Masters Degrees (Interaction Design)

Interaction Design is a highly sought specialist skill enabling the creation of compelling user experiences that keep individuals engaged with interactive computing products. This course is ideal if you have existing programming skills and want to understand software users and work with them to create positive user experiences. The MRes Interaction Design course will help you stand out from other graduates by providing you with the skills and theoretical understanding needed to create successful products in industry or go on to further postgraduate study in a Interaction Design/User Experience/HCI related research field. There is a vibrant international research community developing new methods and theories that underpin this discipline within the broad field of HCI (Human-Computer Interaction) and more specific Interaction Design (IxD ) and User Experience (UxD) areas.

INDUSTRY LINKS

As part of the course you will have opportunities to work with external partners. At UCLan we work with a range on businesses and organisations, many of which provide work experience opportunities and project briefs to enable to you gain real work experience whilst you undertake your postgraduate programme.

LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AND ASSESSMENT

We aim to provide a challenging and stimulating environment in which you can develop and learn new skills. As an MRes student you will be supported in exploring your full potential through taught modules and an extended project. Teaching is done in small groups with plenty of opportunities for practical work, networking with students and staff, and to get involved with research activities.

Assessment methods will include individual and group assignments, presentation and seminars.

FACILITIES

The course is delivered in the Computing and Technology Building at the City Campus in Preston at which students have access to the latest technology, and can study in a supportive environment. Facilities include a purpose built Human-Computer Interaction Suite which is used for the evaluation of software products.

OPPORTUNITIES

The goal of the course is to guide you, depending on your interests, to either go out into Industry or to progress to an academic research career. We aim to produce Interaction Design practitioners who understand how to create excellent interaction designs for a range of different scenarios.

Placement opportunities are available as an option for students who want to gain some work experience as part of the course.

We also aim to give you a thorough grounding in the Interaction Design research area so you are ready to start a PhD. After completing the MRes there will be opportunities for students to continue to MPhil or PhD study.

Our alumni have gone on to work a range of destinations including UX specialists, the BBC, and Tata.

FURTHER INFORMATION

Interaction Design is a branch of Computing concerned with how users interact with computer systems. This includes the roles of users in analysis, design and evaluation of systems, as well as methods for the system developer to create usable and useful interactive products for people, and extends to consideration of social aspects of computer use. In fact it is often more helpful to regard the computer program and its users as each being a component of a system. Many systems fail because of problems with the user interaction, rather than problems with the underlying code. This is because the human is the most complex component of the system, and the least well understood.

This course is suitable for:
-Those who wish to enter a career in Interaction Design or User Experience Design
-Those who wish to enhance their appeal to employers and stand out from other computing graduates.
-Those who wish to go on to study at PhD level
-Those in employment who wish to use the MRes project to develop a product for their employer and develop personally

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What is the MA in Interaction Design about?

Interaction design focuses on shaping products for people’s use and behaviour and includes designing interactive digital products, environments, visual communication systems and services. Interaction design is the synthesis and imagining of things as they might be, rathere than focusing on satisfying the needs and desires of the end user. This programme is specifically designed for honours graduates in product and industrial design, multimedia and game design, visual communication design, architecture, engineering and other design related fields. This Masters programme has been developed by IT Carlow in consultation with industry and is delivered through combination of the self-directed learning and graduate research within the structutred environment of a taught programme. This dynamic educational environment seeks to provide a framework for interdisciplinary and peer learning and equiry, which facilitates, promotes and leads the interaction between practice and theory. The Masters of Arts in Interaction Design aims to nurture and support a unique interdisciplinary approach to research and learning in this area. The programme is centered around the development and delivery of a major project which can be either practice or theory based.

What will I be able to do when I finish the course?
The Master of Arts in Interaction Design will provide graduates with a unique opportunity to gain a competitive edge prior to embarking on a career in design or related fields. Graduates may also adopt research and advisory roles in relation to new product development and development of the provision of creative services in practice. It is envisaged that graduates will be in a position to critically evaluate existing creative services and to visualize future possibilities for devising better design methodologies and best practice in managing design practices and studios.

Potential employment for graduates include:
• Interaction Designer
• User Experience Designer/ConsultantEngineer
• User Interface Designer
• Mobile App Designer
• Mobile App Developer
• Web Designer
• Front End Developer
• Digital Media Designer
• Visual Designe
• Communications Designer
• Multidisciplinary Design Studios
• Strategic Design Thinkers
• Design Manage
• Content Develope
• Product Designer
• Industrial Designe
• Service Designer
• Design Thinking
• Design Entrepreneur

What follow-on study opportunities are available?
Graduates may pursue Level 10 (PhD) study opportunities upon successful completion of this programme. Postgraduate Diploma Postgraduate Diploma in Arts in Interaction Design is an Embedded Exit Award.

What subjects will I study?
Subjects
Framing User Experience
Principles of Interaction Design
Prototyping Interactions
Design Entrepreneurship
Human Interface Design
Communication Design
Design Research Methods
Design Project Dissertation

Special features of the course:
The Masters programme sits within the Department of Humanities at IT Carlow which facilitates the culture of design lead research and learning. Our programme facilities a culture of interdisciplinary learning embedded within the ethos of studio based education environment.

What are the entry requirements?

A Level 8 Honours Degree in Product or Industrial Design, Games Design, Visual Communication Design, or other related design disciplines such as Architecture or Engineering (minimum 2nd class honours).

