Interactive Design (IxD)
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Overview
Are you creative, yet love technology and have a keen interest in understanding the how and why people do things? The intersection of computers and human behavior is critical in the development of many products and systems common to 21st century life. Interactive designers and UX professionals work to improve the complex issues related to that intersection. Do you have what it takes?
Available Fall 2021
Interactive designers take a creative, technological, and experiential approach when solving complex design problems. The arenas and industries within which interactive designers work to solve design problems include multimedia, cell phone apps, video, website, user interfaces, gaming and education, however, IxD and UX are becoming increasingly important in almost everything, so opportunities reach well beyond these. Utilizing different design processes, designers apply creativity, ideation, principles of good communication and technology skills to conceptualize, build, prototype and develop applications for a myriad of needs that include motion graphics, UI and UX design and digital storytelling.
Interactive Design students learn and utilize design practice and design thinking — like human-centered design (HCD) and prototyping — to positively affect user experience and understand the user journey, behavior and interactions. A focus on problem-solving that results in the development of engaging interfaces is critical for interactive designers.
With its origins in web and graphic design, this program will help students build skillsets in technology, multiple programming languages, product design, user experience and human behavior preparing them for the careers of today and tomorrow. WPU’s Interactive Design BA is available Fall 2021.
High Demand Job Opportunities in Interactive Design
Interactive designers/UX designers is listed as one of the Best Jobs in America by CNN Money and is expected to reach more than a 22 percent increase in job growth over the next 10 years. According to the Creative Group’s 2020 Salary Guide, the midpoint starting salary for interaction designers in the United States is $75,000.
Interactive Design at William Peace University is an interdisciplinary opportunity for students to explore UX,UI, web design human-computer interaction (HCI), psychology — even the fine arts, while collaborating with esports and simulation and game design -
Courses
The courses listed below are for the Academic Catalog and are subject to change. Please reference the Academic Catalog for further information and course descriptions. If you are a current student, please reference the catalog in which you come under.
Bachelor of Arts in Interactive Design
*While the majority of the coursework is taught by WPU faculty, note that a small number of courses will be taught online through our consortium partner, LCMC. LCMC offers a convenient way for students to gain access to specialized courses not taught at their home institution, helping them stay on track to graduate.
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Faculty
Assistant Professor of Simulation and Game Design; Program Director of Simulation and Game Design
Department Chair of Art, Communication, and SGD; Associate Professor of Art, Communication, and SGD -
Careers
Positive Job Growth for Interactive Designers
Interactive Design is a growing field that is projected to grow 8 percent from 2019 to 2029, much faster than the average. Demand will be driven by the continued popularity of mobile devices, interactive systems and gaming, and ecommerce.
Interactive Designers Earn High Salaries
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the median salary for a Web Developer and Digital Interface Designer is $67,707 – $77,540 according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Zippia provides a more robust outlook for interactive designers in the United States — $95,315 per year or $46 per hour. The top 10 percent makes over $133,000 per year.
A more recent study conducted by Indeed, highlights that the average pay for an interactive designer in the U.S is $102,443 while Glassdoor places the annual salary for an interaction designer between $61,000 to $115,000— depending on work experience — with an average annual base pay of $88,124.
Career Opportunities + Titles for Interactive Designers:
- User Experience Design (UX)
- User Interface Design (UI)
- Graphic Design
- Web Developer
- Digital Interface Designer
- Interactive Designer
- Interaction Designer
