UI Design: Designing Engaging User Interfaces
Design user interfaces to elevate apps and digital platforms.
Course overview
This online short course in user interface (UI) design has been created specifically for people looking to leverage the power of UI design for business growth.
Whether you are currently leading on UI design within your company or are building your own brand, this short, online course will give you the confidence to use design tools and visual design principles to create interfaces for apps, software and websites that are engaging, responsive and easy to use.
Co-developed by experienced subject specialists from Falmouth University’s renowned creative and industry-focused environment, you will gain the contemporary knowledge and skills required to bring digital innovation to your business or brand.
You will:
- Develop an understanding of the fundamentals of UI design
- Learn about the different steps of the design process
- Understand and apply key principles of visual design, including typography and colour
- Discover about design patterns, libraries and trends
- Design user interfaces that will help your business to achieve its objectives in the most effective way
- Sharpen your critical thinking and analytical skills
- Build the confidence to be creative and experimental in your approach
Start dates: February / September
Course details
This six-week short course will improve your UI design knowledge and skillset, equipping you to lead on or contribute to UI design within your chosen context.
In the first session, you will gain a thorough introduction to UI design and why it matters to businesses and audiences. You will then explore what makes up an interface and learn about the design elements that are used to create consistent and effective digital products. You will delve deeper into layout and visual design fundamentals and principles, before creating and evaluating prototypes.
You will finish the course with a greater confidence in your theoretical knowledge and practical UI design skills, helping you feel empowered to implement creative UI design solutions.
Weekly topics
In this introduction to UI design, you will discover why good UI design matters to businesses and will be introduced to key design tools and processes.
Learn about the different design patterns that make up an interface and discover about design systems and trends.
Learn about the fundamentals of layout: grids, alignment and space, how to apply to an interface and how to create responsive designs.
The principles of visual design and how these principles work together to create something that is aesthetically pleasing and optimizes the user experience.
Understand the fundamentals of good design including colour, typography and imagery, and how to apply these to interface design. Be given suggestions for which tools to use (Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD).
In your final session you will explore how interaction and animation add to the user experience and evaluate your designs for usability and accessibility.
Course structures and specific weekly sessions can change as part of our course enhancement and review processes. If a certain session is important to you, please discuss it with our team: shortcourses@falmouth.ac.uk
How you'll learn
Studying online is the ideal option for those looking for flexibility while elevating their career prospects. Our online short courses have been designed from the outset to be delivered online, meaning they're crafted specifically for you to study remotely.
You'll spend approximately four hours a week completing your studies. This may include:
- Reviewing all core lecture content and sharing your reflections on the topics discussed
- Reading and responding to discussions and challenge activities
- Completing required reading
- Attending weekly webinars with your tutor and peers (or watching the recording if you can't attend)
- Asking questions and sharing your thoughts with your tutors and peers
- Completing quizzes to test your knowledge
Through a combination of these teaching methods, you will be encouraged to push yourself, explore professional skills and develop expertise to take back into industry.
You will access all materials via our dedicated virtual learning environment – known as Learn. This is also where you will find all key documentation and any course announcements.
You'll be supported by your tutor, who will deliver weekly webinars and facilitate the online forums.
How you'll be assessed
This course will culminate in a multiple-choice quiz to test your learning and understanding. The quiz is taken and submitted online at the end of the course and certification will be presented upon successful completion of the quiz (70% pass mark).
The quiz can be attempted as many times as required within a 30-day access period following completion of week 6 of the course. You will still be able to access your learning materials during this time to support completion of the quiz.
Please note, this course does not offer university credits but successful participants will be awarded a certificate of completion alongside building key skills for the workplace.
Staff
Our subject matter experts, who have developed and will deliver the course, have real-life experience of working within industry as well as experience of teaching. They are supportive and committed to helping you to develop digital competencies, and bring understanding of a range of modes of practice that specifically relate to SMEs.
Carlos Lima Santana
Online Tutor, User Experience Design MA (Online)
Carlos is a London-based Senior Product Designer with over ten years of experience in consultancy, i...
Resources and support
The following resources are available to participants enrolled on our online short courses:
- Dedicated easy-to-use virtual learning environment (VLE) – known as Learn
- 24/7 support available through the VLE
- An online learning community
- Accessible online audio/visual content
- Optional weekly webinars
- Support via your online tutor for all course-related and academic queries.
You can also contact our shortcourses@falmouth.ac.uk email if you require any support with any other aspects of your studies.