Candidates with significant experience in the design services sector (as determined by the Institute’s recognition of prior learning policy), in addition to an honours primary degree in another discipline area may also be considered for entry on a case by case basis through IT Carlow’s RPL system.

Applicants applying for entry via routes other than that listed above will be considered on a case by- case basis through IT Carlow’s RPL system.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Con Kennedy
MA, PDP, LLM, PgCert
Programme Director
E: [email protected]

Allison Kenneally
BCL, BA, LLM, PgCert
E: [email protected]
T: 059-9175300

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This program is available for students interested in beginning studies in 2016.

Whether you want to get ahead in your career faster, or improve your knowledge, a Monash postgraduate degree can give you a distinct advantage.

Overview

The Master of Interaction Design is a specialised postgraduate coursework degree for students seeking to become interaction designers. This course covers a broad range of areas, including the application of advanced technologies, electronics and programming, physical or virtual interface manipulation, material and engineering fabrication. Students will be exposed to the key concepts of interaction design. They will explore innovative approaches to the integration of advanced technologies in design practice. They will also gain an understanding of social and business contexts in which products and technologies are used.

During the final year of the degree, students have the opportunity to design interactive artifacts, systems or services that may contribute to leading industrial projects. Students will be able to connect and collaborate with students linked with the International Tangible Interaction Design Lab, forming relationships for future projects and potentially future careers.

The course is designed to benefit students from a variety of backgrounds including design, architecture, engineering, information technology and computer science. Students who have existing design expertise will be engaged and challenged. Students without background in design will gain the fundamental design skills needed to succeed.

Visit the website http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2016/interaction-design-3124?domestic=true

Career opportunities

The Master of Interaction Design enables professionals from varied backgrounds to specialise and transform their career path. Graduates can pursue careers in various industries including interaction design, system design, product design, interface design, service design, and entertainment design. They may work on projects that include various informational or 'smart' products, systems and services-related design. This course can also provide a pathway into higher degree by research.

ABOUT MADA

Welcome to Monash Art Design & Architecture (MADA)
MADA is a multi award-winning community of artists, designers and architects working together to create a better future for individuals and communities around Australia and the world.
We’re part of Monash University, the largest university in Australia, and among the most highly regarded in the world. Monash is a member of the prestigious Group of Eight universities in Australia.

Located at the Caulfield campus of Monash University, our vibrant community of students, academics, researchers and staff generates creative activity at the highest level and is at the forefront of education in the creative arts, architecture, and design disciplines.
As a student with us, you’ll customise your studies from an incredible range of options – single degrees, double degrees and electives from across MADA and the rest of Monash – so you can become the creative professional you want to be.
And as a Monash graduate, you’ll have a strong sense of purpose, a global outlook, and the skills and confidence to make positive change to your own life, and to the lives of those around you.
As long as you have the drive to pursue, question and achieve, we’ll help you get there.

Find out how to apply here - http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2016/interaction-design-3124?domestic=true#making-the-application

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Introduction

MA Interaction Design Communication is a practice-led design course that prepares students to design for an increasingly technologically informed and interdisciplinary design world with skills in the following areas: interaction design, design prototyping, physical computing, user centered design, open source digital platforms, design research, foresight and insight, experience design, communication design, speculative and critical design, interactive design and digital arts.

Content

MA Interaction Design Communication provides an opportunity for experimental practice in an area of design that increasingly explores the intersection of the physical and digital domains. With a focus on synthesising thought through rigorous design prototyping (making), digital processes and user perspectives, the course is highly reflective of interdisciplinary practice within the contemporary design, media and communications industries.

The integrated approach of the course to critical thinking provides you with the opportunity to work with critical ideas in an applied design context – for example psycho-geographic practice as empirical research or engaging with other critical theories of space to generate user perspectives. This ensures that ideation processes take on both the macro as well as micro opportunities for innovation and speculation crucial to building a portfolio of highly engaged work.

As well as placing you in a position to work across the board spectrum of interaction, design and communication the course is just as interested in design questions as design answers. This means that the course also prepares you for progression to further design research at MPhil/PhD level as well as to advanced self-directed experimental practice.

LCC has an outstanding team of practitioners and published researchers and enjoys a powerful programme of visiting speakers. The course also benefits from a cross-European collaboration with design industry professionals and higher education institutions and there is an opportunity to visit at least one other centre in Europe during the course.

Structure

Phase 1

1.1 Theories and Technologies of Interaction Design (40 credits)
1.2 Research Practice and Human Centered Design (20 credits)

Phase 2

2.1 Interaction Futures and Speculative Design (40 credits)
2.2 Physical Computing and Design Prototyping (20 credits)

Phase 3

Unit 3.1 Final Major Research Project

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This course provides students with advanced knowledge, industry-valued skills and new design perspectives, empowering them to succeed in a User Experience (UX) career.

Who is it for?

This course is for people who share our ethos of wanting to design technology that meets user needs - interactive systems that are useful, easy-to-use and engaging. It is for people who get frustrated when they interact with unnecessarily complicated Websites, mobile apps or other interactive systems and think 'I want to be able to improve this.' It is for people that want to design technology based on an understanding of users' needs and to ensure that the products they and others design meet those needs. We welcome students who share this user-centred ethos.

Objectives

This course will equip you with the latest academic research, theories and techniques in Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), User Experience (UX), usability and Interaction Design and encourages you to think about design in new ways - recognising that there are many 'right' ways to design interactive systems.

