Proposal open date: June 1
Proposal close date: August 2 (for September-December projects); November 2 (for January-April projects)
Project timeline: September-December or January-April
Project duration: 15 weeks
Number of projects needed: 5 per semester

SI 699: Mastery User Experience Research and Design

Description

In SI 699: Mastery User Experience Research and Design, master's-level students work on projects that involve identifying a meaningful user experience challenge, conducting UX research to uncover user needs, and developing a prototype that serves as a design solution to the identified challenge. Students go through the lifecycle of user experience research and design (formative research, design, prototyping based on the research, some evaluation) to produce a mutually agreed upon deliverable and communicate the narrative and impact of their project.

Deliverables

• Deliverables will vary by project and be based on the client needs and project scope. Examples may include:
  • User research findings
  • Sketches
  • Prototypes
  • Design recommendations
  • Implementation plans
• Final presentation 

Client Requirements 

• Level of engagement for course/program 
  • 30-60 minute weekly or bi-weekly meetings with student team
  • Regular feedback and communication to student team based on the course schedule
  • Introduction to stakeholders and users for interviews and/or data gathering
  • Access to organizational data, systems and/or resources necessary to project completion
  • Attend final presentation
  • Complete project evaluation
• Special requirements for the course/program 
  • Open and responsive to user research insights and flexible with potential changes to project outcomes

Past Projects

• Students provided design recommendations to a nonprofit genealogy research organization to improve the user experience of family heritage tools related to information gathering, intergenerational exploration and gamification
• Students designed a user-centered accessibility tool to pair/supplement technical accessibility compliance measurements with narrative around the human implications of non-compliance 
• Students designed a way for people with sensory disabilities to navigate their museum and grounds

Past Clients

• Detroit Disability Power
• Ford House

Contact us

Engaged Learning Office | [email protected] | (734) 763-1251

Please complete this form to submit a project proposal for one of our client-based courses or other programs, or to receive information about these opportunities throughout the year.