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Interactive Design Overview

The Interactive Design concentration within the Design degree emphasizes creating meaningful, user-centered experiences through user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design. Students delve into the principles of interaction design and explore emerging technologies, positioning themselves to lead innovation in the digital landscape.

At Loyola University New Orleans, the Interactive Design program empowers students to:

  • Establish a solid design foundation through a structured core curriculum, followed by specialized studios in UI design, human-centered design, multimodal interaction, and project management.
  • Prepare for careers in UX and UI design, equipping graduates with the expertise and skills necessary to excel in these dynamic, rapidly evolving fields.
  • Think through making by employing rapid prototyping techniques to quickly test and refine ideas, ensuring the development of user-centered, effective designs.
  • Develop advanced visualization strategies such as mapping, diagramming, and storyboarding, to communicate complex concepts clearly and enhance the understanding of design ideas.
  • Apply human-centered research methods to ensure design solutions are grounded in real user needs and desires, empowering users to meaningfully engage with digital products and experiences.
  • Collaborate in a dynamic creative environment alongside fellow graphic designers, experience designers, industrial designers, artists, and educators, fostering innovation and cross-disciplinary creativity.
  • This concentration provides the tools, knowledge, and mindset to succeed in the fast-paced world of interactive design, preparing students to create transformative user experiences across diverse platforms and industries.

Courses

First Year Fall

  • DSGN M200 Design Lecture Forum (0 credits)
  • DSGN M202 Intro to Design (3 credits)
  • DSGN M271 Design History 1 (3 credits)
  • DSGN M278 Typography Lab 1 (3 credits)
  • DSGN M210 Design Photography (3 credits)

First Year Spring

  • DSGN M200 Design Lecture Forum (0 credits)
  • DSGN M275 Print Design and Narrative (3 credits)
  • DSGN M279 Typography Lab 2 (3 credits)

Sophomore Fall

  • DSGN M200 Design Lecture Forum (0 credits)
  • DSGN M326  Motion Design 1 (3 credits)
  • DSGN M276 Interactive Design 1 (3 credits)
  • DSGN M400 Visual Research (3 credits)

Sophomore Spring

  • DSGN M200 Design Lecture Forum (0 credits)
  • DSGN M376 Motion Design 2 (3 credits)
  • DSGN M276 Interactive Design 2 (3 credits)
  • DSGN M272 Design History 2 (3 credits)

Junior Fall

  • DSGN M200 Design Lecture Forum (0 credits)
  • DSGN M485 Design Internship (3 credits)
  • DSGN M330 Human Centered Design (3 credits)

Junior Spring

  • DSGN M200 Design Lecture Forum (0 credits)
  • DSGN M332 Rapid Prototype (3 credits)
  • DSGN  M474  Interactive Design 3 (3 credits)

Senior Fall

  • DSGN M200 Design Lecture Forum (0 credits)
  • DSGN M465 UX Design Practicum (3 credits)
  • DSGN M400 Design Topics (3 credits)
  • DSGN M400 Agile Development Process (3 credits)

Senior Spring

  • DSGN M200 Design Lecture Forum (0 credits)
  • DSGN M480 Design Capstone (3 credits)

Additional Courses
Students can choose design electives that engage their individual interests and broaden their experience.

University Bulletin
 

Curriculum
The Design curriculum begins with essential foundational coursework that introduces core design principles, visual research, design software, and the history and theory of design. As students progress, they explore increasingly  specialized topics such as type design, interactive design, motion graphics, and publication design. The curriculum is designed so that each year builds on the last, offering a progressive and well-rounded education in the design field.

All Design Majors start with a structured core curriculum during their Freshman and Sophomore years, ensuring a solid foundation in design thinking and technical skills. After completing these foundational courses, students are prepared to focus their studies on more specialized areas within design.

Interactive Design Concentration
In the third year, students in the Interactive Design concentration begin to sharpen their expertise in user-centered design through hands-on interactive design studio courses. This specialized track builds on a strong foundation in user experience (UX) and human-computer interaction (HCI) design principles, equipping students with the knowledge and skills necessary to tackle real-world design challenges.

The curriculum emphasizes a blend of research methods and rapid prototyping techniques, empowering students to iterate and refine their design concepts quickly. These core skills are applied across a diverse range of projects in the studio, where students create interactive, user-driven designs for multiple platforms and environments.

Specialized studios offer in-depth exploration of key topics such as interactive exhibitions, immersive data visualization, multimodal interaction, and effective project management. As students progress, they integrate UX principles, research insights, and prototyping tools to craft innovative, meaningful digital experiences.

Upon completing the concentration, students will be equipped with a robust portfolio showcasing their ability to design compelling, user-centric interfaces and experiences. This prepares them for dynamic careers in fields such as UX design, UI design, branding, interactive exhibitions, and beyond, driving innovation in an ever-evolving digital landscape.

Student Work