You will gain a mix of theoretical and practical knowledge, along with the necessary skills and experience to create engaging user experiences. You will study modules that cover the entire user-centred design and evaluation process; from understanding user needs, to designing interactive systems that meet those needs, to evaluating the usability of those (and existing systems) through user research.

Placements

You will have the option to undertake a six month UX internship, after the taught part of the course has finished.

All internships are paid and provide valuable work experience, enhancing employability. As an internship student you can apply the HCI/UX knowledge and skills you have developed on the course in real-world projects and build a UX work portfolio. This supports you in standing out in the job market. You will also get the opportunity to conduct your independent research project on a topic of interest to both you and the internship company. This helps ensure the practical importance of the research.

Previous internships include positions at:
-London UX agencies (e.g Webcredible, Foolproof, Bunnyfoot)
-The BBC
-The Telegraph
-Nature.com

Academic facilities

You will benefit from the use of the City Interaction Lab - a combined commercial and research lab, where we have undertaken UX consultancy for prestigious companies including Virgin Atlantic. The lab is fitted with the latest technologies including a usability testing suite, mobile testing station, eye-tracker, interactive tabletop, brain interaction technology, 3D printer and more. We employ student consultants on some projects, providing the opportunity to work on real client projects.

Teaching and learning

The course is delivered by distinguished academics from City University London's Centre for HCI Design, who all have a passion for user-centred design. Industry professionals also participate in teaching and learning - by giving guest lectures, running practitioner tutorials and even by providing feedback on students' design outputs and input into module content, ensuring that students learn the knowledge and skills most valued by industry.

Assessment

The course is delivered through a combination of lectures, online activities and interactive workshops and tutorials. It is assessed in a variety of ways, including:
-Examinations (which focus on applying HCI theory in realistic situations).
-Coursework (which range from written reports and essays, to posters, presentations and design documentation - e.g. wireframe prototypes). A range of both group and individual courseworks are set during the course. Group courseworks are often centred around realistic design projects.
-Independent research project (dissertation). The independent project allows students to conduct original research on an HCI topic of their choice.
-Each of these account for around one-third of the total course assessment. However, the exact balance varies according to the chosen elective module.

Modules

You will study seven core modules and one elective module that cover the entire user-centred design and evaluation process. Modules are delivered through a combination of lectures, online activities and interactive workshops and tutorials. These include sessions delivered by guest lecturers from industry. Full-time students spend eight hours/week in lectures and four hours/week in seminars/tutorials. Part-time students spend half this time in classes. Overall workload is around 36 hours/week for full-time and 18 hours/week for part-time students.

You will also undertake an independent Research Project, for which our module on Research Methods and Professional Issues will prepare you.

A series of optional, but recommended, practitioner tutorials supplement the taught modules. These include talks, workshops and field trips. Previous tutorials have featured HCI/UX practitioners from prestigious companies including Foolproof, Futureheads and eBay.

Taught Core Modules
-Interaction design (15 credits)
-Creativity in design (15 credits)
-Information architecture (15 credits)
.-Evaluating interactive systems (15 credits)
-Inclusive design (15 credits)
-Cognition and technologies (15 credits)
-Research, methods and professional issues (15 credits)

Taught Elective modules
-Web applications development (15 credits)
-Data visualisation (15 credits)
-Telemedicine (15 credits)

Career prospects

This course empowers students to succeed in a variety of User Experience (UX) roles in leading digital agencies, business consultancies, IT companies and commercial/government organisations.

Roles include:
-UX Designer/Consultant
-User Researcher
-Information Architect
-Accessibility Specialist.

There is an increasing need for specialists with a deep knowledge of Human-Computer Interaction design. As the industry continues to expand, there is no better time to become a Master in this field. The course is also an excellent starting point for those wanting to pursue a PhD in HCI.

Our course is highly respected by industry, with exceptional employability; Over 90% of students are employed within six months of graduating (City Graduate Destinations), in prestigious companies including Samsung, Tesco, Thomson Reuters and Google.

The median annual salary for our recent graduates is £34,000 per year (City Graduate Destinations).

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This newly redesigned course enables graduates to be able to understand, design and develop digital solutions within the emergent digital economies. Graduates would be able to follow a flexible program of study and either plan a career in interaction design, mobile and digital solutions, data and analytics, or emergent systems or to explore the opportunities offered in London as a start-up capital.

The digital sector continues to evolve and technologies, platforms, interaction paradigms and business models are increasingly requiring technical ability combined with commercial and design acumen that the course encourages.

Boston Consulting Group estimated that by the end of 2016 the internet economy in the G-20 economies will be worth USD 4.2 trillion (up from USD 2.3 trillion in 2010) and that the internet contributes over 12 per cent of GDP in the United Kingdom.

The mobile apps sector has revenues of more than €10 billion per annum or jobs in the order of 790.000 across the whole EU economy and continues to grow at a fast rate. Within the UK the digital sector has critical importance and reports suggest 14.4% of companies in the UK are involved in the Digital economy and some 1.46 million people are employed. More than one million jobs were advertised in 2014 showing a growth of 28% and there are suggestions that the growth forecast is around 5.4%

The Business Growth Fund and Barclays published a report in March 2014 that supported the phenomenal growth experienced by tech businesses in the UK, finding that London is home to Europe’s fastest growing tech cluster, with 27% of all job growth in London generated by the tech and digital sector.

