BFAInteraction Design

Design at CCA thrives at the intersection of human experience and the built environment. The work we do—often called experience design, digital product design, and user experience design—impacts everything from vehicle dashboards that help us drive more safely to services that power our thermostats more efficiently. Our students imagine future mobile experiences, social networks, products and services, and complex systems while keeping equity, inclusivity, and sustainability at the forefront of design.

You’ll combine cognitive science, the history of design, and human-computer interaction techniques to develop a practice that speaks to the issues you care about most. In order to create forward-thinking solutions, you’ll learn to master the following core skills:

• Understand behavior and human systems
• Master technical and visual interactions across multiple touchpoints
• Create, evaluate, and validate physical and digital prototypes
• Demonstrate work and tell stories through presentations and user interfaces
• Identify opportunities and produce original design responses

Connections with industry leaders

We build upon systems thinking and creative prototyping skills during sponsored studios that challenge student groups, often from different disciplines, to investigate a particular project domain. Past sponsors have included major automakers, telecommunication companies, and computer equipment firms. Students also have a chance to explore the professional field of design during required internships. They dive into design research, fieldwork, product development, and more.

Recent sponsored studios

Our faculty are all practicing designers with deep industry connections. They work for Apple, Microsoft, Facebook, Google, IDEO, and numerous design consultancies in the Bay Area. They leverage their networks and experience to guide students to successful career paths and help shape thoughtful leaders.

Our interaction designers emerge from the program with hands-on internship experience and a highly valued skill set. With project examples for recognizable brand names and realistic prototypes to share, alumni find success with design consultancies, startups, and product and service companies.

Our applicants are often just as interested in compelling visual design as they are in detailed documentation through wireframes and sketches. Whether they’re reinvigorating their careers or approaching interaction design for the very first time, they care deeply about making the world a better place.