Unit Overview
- Description
The digital products that shape our lives are not only built on technological brilliance—they are designed with people in mind. This unit, Human-Computer Interaction and Design, introduces the principles and practices of Human–Computer Interaction and design, grounded in a Human-Centred Design framework. It begins with the history and philosophy of experience design before progressing to core methods of Interaction Design.
Students learn to critically evaluate interactive products using design principles and heuristic analysis, and to apply research methods that uncover users and their contexts—both individual and social. Reflective practice is embedded throughout the subject, with students maintaining a journal that demonstrates engagement with key concepts and their application to everyday digital products.
A research project enables students to explore the complexity of user experience, build empathy for users, and develop a nuanced understanding of a challenging problem space. Findings and user insights are presented in class, supporting collegiate and critical discussion.
An extended design project, following the British Design Council Double Diamond process, provides hands-on experience in ideation, prototyping, and iteration. Students develop and communicate solutions using industry-standard artefacts such as personas, user flows, and wireframes. AI tools are used to support the generation of advanced prototypes and design outputs, which are then presented and critically evaluated through interactive oral assessment.
The subject also examines the broader social, economic, and political dimensions of technology design.
Human–Computer Interaction is an interdisciplinary field drawing on computer science, engineering, psychology, sociology and visual design. The unit is suitable for students from a broad range of disciplinary backgrounds who are interested in the design and evaluation of digital products and user experiences.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
Availability Location Mode First year of offer Not available in 2026 UWA (Perth) On-campus - Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 3 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) describe the core methods of interaction design; (2) evaluate critically existing interactive products using design principles and heuristic analysis; (3) design interfaces by developing prototypes through sketching, iteration, and testing; and (4) discuss the social, economic, and political dimensions of technology design.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) weekly reflective journal; (2) group research report and presentation; and (3) design project with demonstration. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Dr Dan Conway
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion of96 points
- Advisable prior study
- Completion of 96 points in the areas of Computer Science, Cybersecurity, Data Science, Psychology, Software Engineering, Communication and Media Studies,
or related disciplines.
- Contact hours
- lectures: 2 hours per week
labs: 2 hours per week
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.