FIT5152 User interface design and usability
Faculty of Information Technology
FIT5152 User interface design and usability is a level 5, 6-credit-point, postgraduate unit from the Faculty of Information Technology, offered in 2026 in Semester 2 at Clayton. It has no prerequisites.
- Credit points
- 6
- Offered in 2026
- Semester 2
- Clayton
- Assessment
- No exam
- 5 tasks
- Workload
- 144 hours
- per semester
This is the 2026 handbook entry. See the 2027 entry.
Reviews
No reviews yetNo reviews yet. Be the first to review FIT5152.
Requisites
Before FIT5152
Prohibitions
You can't enrol if you have passed any of these.
After FIT5152
No unit lists FIT5152 as a prerequisite in the 2026 handbook.
Equivalent units
The same content under another code. Only one of them counts.
Overview
This unit provides detailed understanding of user interaction design theories, principles and practices and usability for web based systems and small screen devices. The unit examines issues in interaction design and usability from various perspectives, in particular the user experience. The unit includes how to achieve more effective design during systems development, tools and techniques for understanding users better and the application of these to designing web and small screen device systems. It explores contemporary issues including the challenges faced by designers with emerging technologies.
Offerings in 2026
| Teaching period | Campus | Mode |
|---|---|---|
| Second semester | Clayton | Flexible |
Assessment
- Data gathering and user analysis reportProject25%
- Low-fidelity prototyping reportProject25%
- High-Fidelity prototyping and evaluation reportProject30%
- Presentation and DemoPresentation10%
- In-class activitiesExercise10%
Assessment details may change. Please refer to the assessment information in Moodle closer to the start of the teaching period.
Learning outcomes
When you finish this unit, you should be able to:
- 1
Use and explain HCI theories, principles and guidelines;
- 2
Identify and analyse the elements, controls and constraints of effective user interfaces in different platforms;
- 3
Design and justify a useful and usable interface by applying user-centred design principles;
- 4
Critically evaluate and assess a user interface and provide recommendations.
Workload and teaching
- Seminars24 hours
- Applied sessions24 hours
- Teaching approachProblem-based learning
- Teaching approachResearch activities
- Teaching approachPeer assisted learning
Minimum total expected workload to achieve the learning outcomes for this unit is 144 hours per semester typically comprising a mixture of scheduled online and face to face learning activities and independent study. Independent study may include associated reading and preparation for scheduled teaching activities.
Learning resources
Recommended resources
Shneiderman, Plasiant, Cohen and Jacobs (2014) Designing the User Interface: Strategies for Effective Human-Computer Interaction, 5th Edition. Pearson.
Don Norman, 2013, The Design of Everyday Things, available online
Theresa Neil, 2014, Mobile Design Pattern Gallery: UI Patterns for Smartphone Apps, O'Reilly Media; 2 edition
Jenny Preece, Helen Sharp, Yvonne Rogers, Interaction Design: Beyond Human-Computer Interaction, 4th Edition
Where it fits
FIT5152 is part of 1 area of study in the 2026 handbook.
Contacts
- Chief Examiners
- Dr Swamy Ananthanarayan
- Unit Coordinators
- Dr Rob Teather
Common questions
What are the prerequisites for FIT5152?
FIT5152 has no prerequisites.
When is FIT5152 offered?
In 2026, FIT5152 runs in Semester 2 at Clayton.
How much work is FIT5152?
The handbook expects about 144 hours of study across the semester. No students have rated its difficulty yet.
Does FIT5152 have an exam?
No. FIT5152 has 5 assessment tasks and no exam.
Which majors and minors include FIT5152?
FIT5152 is part of Computational science.