Re: [IxDA Discuss] Designer inbreeding?
Thanks for your reply Dave! I'm not really sure what to assume about my background. I have looked at some programs and the relevance of my degree seems to span from I'm already there and I don't know anything, and in between I haven't found much. For me the obvious choice is to seek out the training I lack: the design training that you get in ID. Catch-up classes isn't a problem for me, but I don't see that presented as an option. (Just to have it mentioned: I mostly look at European universities, since that's where I live.) But putting my own pursuits to the side: Isn't this an area where things can improve? Defining IxD, what skill set and knowledge the Ix designer should have seems to be a recurring theme in the discussions here. To find good answers to this I think exploring and getting ideas from other disciplines essential. I think it makes sence then to facilitate for this. Why not start something in academia. - Eirik . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=38841 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Designer inbreeding?
Erik, One option is to do a Masters in Human-Computer Interaction, which has slightly more emphasis in psychology, with a sprinkling of design, anthropology, systems thinking, etc. I'm currently enrolled as a Masters student at University College London for their Human-Computer Interaction with Ergonomics program (http://www.uclic.ucl.ac.uk/), and they do generate quite a fair number of practitioners in the field for the UK, since being around since 1967. I am quite confident of the program, myself coming from a Computer Engineering background, and having worked in the telecoms field doing software and web development. While I admit that good design is practiced, there are things you can learn in class to speed up that transition. Boon Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Designer inbreeding?
If you all can stand a bit of sw dev talk, here is an excerpt from Embedded Muse, a newsletter for embedded programming. The topic CS education and embedded software: It's certainly true that universities could do more to teach good software design and process (or even good coding practices for that matter). While we wouldn't want to turn them into technical colleges, universities should probably shift the balance between the broad theoretical and the practical more towards the latter. Some programs offer courses in software engineering, but students have to seek them out. However, companies share a lot of the blame here and aren't really in a position to criticize academia. In almost every interview I've had, I've been asked to write (or read) code. I can't recall the last time I was asked anything significant about software design. On the job the focus is often the same - producing code rather than designing first. This is analogous to a mechanical engineer grabbing a chunk of metal and heading out to the machine shop to cut a part. No one in their right mind would think that's a reasonable design process. I'm not sure how to change this prevailing view of software development. Perhaps the problem is a lack of understanding of software development among managers. Often it's perpetuated by EE's who know how to code (sort of) but not how to design. I often feel like I am swimming upstream in advocating for design before coding. I try to seek jobs with companies that seem to recognize the value of proper software design and hope I can prove it with results. What I see now, and didn't think of until recently (after Interaction'09), is how design isn't just thought, but also have to be practiced. The talk about design in software is mostly results, I can hardly imagine that the creative process is thought of. What is also lacking is presentation: No wonder the managers don't appreciate design if you don't know how to present it. If CS wants to improve on design they should look outside their own departement. Maybe it should also realise that design isn't for everyone: Many of my colleagues is happy with coding and don't care too much of design. They should understand it, but they don't have to do it. Just to turn the problem around: What is it that someone with a pure design background should know, but doesn't, in order to be a good interaction designer? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=38841 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Designer inbreeding?
On 18 Feb 2009, at 00:50, Eirik Midttun wrote: [snip] Catch-up classes isn't a problem for me, but I don't see that presented as an option. [snip] Could well be worth asking even if there's nothing obvious presented. In the dim and distant past when I was in academia folk were more than willing to suggestion options to folk (this was in the UK - elsewhere YMMV I guess.) Adrian Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Designer inbreeding?
Two years ago, I was in a similar position as Eirik. I started my career in web development than transitioned to consumer electronic GUIs. I never had any formal design degree other than learning through books and applying it as I go. However, one thing I realized is that I didn't possess the proper design foundation and critical perspectives you need in design. Thus, I began my search for design programs. As a Human Computer Interaction Design graduate student at Indiana University, I can give you an overview on how our program is structured. In the first year, students spend a lot of studio time in teams on various design projects while learning the foundations of design - Interaction Design, Experience Design. As David mentioned students can take design electives in other schools. For example, some of my colleagues are taking design electives ranging from typography in fine arts to building physical games and interactive media in telecommunications. Which shows the true strength of the program - interdisciplinary. In the second year, students critically reflect from their studio experiences in the first year and work on their thesis projects, while incorporating design theory and interaction culture courses. One piece of advice I can give that helped me during my search in a masters program is to find a program that cultivates your design skills to your specific goals. Do you want to focus on product design, experience design, service design, or a combination of the two? Initially this was difficult for me to figure out at first, but after these answers emerged, it helped me tremendously with my design judgment and improvisation skills. Also since I had my fair share of development, I didn't search for traditional HCI programs that were CS focused. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=38841 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Designer inbreeding?