A recent study published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sports valued the creative industries as contributing was worth £133 billion in 2014 accounting for 8.2% of the UK Economy. The Creative Economy has grown more than 25% in the last four years. Within this sector technology represents a substantial scale of impact both directly in terms of for example software as well as indirectly through areas such as digital marketing. Direct Gross added value of IT, software and computer services sectors were worth £36.6 billion in 2014.

Course content

The Masters of Science in Interaction Design and Computing takes into account the emerging needs of the marketplace focusing on the key areas of enterprise, user experience, interaction, innovation and development as well as offering options in various subjects including web, mobile and data. As a consequence the modules emphasise both the critical conceptual underpinnings as well as the practical skills for each subject.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Core modules
-DIGITAL INTERACTION MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
-INTERACTION DESIGN & COMPUTING PROJECT
-RESEARCH METHODS & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
-USABILITY AND USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN

Option modules
-BIG DATA THEORY AND PRACTICE
-DATA MINING AND MACHINE LEARNING
-DATA VISUALISATION AND DASHBOARDING
-EMERGENT AND SOCIAL INTERACTIVE PLATFORMS
-GAMES INTERACTION TECHNOLOGY
-MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
-MOBILE AND UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING
-WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS
-FREE CHOICE MODULE

Associated careers

Graduates from the course would find employment opportunities in the digital and interaction sectors working as user experience specialists, application and systems developers, data experts, and as entrepreneurs working for corporates, start-ups, digital agencies, web 2.0 enterprises and so on.

Graduates from the proceeding course have found employment in various companies, both corporates and agencies, as well as NGOs. This includes for example Cisco, Hearst, Hubspot, KPMG, Lloyds Banking, Microsoft, Microsoft Xbox, Neverbland, News UK, Pearson, Periscopix, PwC, Reckitt Benkiser, QVC, Samsung, SapientNitro, and Skype. A number of graduates have started their own business including Software Optics Limited, Olyvon, Brave Media, D Crypt Digital and FanTeamz.

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This newly redesigned course enables graduates to be able to understand, design and develop digital solutions within the emergent digital economies harnessing data and interaction paradigms.

Graduates would be able to follow a flexible program of study and either plan a career in interaction design, mobile and digital solutions, data and analytics, or emergent systems or to explore the opportunities offered in London as a start-up capital.

The digital sector continues to evolve and technologies, platforms, interaction paradigms and business models are increasingly requiring technical ability combined with commercial and design acumen that the course encourages.

Boston Consulting Group estimated that by end of 2016 the Internet economy in the G-20 economies will be worth USD 4.2 trillion (up from USD 2.3 trillion in 2010) and that the Internet contributes over 12 per cent of GDP in the United Kingdom.

The mobile apps sector has revenues of more than €10 billion per annum or jobs in the order of 790.000 across the whole EU economy and continues to grow at a fast rate.

Within the UK the digital sector has critical importance and reports suggest 14.4% of companies in the UK are involved in the Digital economy and some 1.46 million people are employed.

More than one million jobs were advertised in 2014 showing a growth of 28% and there are suggestions that the growth forecast is around 5.4%

The Business Growth Fund and Barclays published a report in March 2014 that supported the phenomenal growth experienced by tech businesses in the UK, finding that London is home to Europe's fastest growing tech cluster, with 27% of all job growth in London generated by the tech and digital sector.

A recent study published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sports valued the creative industries as contributing was worth £133 billion in 2014 accounting for 8.2% of the UK Economy. The Creative Economy has grown more than 25% in the last four years. Within this sector technology represents a substantial scale of impact both directly in terms of for example software as well as indirectly through areas such as digital marketing. Direct Gross added value of IT, software and computer services sectors were worth £36.6 billion in 2014.

The Commons Science and Technology Committee reported back to Parliament at the start of June 2016 that the UK needs another 745,000 workers with digital skills by 2017.

Course content

The Masters of Science in Interaction Design and Computing takes into account the emerging needs of the marketplace focusing on the key areas of enterprise, user experience, interaction, innovation and development as well as offering options in various subjects including web, mobile and data. As a consequence the modules emphasise both the critical conceptual underpinnings as well as the practical skills for each subject.

Modules

The following modules are indicative of what you will study on this course.

Core modules
-DIGITAL INTERACTION MANAGEMENT AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP
-INTERACTION DESIGN & COMPUTING PROJECT
-RESEARCH METHODS & PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
-USABILITY AND USER EXPERIENCE DESIGN

Option modules
-BIG DATA THEORY AND PRACTICE
-DATA MINING AND MACHINE LEARNING
-DATA VISUALISATION AND DASHBOARDING
-EMERGENT AND SOCIAL INTERACTIVE PLATFORMS
-GAMES INTERACTION TECHNOLOGY
-MOBILE APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
-MOBILE AND UBIQUITOUS COMPUTING
-WEB AND SOCIAL MEDIA ANALYTICS
-FREE CHOICE MODULE

Associated careers

Graduates from the course would find employment opportunities in the digital and interaction sectors working as user experience specialists, application and systems developers, data experts, and as entrepreneurs working for corporates, start-ups, digital agencies, web 2.0 enterprises and so on.

Graduates from the proceeding course have found employment in various companies, both corporates and agencies, as well as NGOs. This includes for example Cisco, Hearst, Hubspot, KPMG, Lloyds Banking, Microsoft, Microsoft Xbox, Neverbland, News UK, Pearson, Periscopix, PwC, Reckitt Benkiser, QVC, Samsung, SapientNitro, and Skype. A number of graduates have started their own business including Software Optics Limited, Olyvon, Brave Media, D Crypt Digital and FanTeamz.

