Interaction Design (IxD)

Interaction Design, Bachelor of Science Degree

The Interaction Design Bachelor of Science degree program blends the fields of design, user experience (UX), and technology. The proliferation of innovations — from mobile apps, medical devices, and wearable technology, to connected appliances and self-driving cars — is creating strong demand for a new breed of designer who understands the user and employs a user-centered approach. The success of a new product or service in the competitive, fast-paced world of high technology hinges upon the quality of the user’s first experience with the product. Interaction Designers ensure that products and services are appealing, effective, and intuitive for their users by designing the behavior, organization, and aesthetics of the system to create successful end-to-end experiences. This is a four-year program with the lower-division Graphic Design courses providing students with the skills necessary to enter the upper-division courses in this field.

Program Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of the program, students will demonstrate knowledge of Interaction Design/User Experience Design history, practices, methodologies, tools, and project-based processes in designing for the user. Graduates will utilize human-centered design principles, user-testing outcomes, and ethnographic research insights, and will employ critical thinking, sketching, and iterative processes to define, develop, conceptualize, and solve problems. They will design and prototype correct affordances, interaction paradigms, and patterns for a range of platforms including web, mobile, and tangible systems. They will also collaborate effectively with customers and clients, and in team projects, brainstorming sessions, and in-class critiques. They will exhibit proficient visual, verbal, and written communication skills, particularly presentation skills necessary in the design industry. Students are required to complete a total of 120 units of lower-division and upper-division courses for the bachelor’s degree.

Lower-Division Preparation for the IxD Program. (These courses, or equivalent, are required prior to enrollment in the IXD courses. SMC has several articulation agreements with other institutions for these courses. Details available at smc.edu/IDTransferAgreements.