On Tue, 17 Feb 2009 15:16:03, Eirik Midttun emidt...@gmail.com wrote: I'll just introduce my own background so you know where I stand: I have a Master's Degree in Networks and Telecommunications which mixes CS and EE. I started my career in embedded development, and I now do GUI design and Project Management. I do self-studies on Interaction Design and try to implement the practices in my project. I have also had thoughts about taking it a bit further, meaning going back to uni. The most interesting for my would be a 2-year Master, or maybe PhD work. However, they are mostly offered by ID departments and admission is pretty much designed for ID grads. If you're an engineer you typically don't have a portefolio. The CS programmes isn't much better, but entry seems easier. For me it is less interesting since most of it will be repetition of things I know, or can figure out on my own. Point is, I don't think this internal recruiting in universities is doing any help to the development of the IxD discipline. Shouldn't these traditional disciplines join forces to shape the younger IxD? Isn't cross-breeding a better strategy? Or am I missing out on something? Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help -- Sent from my mobile device Ripul Kumar Director, Usability Services Kern Communications Pvt. Ltd. http://www.kern-comm.com Tel 040 55196854 Mob 9885004854 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
[IxDA Discuss] Designer inbreeding?
I'll just introduce my own background so you know where I stand: I have a Master's Degree in Networks and Telecommunications which mixes CS and EE. I started my career in embedded development, and I now do GUI design and Project Management. I do self-studies on Interaction Design and try to implement the practices in my project. I have also had thoughts about taking it a bit further, meaning going back to uni. The most interesting for my would be a 2-year Master, or maybe PhD work. However, they are mostly offered by ID departments and admission is pretty much designed for ID grads. If you're an engineer you typically don't have a portefolio. The CS programmes isn't much better, but entry seems easier. For me it is less interesting since most of it will be repetition of things I know, or can figure out on my own. Point is, I don't think this internal recruiting in universities is doing any help to the development of the IxD discipline. Shouldn't these traditional disciplines join forces to shape the younger IxD? Isn't cross-breeding a better strategy? Or am I missing out on something? Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
Re: [IxDA Discuss] Designer inbreeding?
I think there are 2 things. 1) you are missing something. You are assuming that your masters in science gave you everything you need to be ready to take on a masters in design (IxD or otherwise). There are core elements of design that you probably never learned formally that are hard to take on informally. 2) Putting that aside for a moment, I think you are making a rash assumption. YES! you have to show a portfolio. But if you've been doing GUI work for awhile, then don't you have a portfolio. Most grad programs in design will evaluate your portfolio and then assess if you have potential in the program and if you do they will further decide what catch up classes you'll need to take. Usually these are sketching, 2D design, and the like. Sometimes, this pushes you back a semester/quarter or a year or so. When I was considering going for a masters in industrial design, I was going to have to go through an entire extra year of what Pratt called foundation before joining peers who either went through that formal education experience as undergrads or provided proof of expertise in their portfolio. Now, let's go back to #1. If I wanted to go to med school, no matter what I learned in my undergrad or any other grad work, if I didn't have the basics of O-Chem, P-Chem, PHysics, biology, etc. I will have to take it over again to even apply. Many people go to community college already having a strong degree in order to get these core required courses completed if they want to go to med school. The same is true for many design programs, especially the ones that are masters in design or masters in fine arts (as opposed to masters of arts). The best thing for you to do is to contact the schools you are interested in and do an information interview with the chair/co-chair or other faculty in the department you are interested in. Another option is to go into an HCI program that has options around strong design electives. CMU and Indiana seem to have that capability as does Michigan and Baltimore. Many of the industrial design grad students I've met so far here at SCAD do not necessarily have a design background. Many are from mechanical engineering. But those from that background do have to take preliminary coursework in design to achieve the level of competence in craft and critical design thinking that their peers got doing this work as undergrads. -- dave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Posted from the new ixda.org http://www.ixda.org/discuss?post=38841 Welcome to the Interaction Design Association (IxDA)! To post to this list ... disc...@ixda.org Unsubscribe http://www.ixda.org/unsubscribe List Guidelines http://www.ixda.org/guidelines List Help .. http://www.ixda.org/help
