Interaction Design MA
Subject to validation.
Course start date 2025.
Length:
Full-time 1 year, part-time 2 years
Transform your understanding of user interaction and digital experiences through innovative practices and critical engagement.
The MA in Interaction Design supports you in understanding computer-related design rooted in the relationship between people and technology. This course supports an experimental approach to user-related interactions and experiences, drawing from a range of design thinking practices and principles. You will develop innovative, speculative outcomes that reimagine interactive practices to support a more inclusive future, focusing on human/computer interaction components like users, tasks, tools, interfaces, and contexts.
The course encourages interdisciplinary collaboration that is aligned with the broader practice of human-centred and more than human-centred design. By the end of the course, you’ll have a professional body of work aligned with your interests and future aspirations in relation to technology. You will be adept at clearly communicating the results of your research and confidently applying current thinking and conceptual insight to drive innovation within the field.
Why study with us
- Advanced technical skills: Develop expertise in design for experiences, prototyping, and user-environment interaction to create sophisticated and innovative outcomes.
- Interdisciplinary approach: Benefit from shared delivery with other postgraduate courses, fostering a collaborative environment that reflects industry practices and promotes knowledge sharing.
- Professional-level resources: Utilise a wide range of professional resources, including contemporary technology and industry-standard tools, media labs, 2D & 3D studios, workshops, and more, supporting you in creating practical and creative solutions to project briefs.
- Ethical and inclusive research: Adopt an ethical approach to your work, focusing on the social and ethical implications of interaction design, and emphasising accessibility, equality, diversity, and sustainability.
- Professional portfolio development: By the end of the course, you will have created a professional body of work that reflects your interests and prepares you for industry, enhancing your ability to communicate research visually.
- Innovative problem-solving: Engage with complex problems through project-based learning, promoting original and innovative approaches to technical proficiency and professional working methods.
Course structure
This course is part of our suite of Master’s in UX, Interaction and Service Design, offering a collaborative framework across various specialisations, including MA User Experience Design, MA Interaction Design and MA Service Design. This provides students with opportunities to engage with peers from different disciplines while working on individual assignments. Such collaboration mirrors the professional dynamics in the creative industries today, allowing students to gain valuable experience in interdisciplinary teamwork and real-world problem-solving.
This programme is a one-year course, including 30 weeks of direct teaching time and a 15-week final project. You will need to complete five units and one 60-credit major project (180 credits in total). All units on the course are compulsory and must be passed in order to complete the award. If you study part-time your modules will be split across two years. Full course details, including aims and assessment criteria, will be provided in the course specification upon validation.
Course content
This unit launches your master’s study experience at Norwich, encouraging you to explore leading practices and emerging research within and around the discipline of interaction design. Engaging with core interaction design methodologies will enhance your critical understanding and knowledge in conceiving, prototyping, and producing human-centred experiences in interactive digital contexts. Research-led projects will immerse you in modern interaction design techniques, enhancing your confidence in conceptual and practical problem-solving. You will adopt iterative, qualitative, and participatory practices to address complex challenges through in-depth critique and analysis. Continuous experimentation and critical reflection will strengthen your methods within broader conceptual frameworks and ethical considerations.
This unit focuses on developing advanced technical skills essential for idea generation, problem-solving, and practical development in design practice. You will engage in various media and processes, enhancing your ability to design digital products and services through project-based learning. The unit takes an expanded approach to the discipline, encouraging you to challenge technical expectations in contemporary design practices covering coding, physical computing, user experience, agile working, design thinking, systems thinking, data analysis, and emerging technologies (AR/VR/AI). Through continuous technical experimentation and practical application, you will enhance your practical skills and working methods, ensuring you are well-prepared to tackle real-world challenges and able to develop innovative and effective design solutions.
This unit encourages deep exploration of leading practices and emerging research in digital design. Through reflective analysis and interactive sessions, you will develop a critical understanding of your discipline within broader socio-economic, political, ethical, and cultural contexts, exploring themes like design history, identity, human/computer interaction, aesthetics, Gestalt psychology, and globalisation. You will develop a range of research approaches, using discursive interaction to inform your inquiry and push your creative boundaries to inspire new perspectives on communication design. Research-led projects will enhance your ability to synthesise conceptual and practical problem-solving to extend and explore your chosen area of expertise.
This unit encourages your exploration of a range of professional-level technical skills essential for human-centred design and interaction in digital design practice. You will experiment across a range of media, building on the skills and techniques covered in the ‘advanced technical skills’ unit. Through individual and group projects, you’ll refine technical processes and explore innovative aspects of design creativity and prototyping, developing innovative solutions for modern media platforms using digital and analogue techniques. Topics include coding, prototyping, user flows, and emerging technologies like AR, VR, and AI, merging creative ideas with technical expertise to extend and explore your chosen area of expertise.
This unit deepens your understanding of leading practices and emerging research in digital design. By developing effective research and reflective strategies, you will enhance your critical understanding of key methodologies and gain insights into creative thinking within socio-economic, political, ethical, and cultural contexts. Building on the ‘dialogue, debate, and domain knowledge’ unit, you will explore themes such as design history, identity, human/computer interaction, aesthetics, and globalisation. Research-led projects will help you to develop your overall creative persona and assist in developing strategies for conceptual and practical problem-solving, positioning you as a critically engaged and reflective practitioner.
