Stanford Univerisity

Individually Designed Major Proposal

Julie M. Daley

Spring, 1999

Although the area of technology is always in a state of change and development, the ever-expanding scope of technological inventions are embarking on a new frontier. These inventions are beginning to change our every-day world, reaching new users and redefining the commonplace necessities of life. As more people with varying levels of technological expertise find it practical, indeed mandatory, to use technologically updated devices, these devices must provide interfaces that meet their needs. This requirement suggests that it will no longer be practical for computer science- or engineering-trained professionals to design these people-friendly devices. This function should and will find its way into the hands of people educated and trained in psychology, communication, esthetics, and design; in short, Interaction Designers.

The interaction designer must be able to bridge this historic gap between the creators of technology and those who use it. Whether it be education, business, retail, entertainment, or basic web design, who knows better what is needed in a system than those who will use it and those who know the business being addressed. As technology begins to infiltrate all areas of our lives with the explosion of the Internet, the World Wide Web, and intelligent home and personal devices, this deficiency is being addressed by numerous experts in the industry.

I am pursuing this Individually Designed Major after much research and thought. I transferred to Stanford from Cosumnes River College in Sacramento last fall. Coming from a small town community college in Placerville to Stanford was a huge transition. I came with the intention of majoring in Symbolic Systems, something in which I could blend my experience and enjoyment of Computer Science with my desire to pursue an inter-disciplinary education. However, after speaking with faculty and students in the department, I realized it was not what I was looking for: something combining computer studies with my desire to study and produce technology that will help people. I contacted all of the current students pursuing IDMs that were similar to what I was looking for, and I found exactly what I had hoped — Interaction Design. I believe that there are currently five or six students pursuing this major through the IDM program.

I believe my past experience in the field of Management Information Systems provides me with invaluable insight into the difficulties involved in balancing the desires and needs of the user while ensuring the integrity and quality of their applications and systems. This experience includes twelve years as a programmer/analyst at a community savings bank, where the last eight of those I held the position of Assistant Vice-President, Data Processing Assistant Manager. During this time, I was personally responsible for the analysis, design, coding, implementation, documentation, and even training of various systems and applications, as well as the oversight of the production of such systems. From these experiences, one important problem became clear: There is a very real understanding and communication gap between those creating the systems and those who will use them. Systems were developed with "proper technical methods", but in reality did not meet the user’s needs and desires. These systems simply weren’t used, or if there was no choice, were used with a great amount of frustration and limited efficiency, causing an expensive, wasteful, and most importantly, ineffective use of technology.

Most applications in use today can be designed an infinite number of ways and still provide effective, efficient means for the user to complete their task(s). Yet, most users want more than efficiency. Integrity, functionality, usability, clarity, and pure aesthetics are necessary requirements for many. Technologically sound and efficiently intuitive do not need to be mutually exclusive qualities of business, educational, or entertainment applications. What are needed are the right people with the appropriate education and training to design and create for users.

Designers of software, hardware, devices, and interfaces benefit from an interdisciplinary education giving them a foundation in all areas relevant to their practice. Classes included in this major are therefore drawn from many disciplines and departments, including Art, Communication, Computer Science (systems, programming, and human-computer interaction), Education, Product Design, and Psychology. Furthermore, due to the technological nature of the majority of the classes, completion of this major should result in a Bachelor of Science degree.

A good foundation in art is essential to developing design skills and a feeling for the aesthetic. Basic and Intermediate Design develop design skills in various media while emphasizing the professional design process. The computer animation series through SUDAC, Stanford University Digital Art Center, teaches storyboarding, modeling, and the creation of an animated piece.

The following classes in Communication provide a background in issues grounded in the psychological aspects of human-computer interaction and human-media interaction, and how people are influenced by this interaction.

Classes within the Computer Science department provide the designer with a basic background in programming, enough necessary to ensure an understanding of what is possible and the theory behind it. Further programming in the current areas of Internet and Web applications enhance this understanding and ability level. The majority of classes in Computer Science cover the foundation of this major, human-computer interaction. Beginning with an introduction, and then moving on to project based classes, a thorough understanding of aspects of human-computer interaction are taught. The Topics in HCI investigate one area of design thoroughly taught by someone who is at the cutting edge of design.

[Systems and Programming]

[Human Computer Interaction]

With technology inundating education it is important to realize that any designer may be called upon to provide expertise in the creation of educational products. Education 200x, The Work of Art and Creation of Mind, examines if and how the creation and/or observation of art affects the way we think.

In the area of Product Design, the following classes cover the idea of design as a new way to visualize that, which hasn’t been created yet, and emphasize product design where human values and expression of function are important. Visual Thinking and Engineering Drawing provide more training in drawing what is envisioned and drawing technically respectively.

The last area is very important because it provides the basis for understanding those who will be designed for. Perception is a detailed look at how we hear and see, giving the designer another tool to aid in designing for people.

During my years of employment I completed my certificate in Systems Analysis through UC Davis Extension. Through this program and while at Cosumnes River Community College, I completed the following courses which I feel serve as a firm foundation for this major.

Introduction to Data Processing

COBOL

Calculus — 2 semesters

Physics

Introduction to Architecture and Design Fields

Architecture - Descriptive Drawing

History of Architecture

Art — Introduction to Design

Art — Watercolor

Currently, there is no Stanford undergraduate major available in this area. Students can concentrate in Human Computer Interaction through the Symbolic Systems program, but much of that major is composed of Linguistics and Logic/Philosophy classes that lend themselves to the intended focus of Artificial Intelligence. At this time the Human-Computer Interaction major is strictly at the graduate level.

One departure I have taken from the other Interaction Design IDMs, is a focus on animation. I have chosen to add a graphics component to the major, but have chosen the animation classes through SUDAC for this purpose. I feel the area of animation will be of utmost importance in the technological world I will move into when I leave Stanford.

The need for people who can communicate between engineers, programmers, and designers, etc. is growing as fast as the industries in which they work.

This need is one of the reasons I feel this major is a timely, practical one. However, more importantly, I want to be a designer who contributes to the creation of a technological world in which people can find employment, fulfillment, and pleasure through its use. I envision technology providing an intuitive, natural, productive environment that encourages and stimulates imagination, creativity, and self-exploration and self-growth for its users. These qualities of experience are what I also hope to find and experience in my professional engagement as an Interactive Designer.