Interaction Design
Clockwise from top left: Colby May, Alexandra Livsey, Siying Lin.
Engaging technology to connect people and prototype possible futures.
Are you excited to work at the cutting edge of design, creating meaningful experiences with emerging technologies? The Interaction Design program places you at the centre of new creative practices such as strategic design, information architecture, game design, creative coding, visual + sound design, and behavioural insights.
Learn human-centered design methods and make sense of complex problems for more-than-human centered contexts. Choose your own path and learn to design games, services, medical applications and interactive spaces, using hybrid technologies as basic as pen and paper, or as sophisticated as virtual reality.
What You Will Learn
Interactivity is everywhere, from apps and websites to physical devices and product-service systems. By combining a focus on sketching, prototyping, and testing, students gain the experience to design across media - digital and tangible. That's why the Interaction Design program at ECU is interdisciplinary and holistic, allowing you to take courses from Communication Design, Industrial Design, Animation, and New Media + Sound Art to cover these overlapping disciplines.
Our one-of-a-kind program, led by skilled and expert practitioners, focuses on critical and practical inquiry, research methods, technological skills, and design process. You'll take a blend of practice-based and theoretical courses that will prepare you to enter the IxD/UX field with substantial skills and adaptability in an evolving new discipline.
Upon graduating, you'll have developed your own design portfolio, and be prepared to launch into graduate studies or a career in this dynamic field.
"The best part about Emily Carr and studying IxD was the people. Everyone is from such a diverse set of backgrounds and experiences, and you’re surrounded by all kinds of artists."
Program Structure
Credits: 120
Year 1: First-Year Foundation Studies
Year 2-4: Interaction Design courses and electives
Designation: Bachelor of Design, Majoring in Interaction Design (BDes, Interaction Design)
Faculty: The Ian Gillespie Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media
For application information, including admission requirements, see Admissions.
Shops + Studios
Studio culture is at the heart of your educational experience at Emily Carr, as spaces where you can create, learn, collaborate, experiment, and play. Interaction Design students have access to our spacious and well-equipped shops and studios, including our Interaction Design Lab, Wearables + Interactive Products (WIP) Lab and The Mixed Reality Lab.
Each space is maintained by expert technical staff who collaborate with faculty and staff to provide students with instruction and guidance. Technical staff ensure safe and accessible working environments and lead instructional workshops to enhance your learning.
Beyond the Classroom
Meet Your Future Community
Michelle Chan
Unlocking the power of participatory design in health care.
Allison Chan
Harnessing heartbeats to create art with InterPulse.
Dimeji Onafuwa
The faculty member designs for a world where everyone is represented.
