What is interaction design?

Interaction design is the process of designing digital materials. An interaction designer focuses on the user and aspects of the use situation. One might say that she or he shapes the use qualities of digital objects.

The best way of understanding interaction design is probably through studying examples of it. The section Projects features a number of examples of interaction design, made by students from our program.

What is the difference between interaction design and <X>?
The field of interaction design is a fairly new one and builds on several previously established areas: informatics, design, usability engineering , computer science, architecture and others corresponding to the heading's <X>. Within all these fields we can find examples that could be classified as interaction design.

However, if one were to distinguish interaction design from the rest, the former could be described as a designerly approach to digital materials. Interaction design generally involves the functional, aesthetic and ethical qualities of digital artefacts. Working with interaction design means working within a design process, where the understanding of 'problems' and 'solutions' are developed simultaneously. To question and analyse is more important than 'solving the problem', as it is initially perceived. And so on.

What is the studying environment like?
School of Arts and Communication (K3) is one of six departments at Malmö University, even though it is known as a “subject field”. The department is situated in its own building on Beijers' quay (Beijerskajen) in the western docklands area of Malmö.

K3 offers both undergraduate and post-graduate courses in material and virtual design, media and communication studies, interaction design, performing arts technology, culture production etc.

K3 has approximately 800 students and 75 members of staff.

At K3 there is a model workshop, one large and one smaller stage, a sound studio, labs for graphic design, 3d-modelling, film editing and mechatronics, as well as standard classrooms. At times the students work together on common projects and workshops, which involves a merging of the various programs.

Read more about K3.

The history of K3
K3 was established during 1997-98, based on the analysis that while digital objects and media become increasingly important in our age, they are not always shaped in ways that seem attractive, stimulating and of value to the user. We wanted to merge central subject areas - like information technology, culture and media theory, art and design - into a kind of digital Bauhaus of the twenty-first century. A somewhat pretentious vision perhaps, but one that has functioned well so far; we have been able to fill our course quotas with gifted students and create a base for extensive research within the areas of interaction design and digital media.