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Overview

Designing, producing, promoting and marketing a product or a service in the post-industrial society of information, requires designers with very specific skills, able to dialogue with different players and to handle the market following non-conventional rules.

The Master course in I-Design comes from a challenge: to bring the originality of Italian Design in the world of Information and Communication Technology (ICT). The course is part of a permanent laboratory on the themes of digital information with the culture of design at its centre, intended as knowledge of the changing world and as a way of learning by designing.

I-Design is a direct connection to the themes of information and interaction, but it is also a reference to the culture of Italian Design and of the Made in Italy, as original approach in balance between design and corporate culture. It blends creative skills and understanding of the media with the ability to transform design visions into business opportunities by adopting points of view connected to the market strategies and logics.

The program includes an internship in a company working in the disciplinary field.

Audience

Candidates holding a first-level academic diploma or BA degree, or about to graduate and with a knowledge of the English language (IELTS 5.0 academic or equivalent certificate).
The Master is open to candidates with a background and/or professional experience in Product Design, Visual and Graphic Design, Media and Web Design, Architecture, Computer Science, Engineering, Communication Science, Psychology and Sociology.

Job Opportunities

Who attends the Master develops skills and competencies necessary to cover different and strategic planning roles , such as: Interaction Designer, User Experience Designer, Creative Director, Digital Strategist, Design Manager.

The aim of the Master in Interaction Design is to train anyone who possess the practical and conceptual tools essential to develop strategies for the ICT world, which can combine project awareness and creativity to more specific skills. Therefore, employment opportunities can be numerous, including: research institutions, telecommunications companies, and architecture and design studios.

Companies

A network of professionals and leaders of different areas of interest are in constant and proficient interaction and collaboration with the Master in Interaction Design at Domus Academy, actively participating in educational programming, workshops and international competitions organized by the department.

The Master program has worked with:

Adobe, Canon, Cisco, Condé Nast, Fujitsu, Fundación Escultor Berrocal, Hager Group, Illywords, Iks Core Consulting, Mattel, Meet the Media Guru, Mit Mobile Experience Lab, Motorola, Nokia, Park Hyatt, RCS MediaGroup, Re-Power, Samsung, Studio Museo Achille Castiglioni.

For more information please visit http://www.domusacademy.com

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GRADUATES OF THE INTERACTION DESIGN PROGRAM WILL CREATE RICHLY INTERACTIVE PRODUCTS AND SERVICES THAT ENHANCE MEANING AND EXPAND POSSIBILITIES IN PEOPLE’S DAILY LIVES

Interaction Design brings together students of design, art and technology who have a strong portfolio in concepts, work process, aesthetic execution and passion for serving human needs through interactive experiences.

Your studies at CCS will be grounded in human-centered design practices that will prepare you for the changing nature of work and collaboration in the 21st century. Through the College’s unique curriculum, you will develop deep systems literacy – a timeless framework for understanding rapidly changing technology platforms and economic, market and social challenges. You will become adept with models of interaction and conversation that sharpen your insights and enable you to increase choice for all of your users. You will learn how value creation has evolved in today’s networked, information-driven global economy and how to innovate through design.

Upon graduation, you will be qualified to work inside of tech companies and design firms, from established players to startups. You will know how to design websites and apps for the delight of the experience and effectiveness in achieving users’ goals. You might design a professional online network for consultants who want to work together flexibly, and enhance their skills and reputations along the way. You might prototype a mobile app for small businesses that need real-time alerts and coordinated schedules to keep productivity high and costs low. Or you might invent entirely new experiences for sharing rides in a self-driving car.

The College’s unique program balances research, systems modeling and making, teaching you how to step beyond the limits of today’s technology and market demands to shape desired futures through design. For your career, you can choose where you want to contribute: from designing products to coding prototypes to running product strategy or a combination. You will have the skills to persuade and influence your co-workers, who will be experts in technology, marketing and business, by understanding their language and working as their peer. You will have an appreciation for the challenges of innovation and for what is required to start your own enterprise.

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Technology is becoming closely interwoven into everyday life. How we create and design these interactions is crucial to their success and the positive impact they have on our lives. This understanding forms the core of the IDEA program’s design philosophy: technology that is designed to delight its users.

We aim to infuse the latest technological innovation with a human-centred design thinking to solve complex problems. The IDEA program promotes a creative and critical approach, within the framework of research-driven interaction design and user experience methodologies. The result is an understanding of how to design interactive products, services and systems that will have lasting cultural and commercial importance.

In a foundation first semester, you will develop the essential industry knowledge and skills for working as an interaction or user experience designer, at ease with web and mobile applications. Once you have these core skills in human-centred design thinking, web/mobile interface design and software programming, you are trained to analyse and evaluate their application in a range of design contexts. This evaluative approach is what enables IDEA students to create meaningful interactive experiences that will become ubiquitous parts of our everyday life.

In the second semester, you will engage in design studio projects to extend these skills, both conceptually and technically. We offer a studio-based teaching environment in which you work individually or in teams to creatively solve design challenges. You will learn to design across multiple platforms and scales - from natural, tangible and wearable user interfaces to interactive architecture, creative robotics and urban informatics. Your ideas may even become the basis of prototype products, patents or start-up services.

You can adapt this program to suit your interests and passions by taking electives from other faculties. You will also build a compelling design portfolio showcasing not only your design skills but also your understanding of how best to convey the user experience of new products and services.

