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SYDE 348User Centred Design Methods

Faculty
Engineering
Last listed
Spring 2020

No longer offered. It was in Waterloo’s course catalog since at least Winter 2020 (as far back as Open Data goes) to Spring 2020 and last ran in Winter 2020. It isn’t in the 2024–25 or later calendars.

When it ran

  1. W20

Ran in 1 term, Winter 2020 to Winter 2020.

This course approaches the design of tasks, tools, products, and systems from a user-centered design perspective. Emphasis is on the human factors and usability methods, and techniques that can and should be applied throughout the iterative design process. While design issues pertaining to human-computer interaction are discussed, the methods presented can be applied to the design of almost any user interface. Major topics include; user research methods for usability and user experience, inspection methods, user testing, applied statistical analysis. [Offered: W]

Requirements, as last listed

Prereq: (Level at least 3A Biomedical Engineering) or (Level at least 3B Systems Design Engineering) or (Level at least 4A Mechatronics Engineering or Biomechanics Option or Ergonomics and Injury Prevention Minor). Antireq: CS 449, MSCI 343

In today’s calendar

  • CS 649 lists it as an antirequisite

Reviewed on UW Flow

46% liked it45% easy33% useful

From 13 ratings and 5 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.

  • Do not take this course unless you have a passion for User Research. The professor is extremely meticulous and a can be an unfair marker. Although she means well and is extremely passionate for the course, there is not much to be learnt if you’re not pursuing User Research.

    Apr 2019 · didn’t like it · 3 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Don't take this class unless you are actually interested in UCD. It had 2 projects (UCD methods for a design project) and 2 exams . Lecture slides are disorganized and the content is boring and unclear. Projects are long and tedious. She mark assignments very hard, but ease off a bit on the exams. Not a great experience, look elsewhere for a bird.
    Just to balance the negativity, she does try to engage the class quite a bit

    Apr 2019 · didn’t like it · 2 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • No final, very large project done in groups that are determined via a quiz where you input your skills. Great ideas but the execution leaves a lot to be desired and the material seems very easy and boring.

    Oct 2012 · didn’t like it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this

  • Extremely valueable for people interested in User Research and UCD methods, but having previous experience (ie SYDE 162) is a MUST. Requires a large amount of reading and work, so I don't reccommend if UCD/UR isn't your intended career path, but if you put in the work you have the potential to do well.

    Jul 2019 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this

  • I think this course could be very good for the right student - one who has some background in usability and wants to up their UCD game with practical investigative and design methods. I am not that student unfortunately. SYDE348 is listed as a Mechatronics Technical Elective, but where most other TEs are built around depth of knowledge into a certain topic, SYDE348 is an extremely breadth-heavy course especially for someone with no background in the field. It requires a large time commitment - readings for topics are to be done between classes, and engaged participation in class is expected and graded (these are also things that may come as a surprise to a Tron student as almost no other…

    Apr 2019 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this

Discussed on r/uwaterloo

2 posts and comments in 2 threads mention SYDE 348, July 2015 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.

Fall 2015

Best marks 7 points, 74 comments

“Given all these posts about everyone failing courses this term, switch it up and post your best grades from this term or in the past, or grades which far exceeded your expectations in a course. …”

u/ErgoBiomech: “96 in SYDE 543 94 in KIN 354 93 in SYDE 348”

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Spring 2015

Meet the geniuses behind WaterlooWorks 35 points, 38 comments

u/THISgai: “For SYDE 348 (User Centred Design Methods) Winter '15 term, the main "case study" was Waterloo Works, and we essentially as a class did UCD evaluations and gave presentations on it. We were kinda the beta testers and holy shit was it crap. …”

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