CS3031 Interaction Design Assignment 1 2026 | University College Cork

CS3031 Assignment 1

background research and design considerations portfolio entry

Weighting: 25%

Where: Canvas Assignment Page (labelled Assignment 1)

Format

Portfolio Entry (1,000 words in portfolio template – available on canvas). You should submit the entire portfolio each time but it will only be the assigned entry that will be graded once the due date passes.

In this portfolio entry, you will be reporting on the background research you employed to understand the problem space, as well as your critique to analyse either either a) user’s cognitive and attention load or b) new and meaningful interactions in that activity.

By this stage, students will have:

Aside from an assignment, the contents of this report will serve as a discussion point between the student and their team moving forward.

The report entry should be included in the design portfolio (located on canvas) and be divided into the following sections:

1. Introduction (100)
   • What is the topic?
   • What tasks were completed to date?
2. Method and Role (200)
   • Describe the method(s) employed in the background research
   • Describe your role in the background research, and critique the decisions you made in this process
3. Presentation of findings (500)
   • Scenario/situation based on findings
   • Critique of scenario/situation (through multimodal analysis OR theories of interaction)
   • Devising initial design considerations based on analysis Personal reflection and critique of design work to date (200)  5. References (not counted toward word count):
4. Listed references do not count toward page count. You should employ APA format, as per UCC recommendations: https://kildekompasset.no/en/referencing-styles/apa-7th/

Plagiarism

Please remember UCC’s policy toward plagiarism. Turnitin will be the plagiarism tool used to check the integrity of your report. You should see how your report scores once you upload.

Below is a definition of plagiarism:

1. Plagiarism is presenting someone else’s work as your own. It is a violation of UCC Policy and there are strict and severe penalties.
2. You must read and comply with the UCC Policy on Plagiarism ucc.ie/en/exams/proceduresregulations/
3. The Policy applies to all work submitted, including software.
4. You can expect that your work will be checked for evidence of plagiarism or collusion.
5. In some circumstances it may be acceptable to reuse a small amount of work by others, but only if you provide explicit acknowledgement and justification.
6. If in doubt ask your module lecturer prior to submission. Better safe than sorry!

Portfolio writing tips

1. Write the entry with the assumption that the reader is not familiar with your project.
2. You can assume that the reader will have access to any previous entries in your design portfolio.
3. Make sure the entry flows:
   a. Ensure each entry has a connecting paragraph
   b. Present only important information required for the reader to understand the considerations you derived from background research: the fundamental aspects of the design research and findings
4. Make sure the entry has a clear and logical structure. Using the above headings will help with this.
5. Proofread your entry before submission: it often helps to read the report aloud. Microsoft Word has a read aloud option and it is available to all UCC students to download. Ensure any information sought from other sources is accurately cited and referenced.

Grading Criteria