Program Overview

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MA Design for Interactive Experience

Overview

This course will give you the skills and understanding to design technology-driven experiences that inspire and delight. The MA Design for Interactive Experience course draws from design and visual arts to understand how to create unforgettable interactions between people and technology.

Mode of Study:

• Full-time

Duration:

• 1 year

Start date:

• September

Course details

Working at the intersection of creativity and new and emerging technology, The MA Design for Interactive Experience programme attracts applicants with backgrounds in design, visual arts, computing, and engineering. This course is constructed from core modules that will give you the skills and knowledge to design for creative experiences.

This course takes a human-centered design approach to incorporating technology into everyday experience in a meaningful way. Our graduates learn a critical approach to designing with technology. We explore how and why interaction can contribute to an engaging and satisfying experience and use experience design as a method to critique and respond to current issues.

This course is led by staff from Edinburgh Napier University’s Design Photography and Advertising group. Our permanent staff are actively involved in cutting-edge research in the fields they teach, contributing to conferences, journals, and books as well as gallery exhibitions and products for visitor experiences. Module teaching is augmented through contributions from professionals working in the field.

How you’ll be taught

This is a full-time course and is split up into three trimesters. The course starts in September and lasts 12 months.

As a highly interdisciplinary course, the MA Design for Interactive Experience is taught through several delivery methods. Studio-based teaching and design activities will enable you to apply technical knowledge within creative projects. This is supported by formal lectures and seminars that deliver core information and current state of the discipline thinking. You will benefit from experiential learning activities by visiting and critiquing relevant exhibitions and visitor attractions.

Assessments

Assessments are focused on practical outputs (i.e., coursework) but you will be expected to contextualize your work in written reports. Studying this programme will provide opportunities to develop work that will contribute directly to your personal portfolio.

Work placement

There are opportunities for working with organisations throughout your studies and staff work to involve external clients on modules. External client work is often developed by students themselves and throughout your studies, you are expected to be self-directed and self-reliant.

Facilities

Postgraduate design programmes in the School of Arts & Creative Industries are delivered in studio learning environments. There is a well-equipped workshop and digital manufacturing environment that is open to students across the design subject area.

Modules

Modules that you will study as part of this course:

• Art Direction (DES11146)
• Creative Research Portfolio Part 1 (DES11155)
• Creative Research Portfolio Part 2 (DES11156)
• Design for Heritage and Culture (DES11137)
• Light Art & Projection (DES11122)
• Research and Entrepreneurship Projects (DES11144)
• Research as Critical Practice (DES11143)
• Sketching in Hardware & Software (DES11106)

Disclaimer

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

Entry requirements

• The entry requirement for this course is a Bachelor (Honours) Degree at 2:2 or above in any discipline.
• We may also consider lesser qualifications if you have sufficient professional work experience within the industry.

English language

• If your first language isn't English, you'll normally need to undertake an approved English language test and our minimum English language requirements will apply.

International students

• We welcome applications from students studying a wide range of international qualifications.

Admissions policies

• We’re committed to admitting students who have the potential to succeed and benefit from our programmes of study.

Fees & funding

• The course fees you'll pay and the funding available to you will depend on a number of factors including your nationality, location, personal circumstances, and the course you are studying.

Tuition fees for 2024/25

• Students from Scotland, England, Wales, Northern Ireland, and Republic of Ireland: £7,280
• Overseas and EU: £18,800

Careers

• As well as using their entrepreneurial skills to develop their own career paths, graduates from this programme can expect to find work in:
  • Exhibition, museum, and interpretation design
  • Interaction Design
  • Service Design
  • User Experience
  • Immersive and Interactive Art
  • Design for mixed reality.