University of Canberra: Usability and User-Centric Design Essay

This essay, submitted by a student at the University of Canberra, explores the concepts of usability and user-centric design within the context of human-computer interaction. The essay analyzes the importance of graphical design in facilitating effective communication between users and virtual systems, emphasizing the need to adapt designs to evolving technological advancements and user expectations. The student examines key characteristics of interactive graphical design and applies design principles to evaluate the usability of website examples, including Amazon and MGBD Parts and Services. The analysis highlights the significance of equitable use, flexibility, simplicity, perceptible information, tolerance for errors, low physical effort, and appropriate use of size and space in creating user-friendly interfaces. References to relevant literature such as LOWGREN (2019), Gaines & Monk (2015), and Preece, Rogers & Sharp (2015) provide a theoretical foundation for the analysis.

Usability and user centric design process. Reflective essay
Yasir Yaqoob_u3107753
University of Canberra
Gowrie Waterhouse

Week 1:
Relevance of the assignment brief:
The article is regarding the human computer interaction and it has discussed the different
aspects of this kind of interaction in a broader way. The article is relevant for understanding
the initial requirements of the graphical design. The main objective of the graphical design is
to make the communication between the users and the virtual world (LOWGREN, 2019). From
the graphical design, the users can understand the functionalities of different units in the
systems and these can help them to operate the system. In this context, evaluating gamut of
the transformation of the human computer interaction is important as it will also indicate the
necessary of changing the graphical design with the implementation of the advanced
technology.
Depth analysis and argumentation:
In order to understand the interactive graphical design, there are five characteristic that we
have to be concerned about. These five characteristics are-
 The main aim of the interaction design is to fulfil the requirements of the users: This
reflects that the graphical design is to be done in such a way that it can make the
users understand about handling the system (Gaines & Monk, 2015). As for example,
while operating the radio, different buttons can be used. Most of the people can
control a simple radio functioning. However, radio with other additional
functionalities may become problematic for most of the users (Preece, Rogers &
Sharp,2015). In this case, the graphical representation of the functionalities for each
button can be done on the radio system so that the users can handle the system.

 Design involves changing the situation by design or shaping things: The change in the
problem or the functionalities can be indicated through the interactive design in
modified system.
 Design involves exploring the future scopes: The graphical design is a way to express
the situation (Issa & Isaias,2015). However, with the changing mentality of the
people the idea of expression through then design has also changed.
 Designing is framing the problem and in parallel finding the solutions: The main
objective of the design is to highlight the problem the users are facing and providing
the interactive design for solving the problem of the user.
 Design involves technical and ethical aspects of the respective company. It is a
concern for the organizations that all the designs made by them are unique and are
not influenced by others work.
Week 2:
Relevance of the assignment brief:
The article is about the design and the user experience. The graphical design is implemented
to enhance the user experience of using the product of the system. In this context,
understanding the relation between the design and its effects on the user experience is
important.
Depth analysis and argument:
Graphic design plays an important role for the communication with users through websites.
In this context, I can present one web page of website and can evaluate the effectiveness of
this website on the basis of 7 principals of universal graphical design.

Amazon website view
(Source: https://www.amazon.in/)
Equitable use: The amazon website is equitable and the marketing of the product is
reachable to diverse group of people. Apart from that the design of this website seems
interesting to the users.
Flexibility: The design of the website is flexible as there are options for the users to choose
different ways for selecting same article. Like the user can select the item directly from the
pictures given or they can use drop down button on the above for the customized search.
Simple: The design of the website is simple. The above design of the website can be handled
by any novice people as the instructions are simple to be understood.

Perceptible information: The Amazon website provides all the information to all the users
equally. The consumers can choose the product based on the sorted result. The conditions for
the sort is provided by the consumer.
Tolerance for errors: The website is robust and gives quick response. Apart from that the
optimization of the website is done in a proper way. So, we can say that the tolerance of error
is less for this website.
Low physical effort: The designs and the instructions are written clearly so that the users of
the website can easily understand the instructions and product description.
Appropriate use of size and space: The spacing of the letters are done in a proper way for
the website. It can be said that the graphical design of Amazon website is user friendly.
Week 3:
Relevance of the assignment brief:
The user computer interaction plays an important role in understanding the use of the
graphical designs for the software and users interactions. The changes in the design phases
has been made as the use of the automation is stated with the functioning of the computer
(Grudin, 2017).
Depth analysis and argument:

Website of MGBD Parts and Services
(Source: http://www.roverp6parts.com/)
In order to understand the human- computer interaction through graphical design, I have
presented the example of another website. The flexibility of the website can be discussed
through 7 principals of design.
Equitable use: The website is not equitable as the main page of this website does not gives
any clue to the users. We can only understand that this website deals with cars. However, the
type of operation in not clear.
Flexibility: The website is not flexible. There is no drop box or categorization so that the
users can choose from the options. Instead the users have to type for the item in the search
box.
Simple: The design is not simple. The webpage is not clear for any novice people.
Perceptible information: The website page is not presentable and it does not gives a view
about the business related to cars and the usability of the website.
Tolerance for errors: The server of the website is not in good condition as the webpage
seems unavailable now and then.

Low physical effort: The graphical presentation is not in a higher level. Apart from that the
instructions in the website are half written and not clear.
Appropriate use of size and space: Appropriate font size is not used in the website. Apart
from that the coordination of the objects are not done in a proper way. From the discussion it
can be said the graphical representation of the website is not suitable for human-computer
interaction.

References
CARROLL, J. (2019). Human Computer Interaction - brief intro. Retrieved from
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/book/the-encyclopedia-of-human-
computer-interaction-2nd-ed/human-computer-interaction-brief-intro
Gaines, B. R., & Monk, A. F. (2015). Cognitive Ergonomics: Understanding, Learning, and
Designing Human-Computer Interaction. Academic Press.
Grudin, J. (2017). From tool to partner: The evolution of human-computer
interaction. Synthesis Lectures on Human-Centered Interaction, 10(1), i-183.
HASSENZAHL, M. (2019). User Experience and Experience Design. Retrieved from
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/book/the-encyclopedia-of-human-
computer-interaction-2nd-ed/user-experience-and-experience-design#
Issa, T., & Isaias, P. (2015). Usability and human computer interaction (HCI). In Sustainable
design (pp. 19-36). Springer, London.
LOWGREN, J. (2019). Human Computer Interaction - Brief Intro _ the Encyclopedia of
Human-Computer Interaction, 2nd Ed | Human–Computer Interaction | Usability.
Retrieved from https://www.scribd.com/document/398195463/Human-Computer-
Interaction-Brief-Intro-the-Encyclopedia-of-Human-Computer-Interaction-2nd-Ed
Preece, J., Rogers, Y., & Sharp, H. (2015). Interaction design: beyond human-computer
interaction. John Wiley & Sons.