Interaction Design

The Interaction Design programme concerns the interaction between people and products in which information technology is a central component. This can, for instance, be the design of the complex interface between the driver and the network of computers controlling a modern car, the interface and gameplay of modern computer games, the next generation of mobile communication devices or the integration of computational technology into our everyday things, such as ’intelligent clothes’. Regardless of the application, a design perspective on the interaction between people and technology is central. This makes interaction design an increasingly important area in application and systems development, as well as in industrial and product design.

Programme

The programme gives students the theoretical and practical knowledge to work creatively in interaction design. Specific courses, such as Design Methodology, Human-Centred Design, Graphical Interfaces and Gameplay Design, provide design skills while courses such as Computer Graphics, Simulation Engines and Physical Computing, provide technical skills. Students can then gain practical experience from applying these skills in the Ubiquitous Computing course, a one-term project course, and the Master's thesis. The education is structured in such a way that students can take a minor during the second year and specialise towards either a more technology-oriented version or a more user-oriented version. Those focusing on technology develop core knowledge within 3D programming, visualisation, augmented reality and game engines while those focusing on users develop core knowledge about participatory design and user analysis methods.