Course Finder

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

The course serves as an introduction to the methods and principles of Interaction Design. It is structured around project-based learning, emphasizing diverse approaches to tackling design challenges. The primary focus is on leveraging the iterative design process to identify human behaviors and using technology interventions to influence those behaviors. In addition to ideation and problem-solving methods, this class will also use research and rapid prototyping techniques to ensure the proposed interventions resonate with users and project stakeholders.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

This course serves as an overview of historical methods, approaches and practices of interaction design, including mechanical, electrical, and analog and digital electronic systems. The students will follow the development of modern tendencies in interaction design and formulate opinions about their causes and possible paths for future developments. The students will also examine the current applications of interaction design across industries and disciplines.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: IXD 310.

This course focuses on principles, approaches, and methods for designing user interfaces. Building on the outcomes of Interaction Design Studio 1, the course prepares students to engage with a range of topics relevant to UI design, from information architecture to microinteraction. In the studio course, students will learn research, ideation, diagramming, and prototyping methods employed in interface design. Students learn to design for a wide range of devices, from wearable to screen-based to mixed reality. Students will analyze existing approaches to UI design and develop a critical understanding of how the interface affects user behavior and system performance.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

This design course focuses on the storytelling component of interaction design with a special focus on prototyping and motion graphics. Exploring different types of prototyping, from paper prototypes to digital, screen-based prototypes (e.g, web-based tools, video prototypes), students use storytelling to describe experiences in interaction design. Students use a hands-on approach to design a better experience for end users by sketching, storytelling, experimenting, making and testing. Students create prototypes at different levels of fidelity using appropriate tools and technologies.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: IXD 350.

This course introduces fundamental concerns, concepts, methods and approaches of product design disciplines for interaction designers. Students will learn how to use sketching, rapid prototyping, 3D modeling and other common product design techniques to create useful and engaging products. Students will be introduced to the use of electronics and microcontrollers in designing objects with interactive capabilities. The course employs “critical making” pedagogy and emphasizes the importance of craft and prototyping in the design process.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: IXD 330.

In this course, students work with a variety of organizations addressing a community need to design and develop a project with social impact. Students apply a variety of user experience and interaction design skill sets to work collaboratively with community stakeholders in identifying and helping to solve a need. Through this experience, students recognize and demonstrate many interaction design practices related to research, analysis, concept, design and prototyping to work on a project designed to serve a community need.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

This course contextualizes project management for interaction designers through three lenses: Time Management, Career Management, and applied Project Management. The first two lenses—Time and Career Management—take place in the first half of class. These sections make the connection between personal development and project management. During the first half of class, students will also develop a comprehensive overview of current design development processes and tools used to successfully deliver high-quality projects on time. In the second half of the class, students will then apply their evolving skills to a client-based project. Students will learn to clearly communicate with clients and manage the design process while integrating design objectives into the overall development timeline. In all three sections, students will develop leadership skills as well as learn to plan, organize, motivate, and control resources based on defined goals.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

In this course students explore a comprehensive toolkit for how to approach complex social issues with creative problem solving. Through this course students will recognize and demonstrate the principles, methods, and practices of designing impactful solutions that focus on positive social change. Using a blend of theoretical learning, practical application, and project work, students will apply the skills and mindset needed to address social challenges creatively and ethically.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: IXD 330.

Students design for the complexities of large scale systems, services, and digital networks. The course provides a survey of current system design, information architecture, and topics in interaction design such as The Internet of Things. Working in teams modeled after professional studios, students conduct exploratory ethnographic research to form novel strategies, concepts, maps, user narratives, and models for our increasingly complex world of networked objects, spaces, and people. This course encourages students to leverage team brainstorms and critiques in order to develop consistency through an entire ecosystem.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

In this course, students work on a client-based project with the intent of creating a project that creates social impact. Students will research, analyze, conceptualize, design, and prototype work to serve this community need. Special attention will be paid to elements of service design, accessibility, and human factors.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: IXD 430.

This course provides the interaction design student the opportunity to develop work under the supervision of the instructor on a one-to-one basis and to develop the skill to talk about their body of work in a professional setting. Emphasis is placed on developing a portfolio that displays a comprehensive understanding of industry expectations for a UX/interaction designer.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: IXD 360.

This course allows students to explore the methods and approaches to high-level prototyping of digital systems. Situated on the intersection of computer graphics programming and interactive systems design, this class teaches students to analyze interactive systems, evaluate their components, and strategize their customization and improvement. Students will create their own programmed interactive graphical systems, collect, store and visualize data, and evaluate opportunities for other applications of computer graphics technologies in interactive digital systems.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: IXD 430.
• Prerequisite/Corequisite: IXD 410 (IXD 410 can be taken concurrently with IXD 470).

This is a capstone course where students work individually to build on the knowledge and skills they acquired in earlier course work. The course is organized around an independent project that requires students to explore various design concepts and alternatives as well as explore recent practices, tools, and systems that may be related to the project. Students will design and produce a prototype that they will then share with industry professionals as part of a presentation. Considering the pace of the development of the project, this requires students to engage in a considerable amount of independent learning.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: IXD 460.

This course introduces the students to a set of emerging technologies, new interfaces and developing mediums which will shape the design landscape 5 to 10 years from now — focusing on machine learning, computer-mediated realities and immersive environments. The goal of the course is to help the students prepare for the jobs that might not even exist yet and to equip them with the tools and methodologies that will help them to quickly learn and adapt to the rapidly changing nature of digital design.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

This course is for upper division students interested in doing an independent research project in the field of Interaction Design. NOTE: The student must receive approval from the Department Chair prior to enrolling in this course.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

This course is for upper division students interested in doing an independent research project in the field of Interaction Design. NOTE: The student must receive approval from the Department Chair prior to enrolling in this course.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

This course is for upper division students interested in doing an independent research project in the field of Interaction Design. NOTE: The student must receive approval from the Department Chair prior to enrolling in this course.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

This internship program provides students with the opportunity to work with a local firm to apply UX/IxD principles. Students become acquainted with the career fields in user experience design and interaction design by working in a professional design, entertainment, or technology company. Students spend a minimum of 60 hours during the term under the supervision of a design professional. Learning objectives and exit internship evaluation are required. Limited availability.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

In this internship program, students will work with a local firm to apply UX/IxD principles. Students become acquainted with the career fields in user experience design and interaction design by working in a professional design, entertainment, or technology company. Students spend a minimum of 120 hours during the term under the supervision of a design professional. Learning objectives and exit internship evaluation are required. Limited availability.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.

• Prerequisite: Admission to the Bachelor of Science in Interaction Design.

In this internship program, students will work with a local firm to apply UX/IxD principles. Students become acquainted with the career fields in user experience design and interaction design by working in a professional design, entertainment, or technology company. Students spend a minimum of 180 hours during the term under the supervision of a design professional. Learning objectives and exit internship evaluation are required. Limited availability.

This course is open only to students who have been admitted to SMC’s Bachelor of Science program in Interaction Design. See for more information.