The Spring 2026 version of IAT-438UX Design
On this page:
Course overview
Important information for an overview of UX Design.
Projects and exercises
Course-work for the term.
Projects
Longer and more complex.
P1: Practice
- Individual/Group project.
- From January 8 to February 5.
- Worth 20% of final grade.
P2: Better
- Individual/Group project.
- From February 5 to March 11.
- Worth 30% of final grade.
P3: Best UX
- Individual/Group project.
- From March 11 to April 8.
- Worth 40% of final grade.
Reading reflections
Written reflections on reading content.
Reading reflection #1
- From January 8 to January 8.
Reading reflection #2
- From January 15 to January 15.
Reading reflection #3
- From January 22 to January 22.
Reading reflection #4
- From February 5 to February 5.
Reading reflection #5
- From March 4 to March 4.
Reading reflection #6
- From March 18 to March 18.
Reading reflection #7
- From February 25 to March 4.
Reading reflection #8
- From March 4 to March 11.
Reading reflection #9
- From March 11 to March 18.
Reading reflection #10
- From March 18 to March 25.
Lectures
All lectures slides for Spring 2026.
Is it a problem? (January 8)
Scoping and defining design problems to research.
Why research? (January 15)
Research approaches and methodologies.
Is it an insight? (January 22)
How do we derive meaning from research.
Is it a solution? (January 29)
Using research to guide and support solutions.
Pitching concepts (February 5)
Pitch presentations and transitioning between projects.
Let's talk about it (February 11)
Communicating effectively in UX.
Building ethical processes (February 25)
Considering your ethics in the bigger picture.
Divergent futures (March 4)
Methods of exploring prospective futures.
Pitching concepts (Part 2) (March 11)
Pitch presentations and transitioning between projects.
Workshopping (March 18)
Leading participatory design processes.
Critique week (March 25)
Focus on critiques on final projects.
Peer critique week (April 1)
Critiques by peers and instructors on final projects.
Final presentations (April 8)
Final project presentations and course wrap-up.