Thinking First
From makers of things to problem solving innovators — the designer’s job description has changed and is in constant motion. This is why at IxD.ma, we concentrate on what we believe make up the core attributes of a designer: first and foremost the mindset—
the thinking, values and attitude, then the skillset, and only then the toolset.
Being a designer means developing a
designer personality. Designers are
curious and not afraid of confusion, experimentation or failing. They can be
critical to create clarity, and
creative to build ideas. They can see the big picture, but also be meticulous about details. Designers care about and fight for the people, and the environment we live in.
We learn design by doing it
The studies at IxD.ma are
project based. We develop our designer intuition, point of view, experience and portfolio through constant iteration, guided by
industry mentors—passionate practitioners, who use their real-life experience to guide you through challenging projects.
We have reduced the amount of academic lectures to the minimum. While it is essential for a cultured design leader to grasp the fundamentals of design theory, philosophy, psychology and anthropology, the majority of studies are studio-based projects on themes such as
human centered design,
service design,
digital product design,
emotional design,
tangible design,
social innovation etc.
Designers form a very open community — there’s an abundance of methodologies, toolsets, materials out there, readily available to use. Anyone can learn them. But it’s a matter of practice, constant iteration, to actually start thinking like a designer. This is what we are doing at IxD.ma.
We work on real life projects
Our approach is
practical and experimental. In close collaboration with top industry partners — Estonian startups, government sector, telecoms, NGOs — each semester, we work on
real life briefs, real life problems and real people to discover hidden possibilities of innovation and come up with forward-looking concepts that are grounded in reality.
We encourage diversity
We emphasise diversity, as it is essential to innovation. At IxD.ma, you’ll be working alongside students from many different professions, backgrounds and cultures. This creates a platform for new ideas and a mutual learning experience. After graduation you will be well equipped to run complex design development projects and to manage international multi-disciplinary teams.
Program Structure
Semester 1: Empathise
- Introduction to Interaction Design
- Visual Interaction Design
- Service Design
- Design Storytelling
Semester 2: Build
- Emotional Design
- Tangible Design
- Practical Business Design
- Design for Digital Innovation
Semester 3: Reflect
- Design for Social Innovation
- Design for Emerging Themes
- Speculative Design
- Immersive Experiences
Semester 4: Thrive
- Degree Project
- Doing Research in Design
Click here for more detailed IxD curriculum
What skills will I acquire?
You can shape the future. You will graduate with a portfolio, training and craftsmanship that industry is seeking. You will be an interaction designer focused on developing the next generation of products and services. You will be a User Experience Designer helping companies build meaningful products. You will join a startup team or an established company to help design the next big thing or to make the exciting experiences better.
What jobs will be available after I graduate?
- Interaction designer
- UX/UI designer
- Service designer
- Strategic designer
- UX/User researcher
- Design manager
- Innovation specialist
More information
http://ixd.ma/
https://www.facebook.com/IxD.ma/
