C04222v1 Master of Interaction Design
Award(s): Master of Interaction Design (MIDes)CRICOS code: 096325G
Commonwealth supported place?: No
Load credit points: 72
Course EFTSL: 1.5
Location: City campus
Overview
Course aims
Career options
Course intended learning outcomes
Admission requirements
Inherent requirements
Assumed knowledge
Recognition of prior learning
Course duration and attendance
Course structure
Course completion requirements
Course program
Articulation with UTS courses
Other information
Overview
Interaction design is concerned with designing interactive digital products, digital environments, systems, and services that can satisfactorily meet the needs and desires of the intended users. The Master of Interaction Design prepares and equips students with up-to-date theoretical knowledge and requisite practical industry-standard skills in this rapidly advancing field.
While industry demand for skilled interaction designers and various other jobs, such as user experience (UX) designers, service designers etc., is increasing, there is a lack of formal education/training offered by universities in interaction design. This course is designed to provide students with the most current and requisite skills in this fast-evolving field. Graduates possess skills in industrially applicable and cost-effective information environments (i.e. multimedia, interactive systems design and associated information technology). The course provides industry with graduates who can combine these skills with those of their original discipline in professional applications-oriented settings.
The course is committed to producing graduates who have a deep understanding of human-centred approaches to designing digital technologies. This ensures that 'products' created are more likely to 'fit' meaningfully into users' lives, because the design process is informed by a deep understanding of people's practices, particular situations and values.
This course is attractive to different types of learners, namely:
- those who are currently working in a job that is not related to interaction design
- those working in jobs closely related to interaction design, and
- those already working in interaction design-related jobs.
Course aims
In the core subjects students learn through the practice of an iterative human-centred design process to solve a real-world problem with actual users, developing skills to analyse, generate and transmit solutions to complex problems. They also gain advanced technical and theoretical knowledge in interaction design. Students also engage with interaction design for emerging computing contexts, gaining advanced knowledge and skills.
Students develop advanced design skills (including autonomy, expert judgement, adaptability and responsibility) by focusing on learning professional practices in user experience projects, and through the capstone subject where they co-implement a project commissioned with an industry client, focusing on graduate-level outcomes. Skills to demonstrate knowledge adaptability and responsibility as a practitioner/learner are acquired through all the studio subjects where students have to adapt to the unpredictable processes of working with users, conducting fieldwork in the wild, iterating designs and testing with users, and the open-ended nature of an iterative design process. The studio subjects also allow students to demonstrate their responsibility as practitioners through developing project management and teamwork skills.
Students develop skills to research and apply established theories to a body of knowledge or practice through the research methods-oriented subject, which involves developing a research plan, interview schedule, a set of probes and analysis of user research outcomes using interviews and probes. All three studio subjects include significant user research phases, focusing on the structured and systematic use of appropriate research tools in a professional context for ideation, development and validation of a design artifact, and requiring the application-established theories to design practice.
Specialised knowledge and skills are developed through a choice from three modules focusing on either games design, data analytics or interaction programming. These modules include a combination of structured subjects focused on skills and knowledge development for each domain, and assist students to develop their autonomy, expert judgement and adaptability. They also include practical project-based subjects where students develop their specific skills in a project-based mode. Alternatively, students may choose to undertake a research project to produce new knowledge in the field of interaction design.
Career options
Graduates can gain employment in a range of technology design-related roles such as interaction designer, UX designer, UX researcher, service designer, or digital experience architect.
For those currently working in closely related jobs, such as web design, graphic design, interface design, etc., this course provides the necessary formal training in the discipline in order to make a more definitive move into jobs in interaction design. Similarly, many find themselves working within the field of interaction design without formal training, and this course provides a good foundation and opportunities to extend their interaction design skills more formally.
For those not working in a job related to interaction design, this course provides the opportunity to learn about the discipline and to transition into the various jobs under the interaction design umbrella.
Course intended learning outcomes
| A.1 | Master of Interaction Design graduates will use specialised knowledge of Indigenous Australian contexts to design, implement and evaluate complex interaction design projects and design research projects in an appropriate and sensitive manner when working with and for Indigenous Australians. |
| B.1 | Master of Interaction Design graduates generate new insights into users' needs and problems. |
| C.1 | Master of Interaction Design graduates understand which human-centred design methodologies are most appropriate to solve user problems and to respond to their needs in sensitive and culturally appropriate ways. |
| D.1 | Master of Interaction Design graduates have mastered materials, technologies, and methods to implement and critically evaluate interaction designs. |
| E.1 | Master of Interaction Design graduates collaborate and cooperate effectively within diverse, agile teams, using excellent communication skills and cross-cultural competency. |
| F.1 | Master of Interaction Design graduates are reflective practitioners who can manage and improve their own and others' performance. |
Admission requirements
To be eligible for admission to this course, applicants must meet the following criteria.
Applicants must have one of the following:
- Completed Australian master’s or doctoral degree, or overseas equivalent
OR
- Completed Australian bachelor’s degree, graduate certificate, or graduate diploma, or overseas equivalent with more than 75% of all subjects completed at pass level (conceded pass not included)
Applicants who do not meet the criteria above should consider applying for C11272 Graduate Certificate in Interaction Design.
The English proficiency requirement for international students or local applicants with international qualifications is: IELTS Academic: 6.5 overall with a writing score of 6.0; or TOEFL iBT: 79-93 overall with a writing score of 21; or AE5: Pass; or PTE: 58-64 with a writing score of 50; or C1A/C2P: 176-184 with a writing score of 169.
Eligibility for admission does not guarantee offer of a place.
