Personals)
5.    Organization Models- 
6.    Site Map (Y! Autos)
7.    Wireframes (e.g. EA or Wine.com 
G.    Content Architecture I- 15 mins.
Goal- Provide foundational knowledge. Share industry practices.
1.    Classification systems
2.    Meta Data
3.    Navigational Models- task, topical, dynamic, hybrid
2- 2:15 BREAK
H.    Card Sorting Exercise- 30 mins. 
I.    Content Architecture II- 15 mins.
Goal- Continue foundational knowledge. Explain evolving techniques & practices.
1.    Controlled Vocabularies, Synonym Rings, and Classification schemes
2.    Thesauri, Associations, etc.
3pm
J.    Industry Call- Tom Wailes (Sr. Design Manager at Yahoo!; - 45 mins.
1.    Prep- 15 mins.
2.    Call- 30 mins. (at 3:15 EST, 12:15pm PST) 
K.    Closing -15 mins.
1.    Closing Thoughts 
2.    Next Day homework- Bring example of UI and/or information design.

II. Day 2- Interface Design & Industry

9:30 Start
A.    Kickoff- 15 mins.
1.    Questions
2.    Agenda
B.    Background- 15 mins.
1.    Quick History of GUI
2.    Definition
C.    Web Interface and Navigation- 1 hour
1.    Common positioning
2.    Global navigation
3.    Local navigation
4.    Contextual navigation
5.    Inline links, Related Items, Pagination, etc.
11-11:15 Break
D.    Emerging Conventions- 45 mins.
1.    Comparing similarities and differences
2.    "Relationship b/w two as told through products" Dan Saffer's slide

12-1 pm LUNCH
E.    Industry Terms & Current Trends- 30 mins.
1.    Call to Action
2.    Button Gravity
3.    Design Patterns  (e.g. yahoo's new design library)
4.    Contextually Relevant
5.    Content Management System
6.    Return on Investment
7.    Live Testing (e.g. Autos navigation and nomenclature)
8.    R.I.T.E method- Rapid Iterative Testing Evaluation
9.    Search Engine Optimization (e.g. TripAdvisor)
10.    Data Mining
11.    Switching Costs

F.    Exercise- Designing an elevator interface- 30 mins. 
G.    Getting a Job- 45 mins.
1.    Almost 10 years ago, no options. Era of Microfiche
2.    Irene's qualities of a good designer
3.    Different titles for similar jobs 
4.    Strategies on getting experience 
5.    Deconstructing a Job Description
3 pm BREAK
H.    Industry Call- Special Guest- 45 mins.
1.    Prep- 15 mins.
2.    Call- 30 mins. (at 3:15 EST, 12:15pm PST)
I.    Closing -15 mins.
1.    Closing Thoughts 
2.    Assignment- Redesigning a music site.
3.    Future Reading List
4.    Contact info
III. Suggested Readings
•    Book- "Information Architecture", Christina Wodtke, ~$30
•    Book- "Designing Visual Interfaces", Kevin Mullett and Darrell Sano, 
•    (optional)- Book- "Designing Business", Clement Mok; out of print? ~$60
•    (optional)- Book- all 3 Tufte books 
•    (optional)- Book- O'Reilly's "Information Architecture" , by Lou Rosenfeld, latest edition
•    (optional)- Book- Design Patterns
•    "Dating Example for Information Architecture" poster
•    "Design of Everyday Things", Donald Norman
•    Information Design, Pete Wilder?
•    Way things Work, David Macaulay

VI. Resources
•    Boxes and Arrows website
•    Useit.org
•    Christina Wodtke's blog http://www.eleganthack.com and http://www.widgetopia.com
•    http://www.aifia.org
•    Universal Model of User Interfaces Bob Baxley-http://www.baxleydesign.com/pubs/articles/archives/a_universal_mod.html
•    http://www.eleganthack.com/widgetopia/
•    http://www.challishodge.com
•    Design Patterns Site http://time-tripper.com/uipatterns/index.php

VII. Industry Leaders
•    Adaptive Path
•    Peter Morville's Semantic Studios in Ann Arbor
•    Lou Rosenfeld
•    Jakob Neilsen; author, co-founder of NNG, useit.org
•    Donald Norman; author, co-founder of NNG
•    Jared Spool
•    Clement Mok
•    Erik Speikermann
•    Richard Saul Wurman
•    Christina Wodtke
•    Samantha Bailey
•    Challis Hodge
•    Richard Anderson
•    The Understanding Business