Winter 2025

Interface Design

VC235

Syllabus

VC 235 Interface Design
Chemeketa Community College

Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:30 AM–11:20 AM (CRN #64218)

Winter 2025 • Four credits
In-Person Course •  Building 4/229

Course website: hoelter.chemeketa.vc/vc235

Instructor: Peter Hoelter

Contact Information

E-mail:
Phone/Voicemail: 503.399.6475
Office Location: Building 4/221C
Office Hours: Mondays & Wednesdays 12:30 PM–2:30 PM; Tuesdays 1:30 PM–2:30 PM

Course Description

Introduces students to interface design for desktop and mobile browser-based platforms. Course approaches interface design problems from both visual design and usability perspectives. Includes requirements analysis, design process, grid and hierarchy, usability, and basic technical features and limitations of the medium.

Prerequisites

ART224 and VC224, both with a grade of C or better; or consent of instructor.

Student Evaluation

The class is comprised primarily of classroom and lab instruction reinforced by a number of in-depth class projects and critiques. In addition, participation and student professional conduct are also evaluated and contribute to your final grade.

Performance Based Learner Outcomes

Upon successful completion of the course, students should be able to:

  1. Produce interface designs based on current graphic design principles.
  2. Apply technical and design concepts as they relate to web and user experience design.
  3. Use current experience design applications to create professional-looking interface design mock-ups.
  4. Apply user psychology, user-centric design, and usability principles to navigation design problems.
  5. Participate in self-critiques and critiques with others.
  6. Use industry standard terminology in discussing web design.
  7. Research, document, and plan the design and interactive of complex websites.

Required Texts

There are no required textbooks for this course.

A list of reference texts can be found on the References section of the course Web site.

Optional Text

There is one optional textbook for this class. This book was previously required for this course:

Above the Fold, Miller, Brian. (HOW Books - Web site)

Required Materials

  • A free account with Figma (use your school address and join the class team)
  • Portable storage device (such as a bus-powered USB3 hard drive) or cloud storage service to save and retain class work
  • Internet access
  • Notebook and pen

INCLEMENT WEATHER

Since this is a winter term course, it is quite possible that there will be delays and cancellations of class due to weather. If the College is completely closed or on a two-hour delay, we will not meet in any way.

Grading :: Points

640 points are available in this class.

Course Component Points %
Projects
(2 at 100 points each; 1 at 200 points)		 400 points 63%
Group & Design Labs
(8 at 20 points each; 2 at 40 points)		 240 points 37%

Grading :: Scale

Grade Level Point Range Standard Grade Points
A 90-100% 576 – 640 Excellent 4.0
B 80-89% 512 – 575 Very Capable 3.0
C 70-79% 448 – 511 Competent 2.0
D 60-69% 384 – 447 Limited Success 1.0
F 0-59% 383 and lower Failure 0.0
I Incomplete – granted only under extenuating circumstances and
must be discussed before the last week of class.		 0.0

Late Work

All assigned exercises and projects are due either at the beginning of class (in the case of homework exercises and projects) or at the end of class (in the case of lab exercises) as specified by the course calendar. Late course work will be accepted only for partial credit. Exercise and project grades will be reduced by 20% (two letter grades) for each class period the assignment is late. Points for missed lab exercises can only be made up outside of class and only for partial credit. Course work more than two class periods late is accepted, but will only be marked as “Completed” and will not have a point value. You will not be able to make up missed quizzes or exams.

An extension due to extenuating circumstances such as health or other personal problems can be obtained by receiving permission from the instructor, either prior to or after the fact, by submitting appropriate written documentation to the college or by contacting the instructor directly. Please refer to the Chemeketa Community College guidelines for further information.

Attendance and Participation

Class attendance is an important part of the course experience. Much of the course content is only available by attending class. You are responsible for obtaining any notes that you missed during an absence, either from a classmate or from the class website. Participation in class discussions, labs, and student professionalism are all factored into your classroom grade. If you must miss a class, please notify me, either by e-mail or in person, prior to class so arrangements can be made.

