Programme Outline
The programme is divided into three main parts. In the first semester students learn the basic concepts of interactive media. In the second semester, students build on their theoretical and practical knowledge. During the summer months, a substantial project is undertaken, which may be artistic (such as a media production or installation) or technical (such as the development of media software). Students opting for a technical project may qualify for an MSc in Interactive Media. An MA in Interactive Media will be awarded to successful graduates who undertake a design/artistic project.
NEWS: New electives module approved and active from Academic Year 2012/13 on.
Autumn semester
September-December
- CS6021 Foundations of Interactive Media Design
The module Foundations of Interactive Media Design covers essential concepts, techniques, frameworks and case studies to provide students with a good grounding in the disciplines of human-centered computing and Interaction Design: the design of interactive systems to suit people's needs, activities and preferences.
The module begins with an overview of important developments in interactive technology design, pointing out how the notion of "interaction" has evolved and finally led to the professional practice of interaction design. Following this, a number of interaction design lifecycles are discussed and one in particular, the User-Centred Design Process, is examined step by step: from how to study users and their environment, to how to generate design ideas, create mock-ups and evaluate design alternatives. Examples of useful methodologies that can be employed at each stage of design are described and exemplified through practical case studies.
The final part of the module covers current developments in Interaction Design, whereby current examples of interactive systems designs are showcased and discussed in class.
The module is highly interactive, including not only lectures but also the screenings of videos, discussion of readings, guest presentations and a practical project where small groups of students evaluate and critique a piece of existing interactive technology and produce a re-designed version of it to be evaluated with real-world users.
Extensive use is also made of the lecturer's hands-on experience in interaction design and of the Interaction Design Centre's tradition of research. The students are also invited to the Interaction Design talk series where they can hear researchers and practitioners present their current work.
- CS6031 Interactive Media in Society
In this module we address the relationship between technological innovation and social change by reviewing the most relevant approaches to study the relationship between technology (in particular Information and Communication Technology) and people, organization and society.
The module will start by providing an overview of two of the main approaches to technological innovation and social change. The first concerns technological determinism, the second concerns social constructivism. We will discuss the limits of these early approaches and introduce new ways to look at this relationship. In particular we will discuss the contribution of Actor Network theory.
The module will then proceed to a discussion of a series of case study of different socio-technical systems where different relationship between design and use will be discussed.
Students will be asked to work in group for a mid-term assignment studying a socio-technical controversy. The module will end with a final individual report delineating and mapping the area that the candidate would like to explore for his/her final project.
- CS6041 Interactive Media Project/Workshop 1
This module is about the practical methods and tools for working with Interactive Media. Students learn about photography, graphics (Adobe Photoshop), sound production (Aduacity, Logic) , video production (Final Cut Pro, Adobe premiere), web design (Adobe Dreamweaver) and also initial preparation for a dissertation project prototype. For assessment, students put up content they have created on individual web sites.
Elective, choose one:
- CS5611 Acoustics and Psychoacoustics
Description available soon
- CS6221 Programming protocols for musical systems
Description available soon
- MK6101 Marketing Management
Description available soon
Spring Semester
January - May
- CS6022 Principles of Interactive Media Design
The Principles of Interactive Media Design module is providing the students with an opportunity to deepen their knowledge and improve their skills, building on the foundation of the Interaction Design module taught in the first semester. The module contains two parallel strands, followed by a final period dedicated to the development of final projects and theses. The first strand is dedicated to discussing selected themes related to concepts, techniques and application domains of Interaction Design. Based on the students' areas of interests, weekly seminars are organised for debating issues selected and presented by the students working in groups. Every week, a group of students takes responsibility for selecting the reference material and the case studies for their chosen topic, under the supervision of the module leader. They then have the obligation of sending the selected materials to the whole class one week in advance, preparing a presentation and a class activity and facilitating the debate during the seminar. The second strand is dedicated to the study of research methods, combining theory with practical assignments and giving the students the chance to reflect upon the research methods and techniques to be used in their final project work. The last 3 weeks of the semester are dedicated to the development of the final project ideas, with assistance from the module leader. The students are required to undertake a literature review for the selected topic and domain, give a presentation in class and write a report that includes the first two chapters of their thesis in draft form, together with a detailed work plan for the summer semester. Students are also invited to write a blog/journal reflecting on the different phases of the unfolding design process.The majority of class activities are inspired by the students' topics of interest and are based on collaborative sharing and learning.
- CS6032 Professional Issues in Interactive Media
The ubiquity of Interactive Media and Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in all our lives continues to produce new and challenging legal, ethical and social dilemmas. ICT industries employ large numbers of people who design, develop, implement and use interactive media in a wide range of different types of communities within society as a whole. Therefore it is important that students who will be entering this field do so with an understanding of the professional issues that they will encounter. PIIM covers methods of ethical analysis to help make ethically and morally complex decisions in situations you may encounter throughout your professional careers. We also explore IT related legislation and the effects of the digital divide in the world today. Among issues previously covered were, computer piracy, cybercrime, ICT and human rights, gender equality, access to ICT, hacking, use of social networks in political activity and the development of new privacy legislation to deal with the internet of things. Topics covered each year reflect the interests of the students in the Interactive Media programme.
The module is assessed by group-based assignments and individual contributions. There are no exams.
- CS6042 Interactive Media Project/Workshop 2
This module is about the practical methods and tools for working with Interactive Media. Students learn about design and programming in environments such as Adobe Flash, Pure Data/GEM, Processing, Google Sketchup as well as being introduced to open source hardware such as Arduino. Finally, throughout the semester students are encouraged to drive their work towards their dissertation projects. For assessment, students put up content they have created on individual web sites.
Elective, choose one:
- CS5622 Programming Music Systems
Description available soon
- CS6162 Contemporary Art in the Public Realm
This module looks at various methodologies employed in the creation of site-specific or public artwork interventions. Students investigate artworks and design solutions for both indoor and outdoor sites. Students learn to explore issues such as professional project proposals and presentations, use of appropriate technologies, collaboration with architects, engineers, commissioners, the general public and other artform practitioners.
This module also looks at Public Art Theory including Contemporary Public Art practices, Per Cent for Art Scheme Guidelines, Temporary versus Permanent art works, Students familiarise themselves with current examples of best practice in local and international public art case studies, examples of artists who work on project based site specific work in conjunction with public art consultants, architects, arts officers, gallery owners and commissioners. Students create a temporary public artwork.
Assessment: The students produce two or three art interventions, either individually or as group projects. This involves research, concept generation, presentations and where applicable also delivery of the finished work and evaluation. The works are documented in writing, and audio/video recordings.
- CS6232 Mobile Apllication Design
Description available soon
- CS6242 Physical Computing: musical Interfaces
Description available soon
- MG6122 Strategic Management
Description available soon
Summer
June - August
Dissertation Project: During the summer months, a substantial project is undertaken, which may be artistic (such as a media production or installation) or technical (such as the development of media software). Students opting for a technical project may qualify for an MSc in Interactive Media. An MA in Interactive Media will be awarded to successful graduates who undertake a design/artistic project.
Students are required to design, build and test a demonstration of their ideas, as well as writing a report of approx. 12,000 words.