Interaction Design students explore the intersection of storytelling, technology, communication, and design. Study includes a combination of theory and practice that moves beyond the visual to explore all aspects of interaction and motion design.
Overview
Throughout the interaction design program students will focus on experimentation, prototyping, iteration, storytelling and problem solving, and continually develop their skills through discussions and critiques.
Our outstanding digital studios are equipped with industry-standard programs and technologies to support a wide range of projects in a hands-on studio environment. In addition to studios, our “maker-spaces” assist students in preparing portfolios and framing, digital photography, audio/video production, and sensor technology for interaction projects.
Clubs including Arts Alive and Break Thru Design let you connect and collaborate with peers to develop additional portfolio pieces, while internships and co-op opportunities add to your professional qualifications.
After graduation, students will be prepared to enter and lead in fields including user experience, user interface, extended reality, multimedia design, motion design, web design, product design, 3-D design and printing, and other emerging fields.
Curriculum
Bachelor of Arts (BA)
Modeled as a traditional liberal arts degree, the Art BA - Interaction Design track allows the opportunity for students to earn a minor or second major in another area of interest, such as information science, computer science, and broadcasting and communication. The degree also allows students the opportunity to study in an area that compliments interaction design, giving them the ability to create new hybrid forms of the discipline.
Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
For talented students seeking a demanding program with a high degree of focus, the Interaction Design BFA program offers in-depth study of interaction design. As students prepare to graduate they will develop a final body of work for their portfolio and have the opportunity to present their work during the BFA exhibition.
Bachelor Arts - Art, Interaction Design track Bachelor of Fine Arts - Interaction Design
Tyler Art Gallery
The recently renovated Tyler Art Gallery allows students the opportunity to exhibit their work, and in some cases gain experience curating and installing their own show. The gallery on campus is just one place students may showcase their work, Oswego keeps a very active schedule for students to present at Oswego State Downtown and SUNY Oswego in Syracuse.
Outcomes
- Ability to generate effective solutions to a variety of visual communication problems while demonstrating fluency in the principles of design, visual organization, typography, the medium/technology, and principles of motion and interaction.
- Develop an integrated design process that places value on research, feedback and iteration during planning and production phase
- Ability to produce design solutions that successfully respond to the relevant contexts of a design problem including the scope of a project, technology, goals and constraints of the client, needs/values/behaviors of the audience and cultural and economic conditions
- Develop collaborative and team skills within the constraints of client-centered collaborations
- Become competent in industry technologies and programs
Career Opportunities
BFA Career Opportunities can include:
- Interaction Designer
- User Experience Designer
- User interface designer
- Creative Director
- Design Director
- Web Designer (front-end development)
BA Career Opportunities can include:
- Animator/Multimedia Artist
- Web Designer (front-end development)
- Art Director
- Design Researcher
- Creative Technologist
Program Resources
The Oswego Guarantee
- Timely course offerings
- High touch connections to alumni
- Small student to faculty ratio
- Limited room & board increases each year
Internships
Learn what it's like to work in a professional setting while still in school.
Get Involved
- Arts Alive
- Break Thru Design
- Photography Club
- Student Art Exhibition Committee
Faculty-Led Courses
This unique programs allows students to spend a few weeks studying a course topic before traveling to their destination abroad to experience what they learned in person, on location.
Study Abroad
Take classes and participate in internships while immersing yourself in all that region has to offer.
Application Requirements
The BFA Interaction Design program is limited to select students chosen through an additional application process. In addition to applying to SUNY Oswego through the Common or SUNY application, interested students must also submit a BFA Application.
The BFA application requires:
- portfolio submission, pdf or website with 15 pieces of your artwork
- annotated worklist including information on how it was made, concept, date, size, medium
- a letter of intent (500-1000 words)
- transcript pdf
- include drawings/paintings from observation - still life, figure, portraits
Additional information:
- Students may apply to the BFA program at any time, application reviews are on a rolling basis.
- Transfer students are strongly encouraged to apply to the BFA programs prior to coming to Oswego.
- You may submit your portfolio a second time if you fail to gain admission on your first try.