Master of Interaction Design

The Master of Interaction Design emphasises the integration and balance of various interaction-oriented design approaches in the design of emerging technologies, 'smart' systems, products, and services that create and support interactive relationships, activities and behaviours.

It is intended for domestic and international students from both design and non-design backgrounds who wish to specialise in the field of interaction design.

Graduates from this course may seek employment working with various informational (or smart) products, systems and services-related design industries. This course provides a pathway into higher degrees by research.

The main area of study is the interaction design studio offered at every year/semester level. Theoretical units, interaction design technology labs, and research seminars support the main areas of study. The final year of study provides opportunities for students to participate in leading industrial projects, designing interactive artefacts, systems or services.

This course emphasises the key design components in the field of interaction design, the unique innovation approaches, the advanced technological characteristics, and the social and business contextual sensitivities that shapes environments. It covers a broad range of interests, including the applications of advanced technologies, electronics and programming, physical or virtual interface manipulation, material and engineering fabrication. The course introduces students to the nature of research and the opportunity to further develop their discipline.

These course outcomes are aligned with the Australian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate AttributesAustralian Qualifications Framework level 9, the Bologna Cycle 2 and Monash Graduate Attributes (http://monash.edu/pubs/handbooks/alignmentofoutcomes.html).

Students who complete the Master of Interaction Design will be able to:

• engage critically with interaction design theory, concepts and methods and the relationship to cultural, environmental, ethical, technological and professional contexts and practices
• apply interaction design principles, and interaction design skills including an advanced understanding of coding, electronics, ergonomics and sophisticated interactive technologies, to produce innovative ideas, concepts and solutions
• integrate specialised design approaches to research, in order to analyse, synthesise and evaluate diverse solutions within complex information environments
• use technical and interaction design methodologies to collaboratively assess the needs, deliverables and constraints of complex projects, to communicate these specialist and non-specialist audiences
• critically analyse and evaluate design outcomes that apply appropriate practical interaction design skills and tangible interactive technologies.

The course consists of the following:

• interaction design studios (36 credit points)
• interaction design labs (18 points)
• design theory units (6 points)
• elective (6 points)
• research methods unit (6 points)
• interaction design research project (24 points)

Suitable elective units can be identified using the browse units toolbrowse units tool (http://www.monash.edu.au/pubs/handbooks/units/search) in the current edition of the Handbook. Note: Some units may require permission from the owning faculty. The level of the unit is indicated by the first number in the unit code; postgraduate units are those that commence with the numbers 4-5.

All units are 6 points unless otherwise indicated.

Level one

• MDC4201 Fundamental interaction design studio 1 (12 points)
• MDC4202 Interaction design studio 2 (12 points)
• MDC4215 Interaction design lab 1
• MDC4216 Interaction design lab 2
• OHS1000 Introduction to art and design health and safety (0 points)
• TDN4401 Human factors in interaction design
• elective

Level two

• MDC5201 Interaction design studio 3 (12 points)
• MDC5215 Interaction design lab 3
• MDC5202 Interaction design research project (24 points)
• MDS5031 Research methods in design

Students wishing to exit this course early may apply to graduate with one of the following, provided they have satisfied the requirements for that award:

• Graduate Certificate in Interaction Design after successful completion of 24 points of study
• Graduate Diploma in Interaction Design after successful completion of 48 points of study.