Overview 

This standard is about designing the overall ‘look and feel’ of interactive media projects.

User interfaces may be in relation to visuals for user interfaces or environments, in-game displays and menus, sound effects or background music, static or animated interface components or component interface assets for implementation by others.

Interactive media projects can involve any type of interactive media content, products or services for multi-platform or multi-channel use, including, but not restricted to, games, websites, applications or online marketing campaigns and can also include the use of immersive technology. (Immersive technology can include, but is not restricted to, Augmented Reality (AR), Virtual Reality (VR) and Mixed Reality (MR).)

This standard is for anyone involved in designing user interfaces for interactive media projects.

 

Performance criteria

You must be able to:

  1. identify technologies and approaches that will be used to implement interface design
  2. design user interfaces within specified style guidelines
  3. design user interfaces within specified parameters and constraints relating to the target platform and medium
  4. design end user features to facilitate the use of interactive products or services
  5. select and agree the visual style and interactive character of products or services
  6. design interfaces or environments that are appropriate, easy to use and fit for purpose
  7. liaise with colleagues to ensure designs can be implemented within available resources and project parameters
  8. liaise with relevant authorities to obtain approval for designs
  9. deliver designs in appropriate formats so that they can be easily implemented
  10. specify where and when additional assets, such as sounds and animations should be incorporated into interfaces
  11. select additional assets, such as sound effects, as appropriate to the design
  12. provide documentation or instructions as required to ensure that others have the necessary information for the correct implementation of designs

 

Knowledge and understanding

You need to know and understand:

  1. how to analyse information about project purpose and target users including the expectations and requirements of target users
  2. how to interpret and follow a design brief or other instructions including those delivered orally, in writing or via drawings, wire-frames, storyboards or diagrams
  3. the constraints and parameters within which you must design
  4. your position in the overall production process and the types of constraints and issues applying to the work of colleagues who will implement your designs, or whose work may be affected by them
  5. relevant standards, conventions and guidelines relating to user-interface design including guidelines and best practice for diversity, inclusivity, ethics, emotional intelligence, behavioural psychology user comfort and quality of experience
  6. principles of interaction design, especially regarding usability and accessibility
  7. usability and accessibility issues relating to graphical or audio interface components, the implications for your work of accessibility legislation, how to apply accessibility guidelines to comply with legislation and
  8. how to use the results of user testing or other data analysis to inform your design decisions
  9. broad principles of design in relation to interactive media projects including colour theory and typography
  10. how sound, animation or other devices can be used to give users feedback on their interactions
  11. where to find relevant sources of additional assets including sound libraries
  12. how to provide designs in appropriate formats so that they can be easily implemented.
  13. the principles of design in relation to the overall interactive product as well as the component disciplines and current trends and developments in digital design
  14. current relevant technologies, services, languages, tools and best practice including those related to real-time animation
  15. the impact on your work of technical parameters such as the processing power, memory, bandwidth, screen size, resolution, colour depth, physical user interface of target platforms
  16. the technical processes that will be used to realise your designs and how to use industry-standard software