Introduction:
Interaction Design (IxD) is a crucial aspect of creating user-centered digital products that are intuitive, efficient, and enjoyable. This course provides participants with a deep understanding of the principles of interaction design and the importance of usability testing in refining user interfaces and improving overall user experience. Through hands-on activities, participants will learn how to design interactive interfaces and conduct usability tests to ensure that products meet user needs and expectations.

Objectives:
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the principles of interaction design and apply them to create effective user interfaces.
• Design user interactions that are intuitive, engaging, and efficient.
• Learn the different types of usability testing and how to apply them.
• Conduct usability testing to identify issues and improve product designs.
• Analyze usability testing data to make informed design decisions.
• Use industry-standard tools and methods for interaction design and usability testing.

Who Should Attend?
This course is suitable for professionals involved in product design, UX design, and usability testing. It is ideal for:

• Interaction designers and UX designers.
• Product managers and business owners interested in improving user experiences.
• Usability testers and researchers.
• Web and mobile developers who want to enhance their design skills.
• Anyone interested in learning about designing intuitive interactions and conducting usability tests.

Day 1: Introduction to Interaction Design and User-Centered Design

Morning Session:

• What is Interaction Design (IxD)?

  • Defining Interaction Design and its role in user experience (UX).
  • The difference between Interaction Design and User Interface (UI) Design.
  • Key principles of interaction design: Feedback, consistency, efficiency, and clarity.
  • The relationship between interaction design and usability in product design.

• The Process of Interaction Design

  • The interaction design process: Research, design, prototype, test, and iterate.
  • User-centered design (UCD): Focusing on the needs, behaviors, and goals of users.
  • Defining user personas and understanding user goals and tasks.

Afternoon Session:

• Key Components of Interaction Design

  • Interaction patterns: Button placement, navigation, form design, and input methods.
  • Information architecture: Organizing and structuring content to support user navigation.
  • Feedback and response time: Ensuring the system responds immediately to user actions.
  • Affordances and signifiers: Designing elements that indicate their function to the user.

• Hands-On Lab: Analyzing Existing Interactions

  • Participants will analyze the interactions in an existing app or website to identify strengths and weaknesses.
  • Discuss improvements based on IxD principles and best practices.

Day 2: Designing Interactions and Creating Prototypes

Morning Session:

• Designing User Interactions

  • Designing for clarity and simplicity: Reducing cognitive load and minimizing steps.
  • Designing for error prevention: Clear instructions, feedback on actions, and undo options.
  • Interaction design for mobile vs. desktop: Adjusting designs for different screen sizes and input methods (touch, keyboard, etc.).
  • Designing microinteractions: Small but meaningful interactions that enhance the user experience.

• Prototyping for Interaction Design

  • What is a prototype? The purpose of prototypes in the design process.
  • Low-fidelity vs. high-fidelity prototypes: When to use each type and their respective tools.
  • Tools for creating prototypes: Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, and InVision.

Afternoon Session:

• Hands-On Lab: Creating Interactive Prototypes
  • Participants will use a prototyping tool (e.g., Figma or Adobe XD) to create low-fidelity interactive prototypes.
  • Focus on designing basic user flows, buttons, navigation, and other key interactions.

Day 3: Usability Testing Overview and Methods

Morning Session:

• What is Usability Testing?
  • The purpose of usability testing: Identifying issues and ensuring ease of use.
  • The relationship between usability testing and interaction design.
  • Usability testing goals: Finding and fixing issues before the product goes live.
• Types of Usability Testing
  • Formative vs. summative usability testing: Testing during design vs. testing post-design.
  • Moderated vs. unmoderated testing: Facilitated testing vs. self-guided testing.
  • Remote vs. in-person testing: Conducting tests in different environments and conditions.

Afternoon Session:

• Preparing for Usability Testing

  • How to plan usability tests: Defining objectives, creating scenarios, and selecting participants.
  • Types of tasks to test: Common tasks users perform when using the product.
  • Creating test scripts and deciding on metrics for success (e.g., task completion time, error rate, satisfaction).

• Hands-On Lab: Planning Usability Tests

  • Participants will create a usability test plan for an existing app or website, including tasks, scenarios, and metrics.

Day 4: Conducting Usability Testing and Analyzing Results

Morning Session:

• Conducting Usability Tests

  • How to run a usability test: Welcoming participants, explaining the process, and observing interactions.
  • Collecting qualitative and quantitative data: Note-taking, screen recordings, and feedback surveys.
  • Facilitating usability tests: Guiding users through tasks while allowing natural interactions.

• Collecting Data and Observations

  • Observing users’ facial expressions, body language, and verbal feedback during testing.
  • Recording issues: What to look for (task completion, confusion, frustration, errors).
  • Gathering feedback after the test: Post-test interviews and satisfaction ratings.

Afternoon Session:

• Analyzing Usability Testing Results

  • How to analyze usability data: Identifying recurring issues and patterns.
  • Prioritizing issues: What to address first based on severity and frequency.
  • Reporting usability findings to stakeholders: Presenting the findings, implications, and recommendations.

• Hands-On Lab: Conducting Usability Tests

  • Participants will conduct usability tests on their prototypes or an existing product, observing users and recording feedback.
  • Analyzing results from the usability test and identifying key areas for improvement.

Day 5: Iterating on Design and Course Wrap-Up

Morning Session:

• Iterating on Design Based on Testing

  • How to improve the design based on usability feedback: Making informed decisions and refining interactions.
  • Iteration in the design process: Why it’s essential for continuous improvement.
  • Working with developers: How to communicate design changes effectively.

• Usability Testing for Continuous Improvement

  • How usability testing fits into the product lifecycle: Testing during and after development.
  • Testing for different types of products: Web apps, mobile apps, enterprise systems.
  • Conducting testing throughout the product lifecycle to ensure long-term usability.

Afternoon Session:

• Final Hands-On Lab: Iterating and Improving Prototypes

  • Participants will iterate on their interactive prototypes based on feedback from the usability testing session.
  • Refine the design to address usability issues identified during testing.

• Course Wrap-Up and Final Q&A

  • Recap of the key concepts covered: Interaction design principles, usability testing methods, and iteration.
  • Open Q&A session to clarify any outstanding questions.
  • Final project review: Participants will present their designs and usability testing results.