Academy of Digital Arts
UX design lecturing for a Higher Certificate in Web Publishing and Interactive Media
Lecturer
Academy of Digital Arts
Jan 2024 – Mar 2025
Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Google Slides
Outcomes
UX design module delivered across two academic terms
Two summative assessments authored and assessed
Slide content covering foundational UX theory and practice
Students guided from research to wireframes to presentation
Freelance lecturer at the Academy of Digital Arts, Jan 2024 to Mar 2025.
I delivered a UX design module as part of the Higher Certificate in Web Publishing and Interactive Media. The role covered in-person lesson delivery, slide content creation, and assessment design.
Two summative assessments were authored, structured around real apps and real research methods. Students were guided from competitive benchmarking and usability testing through to wireframes and final presentations.
From the slides
A snapshot of slide content from the module. This is pre-AI-takeover material: foundational theory built from scratch and delivered in person.
Introduction to UX Design
Roles in the web industry and where UX sits within it.
UX Designer
Researches user needs. Designs solutions to real problems.
UI Designer
Colour, typography, layout, and component systems.
Front-End Developer
Builds interfaces with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Back-End Developer
Servers, databases, and product logic.
Full Stack Developer
Covers both front-end and back-end.
Product Manager
Owns the product vision. Aligns team delivery.
Content Designer
Words, structure, and tone in the product.
Copywriter
Marketing and interface copy.
SEO Specialist
Optimises content for search visibility.
DTP Specialist
Layout and print-ready document production.
Overview: Birth of UX
How design shifted from engineering-led to human-centred.
1975
Altair 8800
Early personal computers were built for engineers. The user was not a consideration.
1984
Apple Macintosh
The GUI made computing accessible. Usability entered product thinking for the first time.
1988
Don Norman at Apple
Norman coined 'user experience' to describe the full interaction a person has with a product.
1990s
UX as a discipline
The term entered industry vocabulary. Human-centred design became a formal practice.
Paradigm shift
Engineer / Machine
Technology first
Human / Experience
People first
What I taught
Introduction to UX Design
Introducing the discipline and the people who build the web.
UX Designer
Researches user needs and designs solutions that solve real problems.
UI Designer
Focuses on visual design: colour, typography, layout, and component systems.
Front-End Developer
Builds interfaces using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
Back-End Developer
Manages servers, databases, and the logic behind the product.
Full Stack Developer
Covers both front-end and back-end across the full product stack.
Product Manager
Owns the product vision and aligns teams around delivery priorities.
Content Designer
Shapes the words, structure, and tone users interact with.
Copywriter
Writes marketing and interface copy that drives action.
SEO Specialist
Optimises content and structure for search engine visibility.
DTP Specialist
Handles layout and print-ready document production.
Overview: Birth of UX
How the field shifted from engineering-led to human-centred design.
1975: Altair 8800
Early personal computers were built for engineers. The user was not considered.
1984: Apple Macintosh
The GUI made computing accessible. Usability entered product thinking.
1988: Don Norman at Apple
Norman coined the term 'user experience' to describe the full interaction a person has with a product.
1990s: UX as a discipline
The term entered industry vocabulary. Human-centred design became a formal practice.
Paradigm shift
Design moved from Engineer/Machine-first to Human/Experience-first. Products began to serve people rather than systems.
Assessments
Both summative assessments were designed to mirror real industry workflows. Students were not given hypothetical scenarios -- they worked with real apps, real competitors, and real users.
Module 1 summative assessment
App Redesign: lekkeslaap
Students redesign the lekkeslaap short-term rental app using a structured UX process. The brief is anchored to a realistic persona and requires research, journey mapping, and mobile-first wireframes.
Persona
Name
Sam
Age
28
Role
Marketing Manager
Books weekend getaways and values a smooth, fast booking experience on mobile.
Deliverables
User research: survey or interview findings
User journey map based on Sam's experience
Mobile-first wireframes for the redesigned app
Final presentation of process and decisions
Marking
Design Process
35%
Design
25%
Wireframes
25%
Presentation
15%
Module 3 summative assessment
Affinity Diagram: Food Delivery App
Students benchmark two competing food delivery apps, conduct usability testing, and synthesise findings into an affinity diagram. The goal is to identify patterns and propose feature improvements.
Apps benchmarked
Uber EatsMr DDeliverables
Competitive benchmarking report: Uber Eats vs Mr D
Usability test protocol document
Recorded usability test session
Affinity diagram synthesising all findings
Feature suggestions based on insights
Final presentation
Marking
Benchmarking
15%
Usability Test Protocol
10%
Usability Test Recording
15%
Affinity Diagram
30%
Feature Suggestions
10%
Presentation
20%
Outcome
Delivered two full academic terms of UX design content at the Academy of Digital Arts. Students completed research-led assessments involving real apps, usability testing, and final presentations.
Reflection
Designing for learning is a distinct discipline. Clarity and sequence matter as much as content.
Students respond to authentic briefs. Hypothetical scenarios produce weaker work.
Assessment design requires you to define success before you can teach toward it.