In course feedback, students have noted the fact that we emphasize iterative refinement but don't allow for it in the project. We don't have you iterate your design after doing formative evaluations. The goal is to teach the process and not necessarily to produce a product.  We teach the process by doing each step once.  But that doesn't give you the satisfaction of seeing an improvement in the product. This approach still exposes you to the full process (once), and I'm afraid we'll have to live with that in the constraints of a semester.

I have tried to work in some iteration, but have not been able to find a reasonable way to squeeze in two more project assignments (to redesign and re-evaluate).  I could easily just put them into the calendar and make all the deadlines tighter, but you wouldn't be able to do it.

But there is some room for iteration of some project parts. In the spirit of iterative refinement, the modus operandi of HCI, we encourage you to get your project assignments completed before the due date and have the GTA review it and make comments on it during office hours so you can make corresponding changes before submitting on the due date.