Nowadays it is hard to imagine a website that does not adapt itself to the user, based on interaction behavior. Almost all websites have some form of personalization, either by applying Information Retrieval principles for filtering on social media websites, or by using Recommender Systems to alter the content on e-commerce or multi-media websites.

However, prior to thinking about how to have a website with automated, data-driven personalization, it is necessary to create a usable website in itself. In my course Interaction Design (EBC4226) in the MSc program Business Intelligence and Smart Services, I teach students how to come to a proper interaction design of a product or service. Since the course is part of a Business Intelligence and Smart Services program, students will in addition learn about the potential of using interaction behavior for quantitative user research and the possibilties of personalization. 

The textbook I use for the course is Designing for the Digital Age, by Kim Goodwin. Using this book as a basis I will teach students the theory and principles behind interaction design. They will put the theory to practice by going through one interaction design cycle. Starting off with existing designs of products or services from partners in the Brightlands Smart Services Campus, they will conduct user research, formulate requirements and come up with a design in the form of mockups, wireframes, prototypes or working proof-of-concepts. In addition they will be asked to consider options for personalization in the given product or service. 

  • Theory of Interaction Design
  • Conducting (Qualitative) User Research
  • Designing Mockups/Prototypes/Proof-of-Concepts
  • Personalization