What will I learn this week?

User interface design is at the centre of the development of creative technology. It is central to everything from your laptop to your smartphone, your tablet and even your car.

User interfaces are the part of technology that connects you to your devices, that connects humans to algorithms, and that allows people to take their ideas and turn them into products.

Last week you gained a more thorough understanding of what user interfaces actually are, exploring the terminology and some core principles that designers follow. You learned about the role that UX and UI methodologies take in the design process, and learned about accessibility and what it means to design digital experiences with this in mind.

This week, you will discover the skills you need in order to get started thinking about developing user interfaces, and how you can go about getting these skills in order to develop your career.

You will explore how developers create accessible interfaces that are required for more general use, for example across a range of devices, and look at the methods and skills they use. From here you can begin thinking about how you can go about developing a career as a user experience and interface design professional.

Last week we briefly touched on the importance of accessibility guidelines and principles in relation to web design. You will revisit that topic this week in more detail and solidify your understanding through more collaborative discussion. You will also meet digital media developer and UX designer Marcus Ophir and hear his thoughts on accessibility theory and practice, and talk you through how accessibility standards have shaped online experiences.

You will then explore the accessible design approach. You will learn about the different stages involved in this process and understand the journey websites must embark on, from initial idea to reality. You’ll also hear about some more great work being done around accessibility on the web for people with autism and learning disabilities. This work is based around an online survey platform which you will then take yourself.

Finally, you’ll have the chance to apply this to a design task of your own, as you share how you might plan a project such as a website, product or service with accessibility in mind.