The course culminates in a capstone research project, industry internship or graduation design project. The Faculty draws on industry and alumni contacts to enable opportunities to build your professional network. These factors combine to position you as a well-connected creative industry specialist with expertise across the strategic, creative and technical domains.

The course is timetabled to suit your busy schedule. Subjects are run either in the evening or in intensive mode (a block series of Fridays and Saturdays). You can also study part-time. The course has embedded qualifications, enabling you to graduate after the foundation first semester with a Graduate Certificate, or continue on to Graduate Diploma or Masters level.

To ask a question about this course, visit http://sydney.edu.au/internationaloffice/

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Develop your technical knowledge, shape your ideas and concepts and gain a blend of creative and programming skills highly sought after in industry.

This course will equip you with creative prototyping and programming skills for design. You’ll use software and hardware to respond to a range of design briefs dealing with human interaction in spaces and through objects and interfaces.

You’ll learn combined technical and creative skills and have the opportunity to shape your own ideas, concepts and theories through a self-directed major project, informed by design research and critical enquiry.

This course has a strong studio culture and is taught in a multidisciplinary space within a suite of post-graduate design courses where you’ll gain skills and knowledge highly sought after in industry.

See the website http://www.napier.ac.uk/en/Courses/MA--MDes-Interaction-Design-Postgraduate-FullTime

What you'll learn

In specialist prototyping modules you’ll develop specific skills and knowledge in Arduino and other forms of prototyping, which will inform and enable highly developed 3D outcomes in your self-directed major project. Working with specialist tutors, the major project allows you to model and develop design outcomes for human interactions.

Collaboration with practitioners from other areas is encouraged. You have the option of taking an MA or MDes award, depending on whether you complete a dissertation or design project report in your final trimester.

We have a strong studio culture supported by our multidisciplinary staff team of academics and industry based practitioners. You’ll develop creative, professional, strategic and contextual knowledge and skills and apply design thinking to a range of creative outcomes.

Modules

• Design Research Methods
• Sketching in Hardware & Software
• 3D Prototyping or Exhibition Design
• Major Design Project
• Light Art & Projection or Digital Creative
• For MDes Degree - Design Project Report
• For MA Degree - Design Dissertation

Study modules mentioned above are indicative only. Some changes may occur between now and the time that you study.

Careers

You’ll gain a rare blend of creative and programming skills which are highly sought after in industry. With a physical and digital portfolio demonstrating industry-ready skills, graduates can apply for design jobs, freelance work or establish entrepreneurial ventures.

You may also continue to study to MPhil or PhD level.

How to apply

http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/how-to-apply

SAAS Funding

Nothing should get in the way of furthering your education. Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS) awards funding for postgraduate courses, and could provide the help you need to continue your studies. Find out more: http://www.napier.ac.uk/study-with-us/postgraduate/fees-and-funding/saas-funded-courses

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The Master of Design programme provide the opportunity for you to develop creative thinking and innovative strategies through an advanced understanding of the practical application of design thinking and design strategy that can be applied in a global context.

Service Design is a relatively new discipline that has emerged in the UK simultaneously with an increase in the service sector of the economy and the development of services which require innovative approaches to design, development and delivery in public, private and civil society organisations. Through the use of a specific set of methods and processes based on design thinking, Service Design aims to develop services that are useful and desirable for customers/stakeholders and profitable and efficient for the provider.

The course will provide you with the opportunity to develop and use design thinking as a device for modelling multi-faceted service experiences. In particular this requires the ability to design user research, to facilitate development workshops, and to project manage a process when initially outcomes are unknown. A detailed understanding of the management of design and innovation in service organisations is gained through case studies and project based learning. You are introduced to a range of concepts in Service Design such as co-design, user-driven innovation and social innovation. You are also encouraged to develop your own approaches and to respond to emerging industry practices.

You will benefit from staff research interests in methodology and in user experience design strategies. You may also have the opportunity to participate in one of Ravensbourne’s regular industry development projects with a strong service design dimension.

Study units

Stage One: developing a knowledge base and new reference points - introduces the learner to a range of theories and practices in the strategic use of design and innovation, with a particular focus on the method of design thinking in the global context and how it relates to Service Design. Emphasis is also placed on beginning to develop an innovation and leadership toolkit of skills and techniques.

- Unit 1: Cultural and Contextual Design Studies
- Unit 2: Practical Application of Design Thinking in Service Design
- Unit 3: Managing Design in a Global Society and Economy

Stage Two: putting new learning into a professional context - builds on the practical application of design thinking with a focus on innovation and industry oriented professional practice

Teaching and learning methods in this term are reflective of real world practices ensuring that participants are well versed in new service/product design methods, blueprinting, modelling, brand guardianship, consumer marketing and routes to market.

- Unit 4: Professional Practice in Management and Consulting
- Unit 5: Strategic Design and Innovation
- Unit 6: Studio Practice

Stage Three: evaluating and advancing existing knowledge

- Unit 7: Major Project.

Course aims:

- To encourage a human centred approach to design.
- To demonstrate that real innovation comes from gaining a deep understanding of the interaction between service providers and end users, their wants needs, participation and potential for co-creation.

Programme Aims of the Master of Design

The Master of Design programme aims to provide the opportunity for you to develop creative thinking and innovative strategies through an advanced understanding of the practical application of design thinking and design strategy to management and organisational leadership, in order to equip you with the knowledge and skills to apply your learning in a global context. In particular, this programme aims:

- To equip you with an advanced knowledge and understanding of the contextual background to, and developments in design thinking and to reflect on that learning in order to advance your own practice and subject area and to innovate.

