Interaction design at the Utrecht School of the Arts

ABSTRACT

The "Hogeschool voor de Kunsten Utrecht" (Utrecht School of the Arts, Utrecht, The Netherlands) offers a four-year curriculum in interaction design (roughly equivalent to an MA) and a one year master of arts degree in interactive multimedia. The material here presents our approach to interaction design as a discipline and the curriculum that embodies this approach. It features a collection of thoughts and snapshots-- we regard it as work in progress. Interaction design is a new field. It is growing fast, continuously adapting to new circumstances. We believe in our approach, but do not regard it as the final truth. There will be questions, as well as answers. Your comments, criticisms and suggestions are appreciated!

REFERENCES

• 1: Alexander, C. The timeless way of building. Oxford University Press, New York, 1979.
• 2: Alexander, C. et al. A Pattern Language. Oxford University Press, New York, 1977.
• 3: Alexander, C. et al. A New Theory of Urban Design. Oxford University Press, New York, 1987.
• 4: Bateson, G. Steps to an ecology of mind. Ballantine Books, New York, 1972.
• 5: Bateson, G. A sacred unity; further steps to an ecology of mind. HarperCollins, San Fransisco, 1991.
• 6: Devall, B, Sessions, G. Deep Ecology: living as if nature mattered. Peregrine Smith Books, Salt Lake City, 1985.
• 7: Giorgi, A., Fischer, W. F., Von Eckartsberg, R. (Eds.) Phenomenological Psychology: Volume I. Duquesne University Press, Pittsburgh, 1975.
• 8: B. A. Huberman, The ecology of computation, Elsevier Science Inc., New York, NY, 1988
• 9: Brenda Laurel, Computers as theatre, Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston, MA, 1991
• 10: Howard Rheingold, The Virtual Community: Homesteading on the Electronic Frontier, MIT Press, Cambridge, MA, 2000
• 11: Varela, F. J., Thompson, E., Rosch, E. The embodied mind: cognitive science and human experience. The MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, 1991.
• 12: Terry Winograd , Fernando Flores, Understanding Computers and Cognition: A New Foundation for Design, Addison-Wesley Longman Publishing Co., Inc., Boston, MA, 1987

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)

Additional Classification:
  H. Information Systems
  H.5 INFORMATION INTERFACES AND PRESENTATION (I.7)

  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Information systems education

General Terms:
Design, Human Factors, Management