Interactive Design

MA Interactive Design*

The MA Interactive Design is a new course and it takes on an important challenge – how to create effective design that’s innovative and adds to the interaction between people and information. The focus is on coming up with concepts and designs for human interactions with new methods. These include using materials, objects, spaces (both real and virtual), mobile devices, imagery and sound. Studying the MA Interactive Design will guide you through a road of discovery, taking in discussions and debates on current theories. You’ll also be encouraged to review the cultural and theoretical issues related to interactive design.

New computing technologies are increasingly a part of all aspects of our lives, so there’s a need for interfaces and graphic systems that are easy to use, enjoyable to engage with – and useful. Taking a more holistic, human-centred approach to the way we design is the only way to achieve it. We need to fully explore the relationships between people and the way they use information technologies.

The MA course will see you fully investigate the aesthetic, psychological and cultural needs of a target audience. It will also give you the chance to look into the ways we engage with devices. The course is taught by multimedia artists and designers – professionals working in the field already. It is studio-based, practice-led and you will have access to a range of specialist digital technology equipment.

The course is focused on design communication, but there will also be opportunities for you to work with students from other subject areas. These could come from within the North Wales School of Art & Design or any of the University’s related creative courses.

Special features

The School has great links with other design and media schools and universities throughout the world. These provide opportunities for potential study visits and student exchange. These partnerships include Domus Academy, Milan/Rome; Academy Italiana, Florence/Rome; The Academy of Art & Design in Sofia; ICAT, Chennai, India and Renmin University, Beijing, China.

Career opportunities

The opportunities for students at the end of the course are very good. 92% of all our graduates and postgraduates were in work related to their degree within 12 months of graduating.

We aim to ensure that North Wales School of Art & Design graduates have a portfolio of work and a range of skills which not only helps them to get a job within the design and media industry, but also helps them to further their careers and work within a range of job scenarios. We consider it very important that students are able to work internationally.

Course content

Your specialist studies are at the heart of this course. Alongside tutorial support, we provide modules in research methodologies and practice to help you find and develop ideas and themes. You will have opportunities to collaborate and work with students from other disciplines; this can also be a commercial project. You will undertake a dissertation and masters presentation.

Assessment

At the end of each major stage, your work will be assessed in summary, in the form of crits, seminars, peer review and individual feedback through tutorials. The final end of course assessment takes the form of an exhibition and final show. Students also have the opportunity to display their work externally to the University. The New Designers exhibition in London is one example.

Entry requirements

You must have an honours degree in a relevant subject. If you wish to enter the course at points other than the beginning of the programme by carrying existing masters level credits, exemptions from the early stage of the course will be considered.

Course length

Full time: 1 year
Part time: 2-3 years

* This course is awaiting validation