Reflection on HCI

Short reflection of the ICTE3002 Human Computer Interface unit.

Reflection

I really enjoyed this unit and the way it was structured throughout the semester. What I liked most was that HCI was not only about making interfaces look visually appealing, but also about understanding people first, their goals, frustrations, behaviours, and contexts of use.

Throughout the unit, I learned how important user-centred design is. Instead of jumping straight into coding, we were encouraged to begin with research: understanding users, identifying pain points, creating personas, and thinking carefully about the actual problems we were trying to solve. This changed the way I think about software design. It reminded me that a good system is not only technically correct, but also useful, intuitive, and meaningful for the people who use it.

Another part I found especially valuable was learning how to turn research into design decisions. Concepts such as problem statements, How Might We questions, functional and non-functional requirements, and hierarchical task analysis helped me see how ideas can be translated into a more structured design process. I also gained a better appreciation for usability principles such as visibility, feedback, consistency, affordance, and clear visual hierarchy.

One of the most enjoyable parts of the unit was being introduced to Figma. Before this class, I had not really used it in a serious way. Through the project work, I realised how powerful it is for quickly exploring ideas, building prototypes, and communicating designs with others. I used Figma not only for designing a mobile app interface, but also for creating visual materials such as posters and presentation assets. It made me realise how important modern design tools are in both UI/UX work and team collaboration.

Overall, this unit gave me a much stronger understanding of how design, usability, and technology come together. It also made me more aware that building a good app is not only about implementing features, but about creating an experience that fits the user’s needs. I especially enjoyed learning new tools like Figma and applying HCI concepts in a practical project setting. 😊