Programme
In the first year, the autumn semester focuses on the generation of concepts, while in the spring semester the focus is on design evaluation.
The second year starts with a semester with an individual focus. Students can shape this semester to meet their professional ambitions. Examples of opportunities are to do a multidisciplinary design project, elective courses, a (research) internship, or a study abroad. The second year ends with establishing, defining and completing the individual graduation project.
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9 EC Master specific project
In this project students develop their skills in optimizing interaction and user experience of an existing product through iterative cycles of usage evaluations and redesigns. For this purpose students analyse the usage of an existing product through a user test. The students create a redesign proposal of which they once again evaluate the interaction and experience.
Example of a Usability and User Experience Assessment in Design project
This student movie shows the outcome of an UXAD project on the redesign of a microwave, focusing on user experience and usability - 2013 -
12 EC Master specific project
In this conceptual design project, students analyse current interactions, generate starting points for innovative designs, and develop new design concepts for interactions. In three iterative cycles the students gather and apply knowledge about current and envisioned interactions. Through this they generate an increasingly refined design concept.
Example of an Exploring Interactions (EI) project
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6 EC Master specific course
The main objective of this course is to enable students to learn the limits and potential of knowledge and insights from the humanities and behavioural sciences as these apply to their understanding of human-product interaction. In this course, relevant knowledge and insights will be addressed in a thematic approach.
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6 EC Shared master course
The Master course 'Context and Conceptualisation' deals with the various contexts surrounding the product and the users' interaction with the product. Examples of such contexts are the situation in which the product is used, other people that are involved and the role of the product in the user's life, even when the user is not physically using it.
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3 EC Master specific course
Designers have a substantial impact on our environment, behaviour and well-being. This course is designed to stimulate a critical reflection on this societal role of the designer and the student’s own design process. The main objective of this course is to contribute to the development of a critical, conscious and personal design philosophy or design attitude.
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3 EC Master specific course
The Visual Communication Design course deals with the visual design and visual perception of information. The course content centres around the following subjects: Graphic variables for visually media, visual design of user interfaces, Picture-text combinations, Aesthetics and style of visual communication, Methods for visualization of product communication, The Visual Perception of Design.
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9 EC Master specific course
The potential of products equipped with digital technologies like embedded computers, sensors and actuators creates new opportunities and challenges for product designers. Students gain an understanding of how knowledge can be embedded in a product, how the user can communicate his or her intentions in an expressive way, and translate design ideas into experiential prototypes.
Example of an Interactive Technology Design project
This student movie shows the outcome of an ITD project on an interactive toy for children with autism that helps improve their social skills and encourages them to be more explorative in free play - 2015
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4 EC Shared master course
IDE Academy provides basic training for a relevant set of generic IDE skills. In addition, the course will serve as an entry-point for students to self-study these skills. A broad list of skills will be included, some of which will be compulsory and some optional, enabling the students to customize the course to fit with their needs. These are elementary skills for doing research (e.g. observational research, literature research), developing concepts (e.g., visualisation skills) and prototypes (e.g. screen-based prototypes; programming).
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2 * 1 EC Shared master course
MYM introduces students to the structure and possibilities of the MSc program at IDE. It supports students in developing their own, personal vision on their Master education and in developing a plan for the final year of their Master program. MYM takes place on the first three days of the 1st and 2nd semester of their Master program. Two of these days provide a general program for all Master students. The other day is called the Master Identity Day and its program is specific for one of the three IDE Master programs (SPD, IPD or DfI).
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3 EC Shared master course
The aim of this course is to help you to gain a deeper understanding of the principles, practices and procedures of design in a broad and general sense. The course entails a reflective approach to design practice, including the study of how designers think and behave when designing, what sort of problems they encounter, the use/misuse/non-use of design methods, and the diverse social contexts they might work in.
Shape your master
The third semester is reserved for creating a personal profile. In this semester, students have 30 EC elective space that enables them to shape their personal programme. Students can pursue their professional interests and ambitions with a personalised set of different courses. This elective space enables students to specialise, or broaden their knowledge in specific subjects, such as entrepreneurship, marketing, medical design, automotive design, research, visualisation and others. For those students who want to increase the depth of their development as an industrial design engineer, IDE offers more than 50 different courses. This includes courses from the other IDE master curricula. Students who want to broaden their learning can take master’s courses at other faculties and universities, both in the Netherlands and abroad. This semester can also be a platform for engaging in design and/or research internships.
Graduation Project
30 EC Master specific project
The last semester is fully devoted to the Graduation Project, which may be undertaken in a company setting or within one of the research groups of the Faculty of Industrial Design Engineering. The graduation project is considered to be a stepping stone to a future professional career. A high level of independence is therefore expected from the student in planning and executing the assignment and in acquiring knowledge, understanding and skills.
What is it like to graduate within the master Design for Interaction? Watch the movie, which shows the graduation projects of three (international) students.
Detailed course contents
For the detailed contents of the DfI Master courses, you can view the Study guide.
Specialisations
There are several specialisations for this Master, including Medisign and the Honours Programme.