UT INTERACTION DESIGN & URBAN EXPERIENCES

URBAN TECHNOLOGY

UT 330  -  FALL 2024



PROFESSORS

James Hovell, Matthew Wizinsky


In this studio, students focus on interaction design related to urban services. During the first half of the course, students engage in a series of exercises to develop core competencies in visual communication and design principles for the design of user interfaces and dynamic information spaces. During the second half of the course, students apply these skills to an interaction design challenge. The final project brief is to design an interface to improve access to an existing urban service. Students begin with exploratory research to discover and define opportunities for improved access. Through generative methods and prototyping, they develop interaction design proposals which are evaluated through user testing methods.


Improving Citizen Engagement through Civic Technology
STUDENTS

Trini Sernas, Emma McCallum


PROFESSORS

Matthew Wizinsky


'A2 Fix It' is a piece of civic technology run by the city of Ann Arbor, allowing residents to communicate their issues to the city. This application could serve as an incredibly valuable tool, yet it is underutilized and unknown to many residents.

During our UT 330 Studio, we wanted to improve the user experience by making the reporting process more intuitive while addressing concerns raised in interviews and survey results. Our new user flow improves the reporting process logic, and addresses issues such as reducing unwanted reports through streamlined public and private posting.














Improving Transit Experiences Through Redesigning Operator Facing Control Software
STUDENT

Eric Li


PROFESSORS

Matthew Wizinsky


Poor interaction design in current onboard dispatching softwares creates confusion, safety hazards and frustration for bus operators. Cluttered interfaces and poorly structured information overload operators, leading to task saturation during safety-critical moments. Drivers frequently misinterpret operational instructions, causing errors that severely degrade service reliability and consistency.

Pain points were identified through interviews, participant observations, and first-hand operational experiences at UM’s Transit Services. The redesigned system aligns with industry standards, reduces cognitive load by prioritizing key information based on context, and automates routine tasks—allowing drivers to focus on the road while ensuring they receive the most relevant information when needed.  















What The Artifact
STUDENTS

Adil Nazarov, William Richardson, Owen Woertink


PROFESSORS

James Hovell


Ann Artifact is an interactive map comprised of existing artifact databases, serving as a engagement tool for local histories. The application is designed to draw attention to the various historical points of interest under our feet.


Throughout our UT 330 studio we fell in love with the intriguing objects across Ann Arbor and wanted to find a way to re-engage the public in local histories. Opting to craft a new interactive central database rather than build off of existing services, Ann Artifact encourages curiosity and the exploration of the unknown.