In this presentation, Charles Hannon presents a model for undergraduate IxD education that appeals to Millennial students’ desire for hands-on learning methods and for academic work that has visible community impact. This is a two-course sequence in which IxD methods are taught in the fall and then implemented in the spring through a community service project. The second course functions as a capstone for students in an interdisciplinary computing and information studies major.
Few students begin the sequence with specific interests in human-centered design; clients, usually nonprofit agency directors, typically require coaching to understand their I.T. design challenges and the tools available to address them. The program thus places undergraduates with little formal design experience into positions where they help community organizers with real needs and limited resources.
Co-presenter and program graduate Jacqueline Bytnar will share her story as an example. She'll discuss how her experience with a public library redesign project in 2010 shaped her subsequent marketing & design career.
