Hi folks, Following up on a post from 2009-02-26, I've compiled a list of formal and informal UI/UXD/IxD educational opportunities in Toronto, Canada.
Because our field is so interdisciplinary (or transdisciplinary, or whatever), it easily accepts people and ideas from all over. The purpose of this particular list is to identify those programs and courses available in the city of Toronto that would lead most naturally into a career in user interface design, user experience design, or interaction design, as well as local conferences and groups in the field. The list is organized by categories more or less in descending order of formality and required commitment. Corrections and additions are welcome. UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE DEGREE PROGRAMS University of Toronto: * The Computer Science department (http://www.artsandscience.utoronto.ca/ofr/calendar/prg_csc.htm) offers an undergraduate program in Human-Computer Interaction, which would provide a good background from the "computer" perspective. * The Cognitive Science program (http://www.utoronto.ca/cognitivesci/) brings together psychology, computer science, philosophy, and linguistics in order to understand the human mind effectively, which is the keystone of the "human" perspective. * The undergraduate Human Factors stream in Industrial Engineering (http://www.mie.utoronto.ca/undergrad/industrial/streams.php#hf) looks at the usability of objects. For someone with an interest in manufactured goods, this established field would be excellent. Because it looks at the cognitive basis for human actions and responses, Human Factors is also a good grounding for interaction design in the electronic world. * The graduate Human Factors Engineering program (http://www.hfes.org/Web/Students/gradschools/utoronto.html) is similar but at the graduate level. * Any of the programs at the Faculty of Information (http://www.ischool.utoronto.ca/) would be excellent. This used to be the library school, and they have a long history in figuring out the best ways to get people the information they need in order to accomplish their goals. Of particular note is the Knowledge Media Design collaborative program (http://www.kmdi.utoronto.ca/). York University: * The undergraduate Information Technology program (http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/program/information_technology) bills itself as preparing students "to work at the interface between people and computer technologies". * The undergraduate Cognitive Science program (http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/program/cognitive_science) provides a strong basic understanding of the human mind and how it performs tasks. * The undergraduate Professional Writing program (http://futurestudents.yorku.ca/program/professional_writing) may seem like an unconventional choice for this list, but it provides writing skills and a mindset that also lead nicely to Interaction Design. Ryerson University: * The Master of Professional Communication program (http://www.ryerson.ca/graduate/procom/) takes a graduate-level look at professional writing. It starts in Sept. 2010. Ontario College of Art and Design: * Any of the programs at the Faculty of Design (http://www.ocad.ca/programs/design.htm) would provide a good understanding of the "design" basis of interaction design, including concepts such as beauty and balance that are sometimes overlooked. Humber College: * The Bachelor of Applied Technology - Industrial Design (http://www.humber.ca/program/22031) focuses on manufactured goods, but the principles can be generally applied. UNIVERSITY CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS * University of Toronto: Communication for Professionals (http://learn.utoronto.ca/bps/communicac.htm). * York University: Professional Writing (http://www.glendon.yorku.ca/techwriting/). PUBLIC COLLEGE CERTIFICATE/DIPLOMA PROGRAMS * Centennial College: Business Writing (http://db2.centennialcollege.ca/ce/certdetail.php?CertificateCode=7364). * George Brown College: School of Design (http://www.georgebrown.ca/design/). * Seneca College: Graphic Design (http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/GRA.html). * Seneca College: Technical Communication (http://www.senecac.on.ca/fulltime/TECC.html). UNIVERSITY CONTINUING EDUCATION COURSES (SINGLE COURSES) * University of Toronto: Business Communications (http://learn.utoronto.ca/bps/communicat.htm). * University of Toronto: Business Writing (http://learn.utoronto.ca/bps/writing.htm). * Ryerson University: Human-Computer Interaction (http://ce-online.ryerson.ca/ce_2009-2010/calendar/default.aspx?id=5§ion=course&mode=course&ccode=CCPS%20613), but it's not being offered this academic year. PUBLIC COLLEGE COURSES (SINGLE COURSES) * Centennial College: Interface Design and Usability for the Web (http://db2.centennialcollege.ca/ce/coursedetail.php?CourseCode=CG-248). * Humber College: Web Information Architecture (http://www.humber.ca/course/http-510). * Humber College: Usability and Accessibility (http://www.humber.ca/course/http-511). * Humber College: Rapid Prototyping with Dreamweaver and Fireworks (http://calendardb.humber.ca/LIS/WebCalendar/CE/CourseOffering.do?name=IMAG_920). PRIVATE COURSES OFFERED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN TORONTO * Akendi Usability Testing Training (http://www.akendi.com/training-courses/usability-testing-training-courses-canada-toronto.php). * Human Factors International: User-Centred Analysis and Conceptual Design (http://www.humanfactors.com/training/useroriented.asp). * Human Factors International: The Science and Art of Effective Web and Application Design (http://www.humanfactors.com/training/design.asp). * Human Factors International: Practical Usability Testing (http://www.humanfactors.com/training/usabilitytesting.asp). * Human Factors International: Putting Research into Practice (http://www.humanfactors.com/training/annualupdate.asp). * Human Factors International: How to Design for Persuasion, Emotion and Trust (http://www.humanfactors.com/training/PET.asp). * Interpix Design Inc.: Introduction to Usability (http://interpixdesign.com/story/training/introduction_to_usability). * Interpix Design Inc.: Practical Usability Evaluation (http://interpixdesign.com/story/training/practical_usability_evaluation). * Interpix Design Inc.: User Experience Screen Design (http://interpixdesign.com/story/training/user_experience_screen_design). * Macadamian Usability: Usability Training (http://www.macadamian-usability.com/training/). CONFERENCES * See the list at http://www.interaction-design.org/calendar/. None scheduled for Toronto right now though. LOCAL GROUPS * Toronto Region--Computer-Human Interaction (affiliated with the Association for Computing Machinery): http://www.torchi.org/ * Toronto Interacts (Usability Professionals' Association): http://www.torontointeracts.ca/ * UXIrregulars: http://groups.google.com/group/UXIrregulars * IxDA (Interaction Design Association--international but with a local chapter): http://www.ixda.org/ Kivi Kivi Shapiro Interaction Designer Qualicom Innovations Inc. ________________________________________________________________ Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ....... [email protected] Unsubscribe ................ http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines ............ http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .................. http://www.ixda.org/help
