IEOR 170: Industrial Design and Human Factors

Spring 2004 Syllabus
Professor: Ken Goldberg
Industrial Engineering and Operations Research (IEOR) Dept
University of California at Berkeley
Lectures and Labs: MW 4-5:30, 3106 Etcheverry Hall
Web Page: www.ieor.berkeley.edu/~goldberg/

3 Credits. Three hours of lecture per week. Prerequisites: upper division standing.

This course surveys topics related to the design of products and interfaces ranging from alarm clocks, cell phones, and dashboards to logos, presentations, and web sites. Design of such systems requires familiarity with Human Factors and Ergonomics, including the physics and perception of color, sound, and touch, as well as familiarity with case studies and contemporary practices in interface design and usability testing. Students will solve a series of design problems individually and in teams.

In addition to lectures, the class will analyze a number of case studies in depth and expert speakers from local design firms will present current perspectives. Students individially and in teams will design and prototype a series of projects which will be analyzed through in-class critique. The goals of the course are to familiarize students with fundamentals of human factors/ergonomics, increase student awareness of design in everyday experience, and enhance student skills in creativity and presentation. This course is intended primarily for engineering students. It requires senior standing in Engineering but no prior knowledge of design.

Administration

1. Professor: Ken Goldberg, 4189 Etcheverry Hall. goldberg@ieor.berkeley.edu. Office Hours: MW 2-3pm, or by appointment.
2. Teaching Assistant: Juan Wang, Office Hours: Wed 2-4pm, 1169 Etcheverry Hall. juanwang@ieor.berkeley.edu.
3. Grader: Juan Wang.
4. Lab Adminstrator: Jay Sparks sparks@ieor.berkeley.edu. By Appointment.
5. There is no required textbook. Required readings will be handed out in class.
6. Grading: based on:
   • 10% Class Participation
   • 35% Design Assignments (see below)
   • 25% Team Design Project
   • 10% Design Notebook (see below)
   • 20% Final Exam
7. Design Assignment Grading: Design Assignments will be graded on a scale of 0-10.
8. Design Notebook Grading: Students will develop individual Design Notebooks that illustrate good and bad design concepts learned in the class. These will be turned in after very short (3 minute) individual highlight presentations to the Professor and TA.
9. Example Design Notebook: Gloria Lo, Spring 2003 Note: This is just an example: please don't treat it as an exemplar.
10. Team Design Projects: Spring 2004 Assignment
11. Team Design Projects: Spring 2004 Schedule
12. Design Process: Ten Steps
13. Spring 2003 Team Design Projects: Final Presentations
14. Related Links
15. Other: I welcome constructive criticism. Please email me with feedback on the course, teaching and format at any time during the term.