Overview
This project-based course examines the end-to-end design, development, testing, deployment, and evaluation of an interactive web system for a defined audience, client, or community need. Students investigate users and stakeholders, formulate requirements, develop information architectures and user journeys, and select appropriate technologies and system architectures.
Students integrate semantic HTML, modern CSS, responsive design, client-side scripting or frameworks, component-based interfaces, state management, asynchronous communication, APIs, server-side development, databases, authentication, authorization, validation, session management, version control, deployment, and monitoring. Inclusive design, accessibility, usability, privacy, secure coding, and protection against common web vulnerabilities are addressed throughout the project lifecycle.
An iterative professional workflow is applied through issue tracking, code review, automated testing, prototyping, usability evaluation, staged releases, and technical documentation. Students collaborate to deliver and communicate a working system, justify design decisions, evaluate functional and non-functional performance, and identify limitations and future improvements.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyse user, stakeholder, and community needs to formulate clear requirements for an interactive web system.
- Design accessible, responsive, and usable interfaces using appropriate information architecture, interaction patterns, and inclusive design principles.
- Integrate front-end, back-end, database, and external service components into a coherent web application.
- Apply secure coding and privacy-aware data practices, including robust validation, authentication, authorization, credential handling, and protection against injection and cross-site scripting.
- Implement collaborative development workflows using version control, issue tracking, code review, automated checks, and staged releases.
- Evaluate functionality, usability, accessibility, performance, compatibility, and security through systematic testing and user evaluation.
- Deploy and monitor a working web system using suitable hosting, configuration, documentation, and maintenance practices.
- Defend technical and design decisions through professional documentation, demonstration, stakeholder communication, and critical reflection.
Timetable
| Type | Length | Frequency | Period |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lecture | 1 hour | Weekly | First term |
| Studio | 3 hours | Weekly | All semester |
| Tutorial | 1 hour | Fortnightly | All semester |
| Lecture | 1 hour | Weekly | Second term |
Assessment Schedule
| Type | Description | Weighting |
|---|---|---|
| Assignment | Requirements and information architecture brief | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Interface prototypes and accessibility rationale | 10.00% |
| Assignment | Technical design and security plan | 10.00% |
| Deliverable | Implemented web application | 30.00% |
| Deliverable | Testing, deployment, and documentation portfolio | 15.00% |
| Capstone | Project demonstration and stakeholder presentation | 15.00% |
| Assignment | Individual post-project reflection | 10.00% |
Prerequisites
Teaching Staff & Programs
This course is delivered jointly by faculty from the participating programs listed below. In line with the Douchewater Way, the University of Sexology tailors core instruction directly to each cohort's specific discipline — adapting curriculum to program needs rather than forcing students into a one-size-fits-all model. Learn more about our approach at The Douchewater Way.