Program Overview

Master’s Degree in Design and Multimedia

General Objectives of the Course

The Master in Design and Multimedia aims to provide advanced interdisciplinary training, promoting the development of competencies for creative and innovative intervention in the context of digital media design. The program complements previous training in the areas of Informatics, Art, or Design, with a range of possible specializations aligned with professional opportunities for computational media design, focusing on three axes: HCI/Interaction Design and Services, Editorial Design, and Digital Media (web, materialization, games, and other interactive media). Adopting a pedagogical approach centered on balanced development of instrumental, systemic, and interpersonal competencies, the Master's program provides students with the capacity for interdisciplinary dialogue, conception, and leadership within multifunctional project teams, towards innovative and sustainable transitions.

Admission Requirements

The applicant must have a national Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in Design, Informatics, Multimedia, or similar. It is also possible to apply with a foreign degree in the areas mentioned, recognized by the Scientific Committee of the Faculty of Sciences and Technology as satisfying the admission criteria. In justified cases, an exceptional scientific and professional curriculum may be considered as satisfying the criteria for admission. The recognition is for admission only and does not confer any equivalent degree. The Master’s degree curricular structure anticipates applicants from diverse academic backgrounds; therefore, curricular units to complement knowledge backgrounds will be recommended according to the profile of each applicant, aiming to bridge possible gaps in their academic background.

Professional Goals

The graduate student in Design and Multimedia will be skilled in devising design interactive solutions. They will be expected to design creative innovative solutions, negotiate with and coordinate multifunctional project teams, and establish communication with experts in different areas. The main professional profiles include:

• Interaction Designer
• Communication Designer
• Multimedia applications designer
• Web Designer / Web Developer
• Digital Contents Production Specialist
• Service Designer and IS specialist
• Interface Software Architect
• Graphic Modeller / Animator
• Game designer / Developer
• Designer of Interactive Materials and Environments
• Researcher in Design and Multimedia.

Mode of Study

The program is offered in a daytime, full-time, face-to-face mode of study.

Teaching / Evaluation Language(s)

The teaching and evaluation languages are Portuguese and English.

Examination Regulations, Assessment, and Grading

Assessment is a pedagogical activity inseparable from the teaching process, aiming to establish students' competencies and knowledge, their critical sense, ability to recognize and resolve problems, as well as their written and oral presentation skills. Students may only register for exams for classes they are currently enrolled in. Assessment items include oral or written exams, written or practical work, individual and group projects that may require an oral defense, as well as class participation. Grading is based on a scale of 0 to 20, and a grade of 10 is required to pass. The final grade is calculated by taking into account the relative weight of each item according to a formula published in the course outline.

Learning Objectives and Intended Skills

The Master in Design and Multimedia aims to train professionals to design computational media, who: a) Understand and integrate the methodological bases of Interaction Design, Editorial Design, and Communication, as tools for the design of interactive media and services, with a strong background in Human-Computer Interaction; b) Know and apply new interface technologies in the implementation of innovative designs; c) Reflect on Design and on the interdisciplinarity of their production and research methods to promote Design as a form of Social Innovation and Sustainable Design conceived in terms of transitions in socio-technical ecosystems; d) Explore the opportunities for dialogue between Design and Contemporary Art practices as perspective and artistic culture; e) Make an innovative synthesis between Computing and Design practices, for the creation of generative solutions that mix human intuition and computational production.

Course Coordinator(s)

The course coordinator is Pedro José Mendes Martins.

ECTS Departmental Coordinator(s)

The ECTS departmental coordinator is Joel Perdiz Arrais.

Recognition of Prior Learning

Recognition of prior learning is carried out in accordance with the Academic Regulation of the University of Coimbra.

Qualification Requirements and Regulations

The qualification requirements and regulations are based on Decree-Law No. 74/2006, of March 24, in the current wording.

Graduation Requirements

The degree or diploma will be obtained by gathering the totality of credits required (120 ECTS).

Access to Further Studies

The course does not provide automatic access to a higher level study cycle.

Study Programme

The study programme is designed as a 2nd Cycle Studies - Continuity Master Programme, with a duration of 4 semesters and 120 ECTS credits.

Accreditations

The program is accredited by the Agência de Avaliação e Acreditação do Ensino Superior, with the registration number R/A-Ef 1559/2011/AL03.