Interaction Design

Led by a people-centred approach, the MA Interaction Design programme teaches fundamental skills, methods and tools related to product, screen and service interactions.

The MA Interaction Design is a one-year full time taught masters. The course teaches fundamental approaches, methods and tools related to the design of digital products, experiences, systems and services with a focus on users and context of use. The MA is studio-based with students engaging in lectures, seminars, workshops, fieldwork and independent and group projects. The studio environment is an essential component, fostering collaborative and peer-to-peer learning.

The MA Interaction Design brings together candidates ?from a range of fields including design, art, computer? science, psychology, sociology and business, and prepares graduates to play a leading role in the development of emerging technology in society.

The programme focuses on the interdisciplinary nature of Interaction Design, covering topics ranging from human-computer interaction and psychology, to product design and experience prototyping. At the core of the programme is a focus on the needs of people. Through a range of studio projects students learn to conduct people-centered research, extract meaningful insights, create and visualise concepts, and develop and evaluate prototypes in context. Covering the theoretical and practical aspects of the discipline, the course encourages students to design from both a pragmatic and speculative perspective, to imagine things as they might be and not necessarily as they are.

During the first and second semester students develop knowledge and skills in areas including user experience (UX), user interface design, design ethnography, service design, coding, physical computing, systems thinking, prototyping and digital fabrication. Each year the students collaborate with the MSc Medical Device Design students on an intensive real-world project. Over the summer students complete a self-directed major project and dissertation.

Based in Dublin city centre, the hub of Ireland's rapidly growing technology sector, the MA offers exciting opportunities for students to engage with industry, extending their existing skillset into new territory. Students are exposed to a broad range of topics and real-world contexts through industry projects and engagement with design practitioners and visiting academics. Through project work students engage in fieldwork connecting with the local community, businesses and organisations. Student work is exhibited through work-in-progress shows and a final exhibition. In addition to this, students are encouraged to display, implement and evaluate their work beyond the college in appropriate settings. Students are also supported to prepare publications to contribute new and relevant knowledge to the academic community.

The programme is based in a dedicated Interaction Design Studio on campus. Students have access to the department workshop which offers a range of prototyping facilities including 3D printing, laser cutting and CNC as well as other college facilities such as the Edward Murphy Library and the National Irish Visual Arts Library (NIVAL).

Eligibility

The programme is open to graduates with an Honours degree award of 2.2 or higher, or an equivalent academic or professional qualification across various disciplines including design, art, the humanities, social science, computer science, engineering and business. The college also takes into consideration prior learning and experience.

Students who have not been educated through English must show proof of achieving IELTS 6.5 (with a minimum of 6 in the writing section on the Academic Version) or an equivalent score in another accepted test.

Priority Deadline
The proprity deadline for receipt of applications to postgraduate programmes starting in Sept. 2022 is Thursday 31st March 2022.

Applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship (where applicable) must submit their application before the priority deadline.

International applicants are encouraged to submit their applications before the priority deadline.

After the priority deadline, NCAD will operate a rolling closing date for postgraduate applications for 2022 - 23. Applications will be reviewed on receipt, and offers will be sent on a rolling basis. A waitlist will apply to over-subscribed courses.

Please contact the Admissions Office for further information admissions@ncad.ie

1. A Statement of Interest - 500 words framing your reasons for applying to the programme. Please indicate a subject/discipline area that you believe can best advance your practice.

2. A recent CV

3. Certified transcripts of previous programmes followed

4. Certified copies of degree/ certificates and/or other appropriate third level qualifications bearing the official stamp of the institution.

5. Reference 1 (Academic - Head of School/Department preferred)

6. Reference 2 (Tutor or Current/Recent Employer)

Note: Please supply the reference. Some referees prefer to submit the reference directly to the college. If this is the case, please instruct your referee to email a standard reference for the attention of Fiona Cleary to admissions@ncad.ie.

Please make sure all references contain the letterhead and the institution contact email address for the referee.

7. Applications for studio based programmes must be supported by visual documentation or other documentation that best represents your practice. Applicants are requested to upload a document via the online application with access to your portfolio. This document can include a link to an on-line portfolio or a link to a folder on Google Drive.

For applications to the MA Interaction Design, MSc Medical Device Design, MA Service Design, we do require evidence of previous work undertaken, even if your background is not Design related. This will depend on the experience and background of the candidate making the application. Feel free to submit any material you feel showcases an aspect of your skill-set that is relevant to the programme you are applying for. We are open to reviewing written work or documentation of a project that might be more theoretical or technical in nature. Some candidates chose to describe projects they have been involved with in a "case study" format, eg. for MA Service Design if they have been involved in improving an aspect of customer service in a business, they describe the process they engaged with to do so.

There is no set requirement on the number of pages or projects - this is up to each individual applicant.

90 ECTS credits / Taught masters

A one-year taught masters delivered at the National College of Art and Design (NCAD) in conjunction with University College Dublin (UCD).

Application
To find out more about the entry requirements, application process and tuition fees visit - www.ncad.ie/study-at-ncad.ie

The MA prepares graduates for careers in industry, independent design consultancy, start-up venture, creative practice and academic research. With the skills to develop design solutions related to web technologies, software, physical products, systems, services, environments and installations, graduates have a wide range of local and global opportunities available to them. Roles open to graduates include interaction design, user experience (UX) design, product design, web design, usability engineering, user interface design, information architect, and design-led research.

Recent graduates have gone on to work as Interaction Designers, UX Designers, UX Researchers, User Interface Designers and Product Designers for companies such as Frontend, Fjord, Ryanair, Workday, Verizon Connect, Daqri and SilverCloud Health. The School of Design actively participates in the EU-funded Erasmus+ programme, which offers recent graduates the opportunity to avail of internships in high profile design companies within the European Union. Students are also supported to progress to PhD level.