Projects for MSU XA Courses

Would you like to support and mentor undergraduate students in a UX-based Humanities program? Each semester many students in the Experience Architecture (XA) program at Michigan State University complete client-based projects as a part of their program.

Your organization (business, non-profit, government agency, etc.) can propose a project for a team of students to work on! This is a great opportunity to mentor and help students learn while receiving valuable insight and deliverables from emerging UX talent. 

Courses seeking clients:


XA 242 Intro to Experience Architecture

This intro course works to explain the field of XA to our students. It gives them a basic understanding of why our UX program is grounded in the Humanities while giving them modules that allow them to practice skills they would use in industry such as conducting small research projects, designing, building prototypes, testing, and presenting findings to clients.

Deliverables: students present their limited research along with informed prototypes and designs to clients.
Client Roles + Responsibilities 

The intro course has worked with the MSU Library to help them redesign their search landing page; the MSU Library Sparty Cafe web page and physical location; the MSU Rovi Gaming library web portal and game rooms in the library; the MSU Tech Store landing page and their physical store design and layout.

Expectations: clients will be available at the beginning to provide context for the project, answer questions about the project throughout the project’s timeline, be present at the final presentation, and offer feedback to students.

XA 333 Researching Experience Architecture
 
This course introduces students to the research methods a UX Researcher would use in their professional spaces. Students may have conducted some surface research in the intro course, but in this course students dive deeper into the ethical implications of methods such as diary studies,  surveys, interviews, card sorting, focus groups, field studies, and heuristic analysis.

Deliverables: students present their research findings to clients. There are no mock-ups or designs – only data from the research that was conducted.
Client Roles + Responsibilities 

This course has worked on the Michigan Avenue entire web site; the MSU Library main search page; the MSU Bug House website; 


Expectations: clients will be available at the beginning to provide context for the project, answer questions about the project throughout the project’s timeline, be present at the final presentation, and offer feedback to students.

Are you interested in submitting a project for students in the XA program? Contact Casey McArdle to connect with the program and learn more.

Projects for UMSI UX classes

  • Do you have a tool that needs an evaluation to ensure it meets the needs of your users? 
  • Does your dynamic website need a user experience assessment? 
  • Is there an information problem you’re trying to solve but are unsure of a potential solution? 
  • Do you have an idea for a product that would meet the needs of an aging population or people with disabilities that you need help researching and designing?

If so, the University of Michigan School of Information (UMSI) is seeking companies and organizations from all industries to propose semester-long projects for students to work on that can address the challenge.

Your organization (business, non-profit, government agency, etc.) can propose a project for a team of students to work on. Organizations interested in hosting a student project should visit the UMSI Client Guide for additional information and key client requirements.

Courses seeking clients

About the courseClient expectations & receivables
SI 622: Needs Assessment and Usability Evaluation

Masters students work with clients to evaluate how well the user experience of their existing product or service meets the needs of its users. This FAQ document answers frequently asked questions from clients about the course and links to sample deliverables from a previous semester. Methods used include: interaction map, user interviews, competitive analysis, survey, heuristic evaluation, user testing.
Clients will give feedback on and receive deliverables for each of these assignments.

Clients are expected to meet weekly with students, connect students with users for user interviews (5 people), survey (50 people), and user testing (5 people).

Clients receive a series of reports and analyses, plus a final video presentation.
SI 682: Advanced User Research in the Field

Masters students will conduct advanced user research methods for information challenges that are early in the product life cycle.
Meet with students, provide feedback, and must provide access to users.

Receive a polished report or presentation of findings.

SI 699: UX Research and Design Mastery Course

Masters students in their final semester will research and design a tool or product, with a focus on accessibility for disabled, and/or aging populations.

Meet with students, provide feedback, and must provide access to users.

Receive a report of research and design.

Other Winter UX Courses and Programs:

Course/Program About the Course/Program

SI 699: Mastery Course Agile Development

Master’s-level graduate students work with clients to identify potential project areas then employ user-centered Agile methodologies to conduct research and develop products, applications, or services.

Design Clinic
 
Interdisciplinary teams of bachelor’s and master’s students, matched with a professional mentor, collaborate on semester-long projects, acting as consultants by managing projects, scoping deliverables, executing outcomes, and creating a plan for sustainable implementation.

Courses for 2021:

Course/Program About the Course/Program

SI 487: User Experience Final Project

Advanced undergraduate students work through the user experience (UX) process to provide user research and design solutions to clients. Methods used will include user requirements analysis, user research, prototyping, specification gathering, documentation and user experience evaluation.

Explore more student project opportunities here: https://www.si.umich.edu/host-student-project

To propose a project, complete the form at umsi.info/clientregister or email umsi.client.engagement@umich.edu.

To learn more about client opportunities with the School of Information, visit umsi.info/clientopportunities.