Week 1
Tue 1/20 
– Course/ Syllabus Introduction
– Lecture: Intro to ID2
– Project Introduction

Homework:
– Start thinking about ideas for collections. (5 possible themes/ideas )
– Bring in an example website to share with the class. Add Here
This website should be one that you admire for its narrative qualities, and usability, should be a website that puts the user experience over aesthetics.
– Complete Reading:
Graphic Design Thinking | Beyond Brainstorming, Ellen Lupton, 2011

Thur 1/22
– Discuss Graphic Design Thinking
– Student present their website inspiration
– Phase 1 | Research begins

Homework: 
– Three different preliminary ideas for the Collection project for individual meetings & discussion. PDF format.     
– Complete Reading:
Universal Methods of Design (Phase 1 & 2), Martin & Hanington, 2019

Week 2
Tue 1/27
– Phase I: Research
– Discuss Universal Methods of Design
– Individual critique to select 2 Ideas/Themes for Collection Project                                                                                                      

Thur 1/29
– Phase I: Research
– Students will create a PDF presentation outlining two (2) possible themes or project directions they are interested in pursuing further this semester around the theme “collection”. For each direction, you should research and develop the idea enough to clearly explain: What the idea is? Why it interests you? What Potential it has as a full project?
Presentation should include:
– Concept Overview (A short written description)
– Context + Research (Visual, cultural, social, or historical references)
– Visual Exploration (Raw Material – Found Imagery, Sketches, Typefaces you’re drawn to, Color palettes, etc.)
– Optional / Bonus Content (Questions you’re still unsure about, Influences, Personal connection or motivation )   

Week 3
Tue 2/3
– DUE: 2 Ideas/themes for Collection Project in PDF Format      
– Class Critique and Discussion

Homework: 
– If you haven’t selected a theme/idea for your collection, choose one.
– Develop a creative brief (2 if you are still undecided) of your selected theme (Objective, Target Audience, Motivators, Purpose, Relevance, Deliverables) and submit it to the class drive


Thu 2/5
– Creative Brief One-on-Ones
– Defining Audience: Introduce interview methods, personas, user stories & HUNT Statement.
– Working Session

Homework: 
– List at least 10 people to interview and 10 questions to ask. The questions should not garner yes or no responses, remember the questions are meant to gather information. It would be best if you were asking questions from the perspective of your topic. You’re trying to find out the interests of the people you’re interviewing concerning your topic.
– Creative Brief PDF

Also, look over the Ideo: Research Methodologies pdf and fill out the Outreach Plan and Discussion Guide.

Week 4
Tue 2/10
– Due: Creative Brief in Google Drive
– Come up with 12-15 questions for your interviews. List places where you will find the right type of public to conduct your interviews.
– Interview Methods
– Individual crits about interview approach

Homework:
– Start your interviews, at least 2 due next class
– Bring at least 10 pieces of content that support your collection (articles, books, videos, campaigns, social media, imagery, etc.)

Thur 2/12
Due: 10-12 questions for your interview + 2 interviews down.
– Conduct Interviews outside classroom
– Continue to research project topic and gather data/images.

Homework:
– Conclude interviews. Gather sort and visualize your data

Week 5  
Tue 2/17
– Phase II: User Personas & Information Architecture
– Interview results / Content Presentation and Feedback 
– Work Session
– Interviews expressed as data visualization graphs/charts
– Start carving Persona charts. Make use of surveys to gather more data.

Homework: Continue adding information to your persona charts based on survey results. Based on that information, write your user stories.
– PDF Presentations
– Add all interviews to class drive

Thur 2/19
– Phase II: User Personas & Information Architecture
– Interviews, Personas, User Stories, Hunt Statement, Data Realization Charts, and Brainstorm title ideas.
– Work Session

Homework:
– Complete Interviews, Personas, User Stories, Hunt Statement, Data Realization Charts, and Brainstorm title ideas in PDF Presentation added in google drive.

Week 6
Tue 2/24
– Phase II: User Personas & Information Architecture
– Interviews, Personas, User Stories, Hunt Statement, Data Realization Charts, and Title Ideas Presentations 
– Class Critique and Discussion

Homework: 
– Write an Abstract (100 words)

Thur 2/26
– Interviews, Personas, User Stories, Hunt Statement, Data Realization Charts, and Title Ideas Presentations Cont.
– Phase III: Concept Development
– Site Architecture + User Journey + Site Mapping.

Homework: 
– Work on User Journeys and Site Maps

Week 7
Tue 3/3
– Phase III: Concept Development
– Work Session
– Continue working on User Journeys and Site Maps

Thur 3/5
– Phase III: Concept Development
– Site Architecture: Wireframes 
– Work Session

Homework:
– Hand sketch (low fidelity) at least 6 wireframes

Week 8
Tue 3/10
– Phase IV: Design Development
– Work Session/ One-On-Ones
– Continue working on Wireframes
– Figma Workshop

Thur 3/12
– Phase IV: Design Development
– Work Session/ One-On-Ones
– Refine/Digitize Wireframes on Figma

Week 9

SPRING BREAK (Sat, March 14, 2026 to Sun, March 22, 2026)

Spring Break Homework
– Continue to define and develop your site’s design direction.
– Implement your wireframes in Figma.
– Midterm Presentation PDF (Requirements here)

Week 10

Tues 3/24 
Midterm Presentations: Group 2 |
Draft 1 of Figma Site Share Link to Drive.

Thur 3/26
Midterm Presentations: Group 1 |
Draft 1 of Site/app Share Link to Drive.

Week 11

Tue 3/31
– Phase V: Implementation (Prototyping)
– Critique/discussion of prototypes to date.

Thur 4/02
– Lives In Translation: A Feeling of Itself
@ 6:00 PM
Project for Empty Space
800 Broad Street, Newark, NJ 07102

Week 12

Tue 4/07
Phase V: Implementation (Prototyping)
Phase V: User Testing

Homework:
– Finalize Design on Figma

Thur 4/9
Phase V: Implementation (Prototyping)
Phase V: User Testing Introduction

Homework:
– Finalize Prototyping and Design
– Start Thinking of People that you will user test

Week 13

Tue 4/14
– Phase V: User Testing
– Phase VI: Refinements based on Testing
– Work Session/ One-On-Ones

Thur 4/16
– Tracework – Senior Showcase at Ironside
– Phase VI: Refinements based on Testing

Homework:
– User Testing completed

Week 14

Tue 4/21
Phase VI: Refinements based on Testing
– Based on Feedback from User testing adjust site

Thur 4/23
– No Class/ Continue to refine prototype
Homework:
Phase VI: Refinements based on Testing
Due: 2nd Draft of Site for Individual Critique Cont.

Week 15

Tue 4/28
Phase VII: Final Design & Working Prototype
Process Book Demo

Thur 4/30
Last Day of Class
Phase VII: Final Design & Working Prototype

Exam Schedule to be determined. Please refer to following link for latest updates:
https://scheduling.rutgers.edu/scheduling/academic-calendar