Class session recordings

Class sessions may recorded and made available to enrolled students on our course Canvas page. This will be both an audio and a visual recording. This means that by attending class, either in-person or by Zoom, you are agreeing to have your video and/or image recorded. If you participate by speaking, you are agreeing to have your voice recorded. If you participate by making comments in the chat feature, you are agreeing to have your name and comments recorded. For Zoom class sessions, if you do not want your profile or video image recorded, turn off your video and remove your profile image. If you do not want your voice recorded, mute your microphone. If you do not want your name and comment(s) recorded, do not use the chat feature. If you are unable to communicate with me during the class meeting due to your wish not to be recorded, please contact me to make other arrangements.

Lab Policies

Cell phones must be turned to silent mode during class. If a call must be answered, take the call outside of the classroom and student work spaces. Lab workstations should only be used for class work—Web browsing, e-mail, game play, video-watching, messaging and other non-class related computer activities should be reserved for other computers on campus. Expect the lab computers to be turned off during certain lectures throughout the quarter. No food or drink is allowed in the computer labs. Refer to the Visual Communications Student Handbook document for a complete list of lab guidelines.

Use of AI

AI is here, today, in our graphic design world. Photoshop 2024 has generative AI built right in as a tool alongside Curves and masking. As a student training to enter the creative services workforce, you must learn how to appropriately incorporate AI elements with original content, both graphical and text-based. While AI is unlikely to play a major role in this course, be sure to follow any instructions given on a project or exercise handout regarding the expectations around the use of AI. If not specified, assume that the use of AI is not allowed in a given assignment. However, if you see a potential, positive application of it, reach out to the instructor for clarification before using one of these tools, and always give credit to the engine that generates content for you.

Academic Honesty

Learning is built on the fundamental qualities of honesty, fairness, respect and trust. At Chemeketa Community College, academic integrity is a shared endeavor characterized by academic honesty, personal responsibility and high academic standards. Any violation of academic integrity devalues the individual and the community as a whole. One important aspect of academic integrity is academic honesty. Violations of academic honesty include: Plagiarism, Collusion/Inappropriate Assistance, Cheating, Fabrication/Falsification/Alteration, Unauthorized Multiple Submission, Sabotage, and Tampering. A student who violates academic honesty will be subject to disciplinary action according to Students Rights and Responsibilities.

Visit the Academic Honesty website for additional information on college policies, and violation penalties.

Diversity

We are a college community enriched by the diversity of our students, staff, and community members. Each individual and group has the potential to contribute in our learning environment. Each has dignity. To diminish the dignity of one is to diminish the dignity of us all.

Student Accessibility Services

Accommodations are collaborative efforts between students, faculty, and Student Accessibility Services. If you have already been approved for accommodations and requested them for this term, both you and I receive a Letter of Accommodation by e-mail. It is important that we discuss the accommodations as early in the term as possible. Students who believe they are eligible for accommodations but who have not yet obtained approval through Student Accessibility Services should phone 503.399.5192, visit the office in Building 2/174, or visit the Student Accessibility Services website.

Affirmative Action

It is the policy of Chemeketa Community College and its Board that there will be no discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ethnic origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, citizenship status, pregnancy and related conditions, family relationship, veteran’s status, disabilities and tobacco usage in any educational programs, activities or employment.
Persons having questions about equal opportunity/affirmative action should contact the Affirmative Action Officer at 4000 Lancaster Dr. NE, Salem, Oregon 97309-7070, or call 503.399.4784. To request this publication in an alternative format, please call 503.399.5192.

Advising and Counseling

Academic advising is available for any Chemeketa student and is required for all first year, degree or certificate seeking students. Meeting with an advisor can help clarify your academic and life goals, choose classes that prepared you for a career, and/or identify transfer options. Instructors are also available to discuss class, degree, and career options.

Salem Student Services & Resources

College Address

Chemeketa Community College
4000 Lancaster Dr. NE
Salem, Oregon 97309