International students
Visa requirement: To obtain a student visa to study in Australia, international students must enrol full time and on campus. Australian student visa regulations also require international students studying on student visas to complete the course within the standard full-time duration. Students can extend their courses only in exceptional circumstances.
Inherent requirements
Inherent requirements are academic and non-academic requirements that are essential to the successful completion of a course. For more information about inherent requirements and where prospective and current students can get assistance and advice regarding these, see the UTS Inherent requirements page.
Prospective and current students should carefully read the Inherent Requirements Statement below and consider whether they might experience challenges in successfully completing this course.
UTS will make reasonable adjustments to teaching and learning, assessment, professional experiences, course related work experience and other course activities to facilitate maximum participation by students with disabilities, carer responsibilities, and religious or cultural obligations in their courses.
For course specific information see the Faculty of Engineering & Information Technology Inherent (Essential) Requirements Statement.
Assumed knowledge
This course does not require formal training in IT, but experience in IT would be an advantage. Some subjects require development of various implementation skills, and so an enthusiastic approach to development of technical proficiency is important, but no previous knowledge is expected.
Recognition of prior learning
Students may be eligible for up to a total of 24cp of subject exemptions based on recognition of prior learning (RPL) as follows:
- Students who have completed equivalent subjects in a postgraduate program or UTS undergraduate program if the subjects previously completed are deemed by the faculty to be equivalent to subjects in the course.
- Subject exemption is applicable only to STM91221 Core Subjects A.
Other/additional RPL may be granted via subject substitution to an alternative/advanced postgraduate subject in a similar field of study.
To be considered for recognition of prior learning, subjects must normally have been completed no more than ten years prior to the commencement of this course.
Course duration and attendance
The course duration is one-and-a-half years of full-time or three years of part-time study.
Course structure
This course totals 72 credit points of study, including 48 credit points of interaction design core subjects and 24 credit points of interaction design modules (CBK91732) which consist of a choice between elective subjects, a graduate research project, data analytics, games design or interaction programming.
Course completion requirements
| STM91221 Core subjects A (Interaction Design) | 24cp | |
| STM91222 Core subjects B (Interaction Design) | 24cp | |
| CBK91732 Choice (Interaction Design) | 24cp | |
| Total | 72cp |
Course program
The programs below show a suggested sequence of subjects for each module for a full-time student commencing the course in Autumn session. They are intended as a guide only and do not take into account such factors as recognition of prior learning, changes in attendance mode and subject availability, or satisfactory academic progress. Students should consult the Timetable Planner to confirm the availability of subjects in the current academic year.
| Data Analytics module, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 42017 Fundamentals of Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 95566 Digital Experience Design Studio | 6cp | |
| 42904 Cloud Computing and Software as a Service | 6cp | |
| 32130 Fundamentals of Data Analytics | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 32405 Human-Centred Design Research Methods | 6cp | |
| 95563 Data Driven Storytelling Studio | 6cp | |
| 32509 Advanced Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 32513 Advanced Data Analytics Algorithms | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 95569 Interaction Design Studio | 12cp | |
| 32516 Internet Programming | 6cp | |
| 42913 Social and Information Network Analysis | 6cp | |
| Graduate Research Project and Elective module, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 42017 Fundamentals of Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 95566 Digital Experience Design Studio | 6cp | |
| 32516 Internet Programming | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 32405 Human-Centred Design Research Methods | 6cp | |
| 95563 Data Driven Storytelling Studio | 6cp | |
| 32509 Advanced Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 95569 Interaction Design Studio | 12cp | |
| 42072 Graduate Research Project (12cp in one session) | 12cp | |
| Games Design module, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 42017 Fundamentals of Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 95566 Digital Experience Design Studio | 6cp | |
| 32543 3D Animation | 6cp | |
| 32003 Computer Game Design | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 32509 Advanced Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 95563 Data Driven Storytelling Studio | 6cp | |
| 32405 Human-Centred Design Research Methods | 6cp | |
| 32027 Interactive Media | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 95569 Interaction Design Studio | 12cp | |
| 32516 Internet Programming | 6cp | |
| 42075 Game Design Studio | 6cp | |
| Games Design module, Spring commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Spring session | ||
| 42017 Fundamentals of Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 95563 Data Driven Storytelling Studio | 6cp | |
| 32405 Human-Centred Design Research Methods | 6cp | |
| 32027 Interactive Media | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 32516 Internet Programming | 6cp | |
| 95566 Digital Experience Design Studio | 6cp | |
| 32543 3D Animation | 6cp | |
| 32003 Computer Game Design | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 95569 Interaction Design Studio | 12cp | |
| 32509 Advanced Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 42056 Serious Games Research | 6cp | |
| Interaction Programming module, Autumn commencing, full time | ||
| Year 1 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 42017 Fundamentals of Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 95566 Digital Experience Design Studio | 6cp | |
| 32516 Internet Programming | 6cp | |
| 32555 Fundamentals of Software Development | 6cp | |
| Spring session | ||
| 32509 Advanced Interaction Design | 6cp | |
| 95563 Data Driven Storytelling Studio | 6cp | |
| 32405 Human-Centred Design Research Methods | 6cp | |
| 32549 Advanced Internet Programming | 6cp | |
| Year 2 | ||
| Autumn session | ||
| 95569 Interaction Design Studio | 12cp | |
| 42070 Prototyping Physical Interaction | 6cp | |
| 42889 iOS Application Development | 6cp | |
Articulation with UTS courses
This course is part of an articulated program comprising the Graduate Certificate in Interaction Design (C11272), the Graduate Diploma in Interaction Design (C06123), the Master of Interaction Design, and the Master of Interaction Design (Extension) (C04234).
Other information
Further information is available from:
UTS Student Centre
telephone 1300 ask UTS (1300 275 887) or +61 2 9514 1222
Ask UTS