DES4016 Interaction Design 2: Design for Digital Products (Autumn 2025)

Passed foundation level courses at AHO (BA-level) or equivalent education of 180 ECTS.

AHO students must have chosen interaction design specialization in GK5 and GK6, and students that have taken Interaction Design 1 will have first priority, and students with Service Design 1 have second priority.

2 year international master students must have been accepted for interaction design courses, and have taken Interaction Design 1.

Interaction Design 2: Design for Digital Products explores the increasingly interconnected world we live in, where digital products, software, and their interfaces are everywhere. At the heart of interaction design is creating these digital experiences—whether by shaping the interfaces themselves or designing the overall user experience with software. Designing for digital products takes place in a variety of contexts and scales: from personal devices like phones and computers, to specialized workplace tools, and even large-scale public information systems.

This course looks at the key role interaction design plays in integrating software and digital products into different environments, networks, and spaces. A major focus is on designing interfaces for different types of digital products. Key topics include the information and data presented in user interfaces, the messages those interfaces communicate, and how we, as users, interact with them.

Digital technologies, especially the internet, are transforming how information and data are created, shared, and interacted with. The internet itself is a prime example of how technological systems and software have evolved in recent decades, shifting from static, closed systems to open, collaborative platforms that prioritize information sharing, creativity, and innovation.

This shift presents unique challenges for interaction designers, such as:

• How to present large datasets in dynamic and accessible ways.
• How to design cloud-based software that is easy to navigate and understand as shared digital spaces.
• How to display complex information in visual interfaces that offer both an overview and the ability to drill down into details.
• How to design interactions for collaboration with AI-driven software.

These and other design challenges will be explored throughout the course in a variety of workshops and projects.

Each year, the course will focus on a series of relevant challenges related to different types of digital products and software. The goal is to update the topics and themes annually to reflect technological innovations, new partner collaborations, available experts, and the evolving field of interaction design.

The course will equip students with the practical skills, design methods, and problem-solving tools they need to address complex interaction design challenges and create engaging, informative, and effective user interfaces. The semester is structured around several smaller modules and workshops, each introducing students to specific interaction design methods, processes, and tools. These methods will be applied in various contexts for designing software and digital products. The course will conclude with a final project, where students will apply what they've learned to create more detailed and comprehensive interaction design solutions.

KNOWLEDGE

Students will:

• Develop an understanding of the core challenges in interaction design for digital products and software.
• Gain insight into the key issues involved in designing screen-based interfaces, and learn how to apply this knowledge to create engaging user experiences.
• Understand the designer's role and the opportunities available in a technology-driven environment.

 SKILLS

Students will:

• Learn how to use tools and methods to prototype interactive concepts for various contexts.
• Strengthen their ability to apply iterative design processes through hands-on tasks.
• Enhance their skills in screen-based graphic design, technical execution, and production.
• Improve their ability to present and communicate their concepts and ideas in a compelling and persuasive way.

Modules
The semester is structured around several shorter modules, which together provide a thorough introduction to the field. Each module typically begins with lectures or workshops, followed by time for students to work on assignments, with guidance and mentorship from teachers and experts.

Partner Collaboration
In the final module, students can choose from a range of tasks in collaboration with external partners. These collaborators may include local businesses, design consultancy firms, design research projects, or future-oriented conceptualization initiatives.

Group Work
Students will work either individually or in pairs, depending on the assignment.

Attendence

This is an intensive course and it demands consistent and hard work from the participants. Students are expected to participate and be present on a daily basis with continuous work effort throughout the semester.

There is at least a 90 % expected attendance for lectures and workshops.

Form of assessment: Assessment folder

Grouping: Individual

Grading scale: Pass/fail

Comment:The course consist of 4 - 7 modules, and all modules need to be passed in order to pass the whole course.

Evaluation will be based on the following elements in percentage:

• 95% Design projects, presentations, minor deliverables, workshops and appropriate presentation material for the final project. Projects will be assessed for their creativity, expression, innovation, usability and appropriateness of design.
• 5% contribution towards the group exhibition

The course will be assessed by an external examiner.

If during the semester the student fail in one of the modules, they will be given the option to supply material within the timeframe of the semester. And in addition, the external sensor for the final module will go through all the deliverables from the whole semester for this student do a portfolio evaluation.