Study design
Learn how to tackle complex problems through design thinking, develop strategies for innovation and be on the forefront of emergent technologies for creative applications.
What is design?
Design is not limited to aesthetic concerns. As a way of thinking, design provides a framework for coming up with new ideas, products, services, and systems. Design links creativity and innovation through human-centred design thinking – for either envisioning the digital interactions between people and driverless cars or using virtual reality (VR) to encourage healthier ways of living.
Applying design methods helps to ensure that new solutions address human concerns and balance cultural, environmental and economic requirements. From interaction design and design thinking to innovation design and strategic design, our programs enable you to design for the future, using the emergent technologies of today.
Our design programs provide new skills for the industry leaders of tomorrow. When you study with us, you will gain a toolbox of skills ranging from digital media production and user experience (UX) design through to visual design, effective communication and critical thinking. We offer a range of programs, from undergraduate to specialist postgraduate qualifications. Each one supports a variety of career pathways and personal ambitions.
Our programs also provide you with many opportunities to connect with professional designers and future work opportunities through invited guest lectures, dedicated careers nights, access to an exclusive design jobs mailing list and our annual graduate exhibition.
Our degrees are aimed at talented individuals who are seeking a career in user-experience design or interaction design, to use technology creatively for design and commercial purposes, or to apply design for achieving a strategic advantage across a range of industries.
As a graduate, your skills in design thinking coupled with technical skills could make you highly sought after by a range of employers, from digital startups to major multinational corporations.
Career pathways include:
- interaction designer
- user-experience designer
- service designer
- data visualisation specialist
- creative technologist
- front-end developer
- digital producer
- strategic adviser
- head, customer experience
- design director
- strategic designer.
Bachelor of Design (Interaction Design) at Sydney
Undergraduate courses
Design (Interaction Design)
The Bachelor of Design (Interaction Design) will allow you to develop a deep understanding of how people interact with and experience the world around us, and discover how to design, prototype, and test new products, services and experiences. You will be introduced to two fundamental aspects of interaction design, the technical and the social, and explore how technology-mediated interactions, environments and experiences impact and influence our daily lives.
The unique Bachelor of Design and Bachelor of Advanced Studies (Interaction Design) program allows you to develop your skills and knowledge in interaction design, while also building skills in entrepreneurship, leadership, and innovation. This unique combination of future-focussed skills will position you at the forefront of the field.
Design Major
The Major in Design will provide you with design thinking skills that can be applied across a wide range of disciplines. As the world becomes more complex, there is increasing demand for graduates who are able to apply design as a way to solve problems, develop alternative points of view, and disrupt existing models.
Student work
Postgraduate courses
Interaction Design and Electronic Arts
The Master of Interaction Design and Electronic Arts postgraduate program infuses technological innovation with human-centred design thinking. You will develop an understanding of ways to design interactive products and systems with lasting cultural and commercial value.
Related courses
At the master’s level, our Interaction Design and Electronic Arts degree will take 1.5 years full time to complete (72 credit points). The program can also be taken at the level of:
- Graduate Diploma in Interaction Design and Electronic Arts (one year and 48 credit points)
- Graduate Certificate in Interaction Design and Electronic Arts (6 months and 24 credit points)
Diversify your course
You can add a specialisation in Audio and Acoustics or Illumination Design. This will differentiate your skillset and enable you to work in the emerging area of interactive sound and lighting in entertainment, buildings and public spaces.
Master of Design
The Master of Design will provide you with specialist postgraduate training in the emerging fields of design innovation and strategic design that can be applied across a wide range of disciplines. This degree will introduce you to the principles and methods for using design to achieve innovation and strategic outcomes, and how to apply them in real-world design projects.
At the master’s level, this degree can be taken over 1.5 or 2 years respectively. You can elect to specialise in either:
- Design Innovation (1.5 years and 72 credit points)
- Strategic Design (1.5 years and 72 credit points)
- Double specialisation in Design Innovation and Strategic Design (2 years and 96 credit points)
The program can also be taken at the level of:
- Graduate Diploma in Design (one year and 48 credit points)
Inspiring Alumni: Michael Ford
Michael Ford started out building laser-cut prototypes in the Design, Modelling and Fabrication (DMaF) Lab at the University of Sydney School of Architecture, Design and Planning. He is now the Product Director at 3rdSense.