Art students looking for the latest in development and design around web and mixed media will find it at Academy of Art University. The Academy recently relaunched its much-lauded School of Web Design & New Media with a brand-new name that better reflects the experience you’ll have.
After all, the newly named School for Interaction and Design indicates exactly what you’ll learn – how to design for user experiences and interfaces that combine traditional artistic approaches with contemporary methods.
Re-Introducing the School of Interaction and Design
What’s great about the recent relaunch and rebranding of the School of Interaction and Design is that the move was dictated by the program’s solid curriculum. While the name change more accurately describes what you can expect as a student, the program itself remains true to its roots. “Our students get hired as UI/UX designers; our students get hired as product designers … But the department name didn’t align with what we were actually teaching and what our alumni are doing and what students are learning in the classroom,” explained program co-director Fred McHale.
The result is an aptly named program that reflects Academy of Art University’s modern approach to education. Web design and designing for different media components remains a foundational piece in the program, but the new name also highlights the different media where user interfaces (UI) and user experiences (UX) come into play. This evolution for a department that has been a true institution for Academy of Art University for over 14 years shows that the Academy is also able to evolve as student needs and the industry change, too. You’ll benefit from that experience as a student in the program with a wide variety of innovative courses and workshops.
What You Can Expect in the School of Interaction and Design
Notably, the School’s curriculum remains unchanged, a reflection of what a great fit it is for students looking to enter the field designing for the tech industry. Anywhere there’s a user interface, or a chance for an end user to interact with and use a design, there’s also an opportunity for that experience to be imagined and designed. As program co-director Andrea Pimentel put it in a recent interview: “I think UI/UX is very much focused on that particular component—that first, we’re going to try to make the thing usable and intuitive. But also, let’s talk about what it is that you need.”
Designing for an interface is about more than just the art. It’s about the experience that users will have when they get to interact with your designs. That’s why the School of Interaction and Design structures its curriculum with a blend of visual design, technology, and user experience courses. You’ll have a well-rounded approach to understanding just how people use and expect technologies to work while being able to push the envelope creatively. Product design rounds out the curriculum by giving you plenty of opportunities to demonstrate what you’ve learned through hands-on projects and interactions.
What makes Academy of Art University truly unique is its 100 percent online courses, which offer the same level of academics and attention as traditional in-person programs. Students like you can study when it makes the most sense for your busy schedule. Student portals and showcases help keep everyone connected, including expert practitioner faculty who are active in the fields they teach. The Academy is a pioneer when it comes to integrated learning, and the School of Interaction and Design brings together the fundamentals of design thinking, user experience, visual communication, and technology so you’ll have a well-rounded and complete education when you finish your program.
Academy of Art University has a storied history of providing industry-based curriculum learning to artists, designers and creatives. Students can choose from more than 120 accredited degree options, all taught by instructors who are experienced professionals in a course of study. Academy coursework is a hands-on experience that combines a solid foundation of core skills with the freedom for students to express themselves creatively. To learn more about the associate, bachelor’s, master’s, and certificate programs, visit https://www.academyart.edu/academics/
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