Design and development of a graphical user interface for the activity template used in the Taller Integral de Arquitectura (Comprehensive Architecture Workshop)

Abstract

A graphical interface was designed for the general activities template of a Moodle-based virtual learning environment for the “Taller de Arquitectura Integral I y II” (Comprehensive Architecture Workshop I and II) subject, offered by the “Jorge González Reyna” Workshop at the Faculty of Architecture of the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México based on Bruce Archer’s systematic model. The design team carried out a series of diagnostic activities to contextualize the workshop's visual identity. From this information, wireframes and initial prototypes were developed and validated in an iterative process with the various participating teams. Graphic criteria were defined, such as the arrangement of elements, the use of typography, and a color palette to facilitate reading, navigation, and visual consistency among components. To ensure accessibility, digital tools were used to validate the contrast between text and background, guaranteeing the readability of the content in accordance with web accessibility guidelines. This validation also helped optimize the technical development by reducing the number of CSS classes required for implementation on the educational platform. The result was a functional, accessible template that was aesthetically aligned with the workshop's institutional and pedagogical objectives, even with time constraints, inconsistencies in interpreting CSS between browsers, as well as the need to work in parallel with the instructional designers who assembled the content for each course.