SM6077 - App Design (2025/26)
| Module specification | Module approved to run in 2025/26 | ||||||||||||
| Module title | App Design | ||||||||||||
| Module level | Honours (06) | ||||||||||||
| Credit rating for module | 15 | ||||||||||||
| School | School of Computing and Digital Media | ||||||||||||
| Total study hours | 150 | ||||||||||||
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| Running in 2025/26(Please note that module timeslots are subject to change) |
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Module summary
Using industry standard software, the student will design a proof-of-concept prototype app to a predefined brief, in either the profit or nonprofit sector. Adhering to professional practice, the student will follow key milestones to deliver the app prototype. This will include writing a production plan, researching the target audience, analysing the competitors, conducting user feedback, processing the data and applying the findings to the app prototype. The student also will create and maintain a brand identity throughout the app with the use of the logo, colour palette, navigational hierarchy and accompanying suite of buttons. This will be outlined and defined in an accompanying app style guide.
The module aims to
● Develop skills and knowledge in design, research towards and production of an app design.
● Support problem-based learning and employability skills in relation to an app.
● Support students' applications of methodologies, models, and theories of app design.
● To develop student’s skills in written, oral, and visual presentation.
Syllabus
The teaching strategy will consist of lectures combined with seminars and practice-based lab sessions. And indicative syllabus will include:
1. Types of Apps
2. App Ideation
3. App Branding
4. App Scripting
5. App Storyboarding
6. Prototyping
7. Styleguides
8. Design tools
9. App Design & AI (Artificial Intelligence)
10. Decision Trees
11. Journey Mapping
12. App Project Management
13. App team roles
14. Reusable components
15. App Brand packages
16. Trends in App Design
17. App Navigation
18. App wireframing
19. App templates
Balance of independent study and scheduled teaching activity
Teaching methods include formal lectures, seminar, creative workshops, and tutorials. Students are expected to attend lectures and seminars: in the seminars they will at times work in small groups and be given practice in listening to each other’s contributions and offering constructive criticism, and in chairing and reporting discussion to the plenary seminar group. The module booklet will be available online, as will lecture outlines and some readings. Weblearn or its equivalent will also be used for communication with students individually and as a cohort. In addition to guided reading, students are expected to read and to use variety of sources (primary and secondary) and use seminars and tutorials to raise issues, questions and seek feedback.
A blended learning strategy will be employed to enhance the learning experience, facilitate communication between students and tutors and develop collaboration among students. The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) will be used as a platform to support online activities including on-line discussions, evaluation of online resources, and access to electronic reading packs. The VLE will also be used to facilitate formative assessment and related feedback, as well as a tool to integrate useful online learning materials provided by research institutions, academic publications, professional organisations and other relevant sources.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
1. Analyse trends and best practice in app design for a particular industry (LO1).
2. Enact design planning tools to realise a client brief (LO2).
3. Develop skills in industry standard tools for the design of apps (LO3).