Interactive Technology Design

Interactive Technology Design is a project-based course within the Master (MSc) Design for Interaction programme at the Delft University of Technology. The project runs in the spring semester and has a study load of 240 hours (9 ECTS). In this project, students learn how to iteratively conceptualise and prototype meaningful human-product interactions. At the end of the course students deliver “experiential prototypes” in a public exhibition. The prototypes communicate students’ designs, and enable exhibition visitors to immersively experience the designed products and services.

Structure and approach

Students in the course follow an iterative design and prototyping process. Each working Monday students revise their concept, and each Friday they build or revise a prototype enabling envisioned interactions. Throughout the course there are two work-in-progress exhibition moments during which coaches and clients try out the prototypes and provide feedback to students.

Why would you as a company work with the students in this course?

Collaboration with companies provides the students with societally relevant challenges, access to company experience and practical knowledge. In return, students provide the collaborating companies with an exploration of out-of-the-box answers to their challenges, and provide new insights into possible directions for future developments. After the course is over, selected projects can be developed further through follow-up arrangements, and produced results can be used for R&D and PR purposes of involved companies.

What do we expect from your company?

To make it possible for the students to begin exploring interactions from the start of the course, the design assignment should be as concrete as possible. Additionally, it should be motivated by earlier research or an established desire of the company to explore a specific type of interaction. At the same time, the assignment should provide room for students to explore various design directions. One or two contact representatives of involved companies should also be present during the following activities:

a kick-off assignment introduction presenting the company and the design assignment, motivated by earlier work or examples (2 hours)
two work-in-progress exhibitions of students’ work (2 x 4 hours)
final exhibition of the course (4 hours).

Companies are also committed to cover an entrance fee. The entrance fee is based on sponsoring the costs involved with prototyping and facilitation of the technology tools by the faculty. At the completion of the course all involved companies receive a non-exclusive, life-long licence to use course results developed by commissioned students.