This unit represents the culmination of your master’s study, integrating everything you’ve learned on your studies. You will consolidate specialist knowledge, communication skills, and advanced interaction design practices. You will identify a research question and create a viable project to test your hypotheses, aiming for original outcomes supported by feedback from tutors and industry professionals. You will deepen your understanding of the historical, theoretical, cultural, technical, and economic contexts, addressing social and environmental sustainability challenges. You will situate your practice within regional, national, and international contexts by identifying relevant industries, audiences, and stakeholders. Your project will enable you to reflect on your voice, demonstrate creativity, develop technical skills, and support your professional practice as an ethically minded, astute, interactive designer and problem solver.
Careers Information
Our MA in Interaction Design helps prepare graduates to excel in a design landscape that is increasingly shaped by technological advancements and interdisciplinary collaboration. The course provides practical skills in interactive art, interdisciplinary studio work, and digital arts. The course equips students for various career paths, including roles in industry, independent design consultancy, creative practice and further academic study. With the ability to create design solutions spanning web technologies, software, physical products, systems, services, environments, and installations, graduates will have a wide array of opportunities both locally and globally to explore.
This course prepares you for a career in a variety of disciplines related to interaction design, including:
Career opportunities
- Interaction designer
- UX designer
- UX researcher
- Service designer
- Product designer
- User interface designer
You’ll also get specialist creative careers advice from our Business and Employability Team to help support you as you plan your career.
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Entry Requirements
We typically require an honours degree of 2:1 or above in a science, technology, computing, maths, physics, engineering, data sciences or data analytics degree, or a professional qualification recognised as equivalent to an honours degree in a technology-related or engineering discipline.
Those with industry experience or relevant skills from non-traditional backgrounds are encouraged to apply, including individuals currently employed. If you’re unsure about your eligibility, please contact us for guidance before applying.
Language requirements (International/EU)
If English is not your first language, IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) is required, with a minimum of 5.5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
Portfolio requirement
For this course we will need to see your portfolio for review. You can either submit a digital portfolio or request an in-person portfolio review with the course team. Further information will be provided once you have applied.
2024/25 university fees
Norwich University of the Arts will assess students’ tuition fee status using the guidance provided by the UK Council for International Student Affairs.
Students from the UK or Ireland, and EU students with ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status, will be charged ‘Home’ fees if they meet the relevant residency requirements.
Home/UK
- Postgraduate degree (full-time) £10,600
- Postgraduate degree (part-time, over 2 years) £6,625
For home postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
For 2024, UK nationals and EU nationals who have ‘Settled’ or ‘Pre-Settled’ status may be eligible for a government loan towards course fees or living costs. Both full-time and part-time master’s degree students can apply for the master’s loan. Find out more about postgraduate master’s loans.
Alumni discount
Home Norwich alumni can benefit from a £1,000 discount on Norwich postgraduate degree fees.
Staff and teacher discount
All Norwich staff and art teachers at high schools or sixth form colleges can benefit from £1,000 discount on Norwich postgraduate degree fees.
International
- Postgraduate degree (full-time) £24,000
For international postgraduate degree students starting in 2024, fees will remain the same for each year of your course.
If you are a resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland, you will need to pay a deposit of £2,500 to secure your place. This will be subtracted from your total tuition fee.
International scholarships and bursaries
We offer a range of scholarships and bursaries for international students. To find out more and see if you’re eligible, please visit the scholarships for international students page.
Additional costs
Your tuition fee covers the full cost of tuition. Accommodation, cost of materials, and living costs, such as travel and food, are not included in your tuition fees.
Learning and teaching
The course is delivered through a variety of engaging learning and teaching methods. Lectures will introduce you to core topics, provide contextual understanding, and clarify the objectives of assigned tasks. You will participate in creative workshops, technical labs, and seminars, and receive individual mentorship. Throughout these sessions, you will have opportunities to work independently, and collaboratively in groups, engaging in practical and creative exercises designed to enhance your knowledge and skills.
Assessment
Our assessment methods will vary based on the unit you choose and provide a comprehensive measure of your learning and progress. These methods may include:
- Course work
- Presentations
- Learning journal
- Reflective evaluation
- Body of creative work
- Reflective research report
- Team project evaluation
- Major project
- Supporting documentation
- Critically reflective essay
How to apply
Applications to our postgraduate courses should be made directly to Norwich University of the Arts using a Postgraduate Application Form.
Postgraduate Application form 2023-24 – Word format
Applications should be returned to admissions@norwichuni.ac.uk
Terms and conditions
- Norwich Terms and Conditions (11/12/20)
- Norwich Student Regulations and Procedures (01/10/23)
- Student Protection Plan (01/11/23)
When should I apply for an MA course?
There is no official deadline for applying for a postgraduate course. We would recommend you apply by 25 August (at the very latest) of the autumn you wish to start. This will allow time for your interview to take place and the necessary paperwork to be processed if you are successful in achieving a place. International students requiring a visa should apply as soon as possible in the year they wish to start. Email our International Team for more information.
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