- To develop effective managers and leaders with effective design management skills who through creativity and global awareness are able to influence and create positive change in their organisations whether at an operational or a strategic level.

- To equip you with independent study skills that support research, practice and professional development and allow you to continue developing as life-long learners throughout their professional lives maintaining contact with emerging practice from a variety of fields.

- To provide a stimulating environment, which is supportive, flexible and collaborative and allows you to develop your potential.

- To develop a high level of professionalism and confidence to initiate and lead complex design projects involving diverse disciplines and business functions.

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The User Experience Design MSc is a flexible course that you can tailor to your own professional interests. It will help to train you for roles that range from usability, interaction and interface design through to general project management and consulting.

The course is for designers and software developers wishing to enhance their knowledge of user-centred design and usability evaluation of software-enabled products.

Course content has been designed for maximum relevancy to the marketplace.

Upon completion, you'll be able to apply your knowledge and interaction design skills to novel interaction paradigms; make effective use of a broad range of design methods; obtain in-depth knowledge of developments in mobile, ubiquitous or wearable systems and understand the commercial contexts of interaction design.

Course structure

The course can be studied full-time or part-time.

For full-time students the academic year is divided into three 15-week semesters.

The taught element of the course is delivered during the first two semesters. Modules involve approximately 20 per cent classroom teaching and 80 per cent individual or group work. The third semester focuses on your major project.

Part-time students study alongside full-time students with a minimum attendance of one half day per week, depending on the number of modules taken.

Syllabus

On the course, you will study four core modules, two of which will require you to complete individual design projects.

You will also choose from a range of optional modules. These will allow you to specialise in the areas of the discipline that interest you the most.

Modules:

Interaction Design and Evaluation Process
Interface and Information Design
Research Methods
Major Project

Options (subject to change):

Marketing for Interactive Technologies
Interactive Technologies Business Context
Intellectual Property Law
Web Development
Creative Design Lab
Project Management
Independent portfolio project
Independent research project

Employability

Graduates have gone on to work as commercial interaction designers on both software and software-enabled physical products, as well as using this as a starting point for a research career in human-centred interaction design.

Our graduates are working in roles that include:

• digital consultant
• senior developer
• UX designer
• web designer
• digital marketer.

At the end of the taught element there is the possibility of a placement with a digital media company for the major project module. This puts real experience on your CV as you consolidate your expertise.

Brighton is acknowledged as a major digital media cluster.

There are plenty of opportunities to network with companies and organisations in the sector both through the course through external speakers and taking your own initiative. The course cohort has regularly attended the annual conference UX Brighton and students can attend the many digital media events organised in the city.

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This Master of Design is new for 2017.

A professionally focused program of advanced study in contemporary design practice, the Master of Design course includes specialisations in interaction design, multimedia design and collaborative design.

You can also take a range of units from across these three to construct an advanced studies in design specialisation. This program is ideal for those keen to enter the expanding fields of professional design engagement, or design practitioners aiming to upgrade their expertise. You’ll be trained in advanced design thinking and processes that’ll equip you to create design solutions that engage experiential, communication, object and spatial contexts.

Visit the website http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2017/design-f6002?domestic=true

Overview

Please select a specialisation for more details:

- Advanced studies in design
This pathway allows you to construct, with approval, an individual program of study from across interaction design, multimedia design and collaborative design. This enables you to tailor your unit choices while addressing the fundamental principles of advanced design practice and thinking. It’ll inspire you to connect research and practice across the design disciplines, and to become a thoughtful design practitioner. You’ll broaden your knowledge of key design constructs, deepen your professional learning in design areas of interest, and advance your capacity as a design professional.

- Collaborative design
Collaborative design places you conceptually and practically at the intersection of interior, graphic and industrial design practice. The program will set you design challenges involving image, text, products, narratives, systems, ervices, public and private space, materiality and virtuality. You’ll develop independent conceptual and practical design skills alongside an ability to be part of collaborative design processes. You’ll expand your awareness across design disciplines; develop multidisciplinary design expertise; and build broader skills in leadership, professional adaptability and complex project planning.

- Interaction design
The interaction design specialisation develops your skills in the design of contemporary artefacts, products and services that engage with interactive, user-focused technologies and processes. These can include, but aren’t limited to, health and medical equipment, ‘smart’ furniture, educational toys, wearable technologies, information kiosks and transport systems. You’ll use a diverse range of interactive processes, including the application of advanced technologies; electronics and programming; physical and virtual interface manipulation; engineering and material fabrication; and rapid prototyping. The specialisation gives you an understanding of the relationship between interactive activities, products and human behaviour.

- Multimedia design
Multimedia design develops your skills in digital communication environments. This includes: designing for the web; motion and animation; and interactive touchscreen devices and surfaces. Emphasising an advanced knowledge of existing and emerging digital design processes and systems, this specialisation embraces projects of varied scale, from hand-held smart devices to large public interactive screens. It develops your ability to build a communication narrative; use multimedia processes to fill community and business needs; and understand the end-user’s engagement with projects or products such as websites, apps and other screen-based media.

Course Structure

The course comprises 96 points structured into 3 parts:

Part A. Preparatory Studies for Advanced Design (24 points), Part B. Advanced Design Studies (24 points), and Part C. Advanced Design Applications (48 points).

