Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Fall 2025 - IAT 806 G100

Interdisciplinary Design Approaches to Computing (3)

Class Number: 3495

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Sep 3 – Dec 2, 2025: Wed, 4:30–7:20 p.m.
    Surrey

  • Prerequisites:

    SIAT Graduate Student.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Introduces students to computer programming that encompasses knowledge of art/design history and practices, and introduces a deep approach to design thinking in creating interactive software projects. This programming-intensive course includes an introduction to Interactive Design Computing and the history of ideas that lead to modern interactive computing systems and emphasizes decision making in software design process, historical perspective of art and design, interactive software objects, iterative design cycles and design rationale in producing interactive software and introduces a historical perspective on these techniques.

COURSE DETAILS:

Students will engage with the practice of making interactive technology by writing programs in an object-oriented programming language (Processing, P5.js, Java, or as negotiated with instrutor). They will further their software design and implementation skills through a progression of interactive software projects. They will also be able to engage critically with the intellectual and ideological underpinnings of interactive systems and get to present and discuss conceptual  and societal issues regarding programming as a practice.
Programming assignments culminate in a personal project, along with a final presentation, paper, and video post motivating and describing their project.

COURSE-LEVEL EDUCATIONAL GOALS:

Students will be able to critically engage in interdisciplinary design thinking in the development, design, implementation and testing of interactive software projects. Students we be able to bring in knowledge and practices from art making, design process and the historical record of interactive design computing into their software practices. Students will learn to express themselves programmatically. Student will understand computing as problem-solving, computing as aesthetic experience, computing as expressive media, computing as a user-centered artifact.

Grading

  • Programming Assignments and Quiz 25%
  • Final Programming Project 40%
  • Final Essay 20%
  • Final Presentation 10%
  • Project video presentation 5%

Materials

MATERIALS + SUPPLIES:

REFERENCE READINGS may include:

  • "Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists" by Casey Reas & Ben Fry, 2007

  • "Getting Started with p5.js: Making Interactive Graphics in JavaScript and Processing" by Lauren McCarthy, Casey Reas, and Ben Fry, 2015

  • "Form+Code in Design, Art, and Architecture" by Casey Reas, Chandler McWilliams, and LUST, 2010

  • "Generative Design: Visualize, Program, and Create with Processing" by Hartmut Bohnacker, Benedikt Groß, Julia Laub, and Claudius Lazzeroni, 2012

  • "Make: Getting Started with Processing" by Casey Reas and Ben Fry, 2nd edition, 2015

Historical readings as supporting material might include: 
  • "New Media from Borges to HTML" by  Lev Manovich [online version is excerpt] 
  • "'Happenings' in the New York Scene" by  Allan Kaprow, 1961 
  • "AUGMENTING HUMAN INTELLECT: A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK" by Douglas C. Engelbart, 1962 
  • "Sketchpad" Ivan Sutherland, 1963
  • Selections by Experiments in Art and Technology From "9 Evenings E.A.T.", Billy Klüver, 1966
  • "A Personal Computer for Children of All Ages" by  Alan C Kay, 1972 
  • "Responsive Environments" by Myron Krueger, 1977 
  • "Direct Manipulation: a Step Beyond Programming Languages" by Ben Shneiderman, 1983 
  • "Interface for Advanced Computing" by James D Foley, 1987 
  • "Ubiquitous Computing" by Mark Weiser, 1993 
  • "Bricks: Laying the Foundations for Graspable User Interfaces" by Fitzmaurice, G., Ishii, H., & Buxton, W., 1995 
  • "Computation and human experience" by Philip Agre, 1997 
  • "Code is Law: On Liberty in Cyberspace" by Lawrence Lessig, 2000 
  • "Expressive AI: A hybrid art and science practice" by Michael Mateas, 2001
  • "Reflective Design" by P Sengers, K Boehner, S David, JJ Kaye, 2005 
  • "Computational Aesthetic Evaluation: Past And Future, From Computers and Creativity" by P Galanter, 2012
  • “Windows & Mirrors:  Interaction Design, Digital Art & the Myth of Transparency” (2005) by Jay Bolter, Diane Gromala; MIT Press.

RECOMMENDED READING:

"Form + Code in Design, Art & Architecture" (2010) by Casey Reas, Chandler McWilliams, Jeroen Barendse; Princeton Architectural Press; http://formandcode.com
ISBN: 9781568989372

REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Graduate Studies Notes:

Important dates and deadlines for graduate students are found here: http://www.sfu.ca/dean-gradstudies/current/important_dates/guidelines.html. The deadline to drop a course with a 100% refund is the end of week 2. The deadline to drop with no notation on your transcript is the end of week 3.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

At SFU, you are expected to act honestly and responsibly in all your academic work. Cheating, plagiarism, or any other form of academic dishonesty harms your own learning, undermines the efforts of your classmates who pursue their studies honestly, and goes against the core values of the university.

To learn more about the academic disciplinary process and relevant academic supports, visit: 


RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.