Entry requirements

At least 45 credits within the main field of studies Interaction design.

Main field

KSIDI Interaction Design

Progression level in relation to degree requirements

The course is part the main field of studies Interaction design and can normally be included as part of a general degree.

Course contents

Designers shape material, and we take the material of interaction design to be interactivity. The ability to critique and shape the interaction aesthetic in a thoughtful, precise manner is of clear benefit for developing a designerly practice. Being sensitised to interactivity allows the interaction designer to consider not just for whom they are designing and the function of the product, but the very experience or ‘feel’ of interacting with it.

Through a designerly practice in the Bauhaus tradition, we will engage with the basic elements of interaction design - code, electronics and materials to bring to life interactive prototypes and sketches. Through exploration and mastery of materials and tools, we will explore notions of interaction qualities, opening discussions on interaction design research topics and relating design work to contemporary interactive artifacts. We purposefully bracket designing concepts or use situations.

The course consists of a series of short modules, each of which combine a theme and a technological material. Themes are explored through rapid design explorations with the paired material and critique sessions. In this process, we sharpen conceptions of interaction and the interactive experience, as well as the technicalskills of design. The reflective journal includes on-going reflections of work conducted in the modules as well as a final essay.

The topic and technology for each module will vary. Students are expected to have prior experience with basic circuits, microcontrollers and Javascript.

Learning outcomes

On completing the course, students will be able to:

1. Demonstrate competency in sketching and prototyping interactivity in code.
2. Identify and unpack interaction aesthetics through experimental design and reflecting on sensuous experience.
3. Explore meaningful interaction design-based questions in the given materials and concepts of the respective module
4. Critically engage with course literature and design practice, following a prescribed academic genre and constraints.

Learning activities

Instruction consists of lectures, design work and critique sessions.

Assessment

The assessment consists of two parts:

• In-person, written short-response format to a set of questions (3 HP; LO 1, 2, 3). One for each of the course’s three modules, total 9 HP.
• Final essay (6 HP; LO 4)

Course grade of ‘VG’ (pass with distinction) is given if final essay and at least one module are both graded ‘VG’.

For re-examination of certain assignments, such as production assignments and group projects, certain circumstances apply since the examination of these assignments are dependent on student participation during certain periods of time and in specific projects.

Re-examinations will be offered according to the student’s rights, but with adjustments to the specific assignment since it cannot be conducted in the same context as the ordinary examination.

Course literature and other study materials

Literature will be provided according to topics selected for the course.

Course evaluation

Malmö University provides students who participate in, or who have completed a course, with the opportunity to express their opinions and describe their experiences of the course by completing a course evaluation administered by the University. The University will compile and summarise the results of course evaluations. The University will also inform participants of the results and any decisions relating to measures taken in response to the course evaluations. The results will be made available to the students (HF 1:14).

Interim rules

If a course is no longer offered, or has undergone significant changes, the students must be offered two opportunities for re-examination based on the syllabus that applied at the time of registration, for a period of one year after the changes have been implemented.

Additional information

If a student has a Learning support decision, the examiner has the right to provide the student with an adapted test, or to allow the student to take the exam in a different format. The syllabus is a translation of a Swedish source text.