- Students admitted at Entry level 1 complete 96 points, comprising Part A, B & C
- Students admitted at Entry level 2 complete 72 points, comprising Part B & C
- Students admitted at Entry level 3 complete 48 points, comprising Part C

Note: Students eligible for credit for prior studies may elect not to receive the credit and complete one of the higher credit-point options. A zero credit point unit in Art, Design and Architecture Occupational Health and Safety will also be undertaken. This unit is required of all students in the Master of Design and must be undertaken even if credit is obtained for Parts A or B.

Part A: Preparatory studies for advanced design
These studies provide you with the conceptual thinking and technical skill set required for advanced postgraduate study in this area. The studio unit brings together conceptual and technical abilities developed in the other two units.

Part B: Advanced design studies
In these studies you will focus on the application of conceptual thinking and technical skills to advanced design problem solving. You will analyse and create a project outcome based on research, critique, and the application of design processes appropriate to your specialisation. You will also choose a selective unit that will further build capacity in your chosen specialisation.

Part C: Advanced design applications
In these studies you will focus on the application of advanced design problem solving skills at a professional level. You will consolidate skills and practice of design research methodologies and may extend your research trajectory to further study. Part C is also supported by a selective unit to allow you to build capabilities in your chosen specialisation.

In the final semester you will pursue a major design project or participate in a leading industry project. The exegesis unit formalises the research component of Part C. The final semester brings together advanced technical ability, conceptual thinking, entrepreneurial studies and design management in practice.

For more information visit the faculty website - http://www.study.monash/media/links/faculty-websites/design-and-architecture

Find out how to apply here - http://www.study.monash/courses/find-a-course/2017/design-f6002?domestic=true

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Why take this course?

As a Data Visualisation Designer you can contribute innovative solutions with the potential to transform societal challenges, by designing the human interface to increasingly complex problems.

On this course, you will learn how to create rich and meaningful stories with data. We will study digital content in any mode, whether it is in alphanumeric form, binary, vector, pixel, video, or others. The designer provides an important interface, that allows us to explore data and generates meaningful communication. This communication is predominantly visual, but with developments in Wearables and the Internet of Things, is also becoming increasingly physical, affective, networked and interactive. Data Visualisation Design spans traditional graphic and information design, interaction design, information architecture, computational design, design thinking and user-centred and user experience design.

What will I experience?

On this course you can:

Learn the theory and practice of data visualisation, data, interface/interaction design and user experience, and apply this to your own design
Critically question the role of data related to the social, political, economic and cultural through contextual research
Explore live data sets from real world scenarios, such as industry or charities like the digital humanitarian network
Develop independent research and project ideas to create innovative, forward thinking design solutions and experiences for a digital and data driven world

What opportunities might it lead to?

The course will prepare you to work in the design disciplines of the creative industries, with a focus on data visualisation, information design, computational design, digital content, interactivity and user experience. Data Visualisation designers are in demand in sectors including business, research, health, education, government/public service, the arts.

The skills gained on this course can also be applied to employment in UI (user interface) design, or focus on interaction as a UX (User experience) designer. The critical and contextual outlook allows you to position yourself as a strategist and operate in a consultative manner. The research aspect of the course would also suit a career in compulsory, further and higher education.

Careers include:

Data Visualisation Design
Information Design
Digital Graphic Design
UI (user interface) / UX (user experience) design
Interaction design

Module Details

The course is offered over one year (full-time) or two years (part-time).

You will study five units, one of which is shared with other MA courses in the School of Art and Design. There will be preparatory units delivering a grounding in practical skills, theoretical context and academic research (competencies and skills). You will also study units that allow more thematic engagement with interactive and data driven design in terms of theory such as critical design, affordances, experience and complexity. It will also provide a unit oriented towards employability, and incorporate live briefs and group work. These units work to catalyse your own ideas and research direction for the Major Project unit.

Core units currently comprise:

A Question of Research
Fundamentals of Data and Interaction Design
Digital Futures – Themes and Issues in Practice
Design Solutions for Enterprise, Society and Culture
Major Project

Programme Details

The teaching combines interactive lectures and group seminar discussions with support through one-to-one tutorials. You also receive feedback on your work through friendly but critical peer review in group sessions with other students, members of faculty and other experts as appropriate. One of the units includes working as a team. Your project work emphasises self-initiated learning which gives you the freedom to explore the specialist area of your interest, while being helpfully guided by your supervisor. The curriculum is very closely related to the research areas in the department, so the staff have cutting edge knowledge of the field and its potential for innovation.

Your learning is mostly assessed through the submission of practical course work, such as digital prototypes, and the documentation of the learning journey in sketchbooks, diaries, blogs or journals.

This will be documenting contextual research as well as stages in practical experimentation and annotation of reflection. There are some written elements to be submitted as well, mostly accompanying proposals/reports to contextualise your practice. The assessment also includes individual and group presentations, this mode is also used to give you formative feedback on your work throughout.

Here's how we assess your work:

Digital artefacts / prototypes
Learning journals
Proposals
Reports
Oral presentation

Student Destinations

This course is an opportunity to focus your creative design practice on the interactive, data driven, user centred and culturally contextualised. It also enhances your design career by upgrading your skills and widening your knowledge and thinking in the digital arena, allowing you to stay one step ahead of the rest. The independent research aspect of the course prepares you for further education in terms of a research degree and employment in R&D and/or education.

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