Deconstructing graphical user interface for learning visual aesthetics

Research in Human-Computer Interaction has revealed the importance of visually pleasing graphical user interfaces in enhancing users´ experience and satisfaction. However, it is difficult for Computer Science students, who are trained in systematic and logical thinking, to learn about visual aesthetics within the standard Computer Science Human-Computer Interaction curriculum. This paper discusses how we have adopted the Structure of Observed Learning Outcomes (SOLO) taxonomy as a framework for structuring the learning of visual aesthetics. By breaking down the graphical user interface into its building blocks, students can focus on learning to manipulate the attributes of the respective elements in isolation and see how the changes made contribute to the overall visual aesthetics. Students can then link the isolated elements together to achieve a visually pleasing interface. The benefits of this approach are supported by the results of a survey of our students on their experience.