Program Aims & Objectives
The Master in Interaction Design aims at providing students/ designers with theoretical knowledge and professional skills to carry out a “problem setting” activity aimed at developing concepts, scenarios and strategies based on the introduction of interactive and digital technology into everyday-life environments.

The approach, based on the tradition of Italian design, sees the educational path as an integration and extension of the professional path. The program is structured as an exploration of research and design experiences, that does not only provide the tools for helping students to understand “how” things are done, but also to assist them in working out the reasons why they are done. During the course students will develop theoretical knowledge and professional skills for practicing interaction designing within the corporate and design consultancy context, understand the constitutive features characterizing a specific User Experience, conceive envisioning scenarios and design concepts and earn a critical competence in selecting and applying methods, tools and resources for running a design driven project.

Moreover, Domus Academy ensures that students attending the academy become aware of the great opportunities surrounding them, such as the fact that Milan is an international and design-oriented city with a lot of famous design studios and agencies, research labs, trade fairs and companies. Students at Domus Academy come from about 50 different countries and this fact makes it an international school where different cultures can be met; Domus Academy is part of an international network of university and the teachers of the academy are internationally renowned professionals in their field.

Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of the program, students will have:

• Developed a critical understanding of human factor Demonstrated an individually driven conceptual research project using design research methods, tools and techniques appropriate to professional standards in the interaction design practices;
• Demonstrated an understanding of the professional field of interaction design and its restraints; developed the ability to deal with requests and being able to interpret their own work in the professional context;
• Demonstrated a critical and personal development in defining and managing advanced process related to the project;
• Effectively demonstrated a reflective and evaluative approach to their own work allowing them to act independently in identifying, implementing and sustaining individual research and practices at a professional level;
• Demonstrated knowledge and critical thinking on design culture and cross-disciplinary approaches related to Interaction Design;
• Demonstrated personal and reflective thinking on the diverse dimensions of interaction design concerning social, technological and business implications.
• Demonstrated the ability of conceiving innovative interactive concepts, solutions and experiences for a variety of diverse industries and sectors;
• Demonstrated self and professional management skills in terms of interaction in a multi-cultural domain, teamwork and time constraints at a professional level;
• Demonstrated an ability to effectively communicate concepts, methods and design proposals through a variety of techniques including visual, oral and prototyping.

Degree & Certification
Upon graduation from Domus Academy, you’ll earn a degree that’s recognized around Europe and the world—an Academic Master’s Degree (60 ECTS credits) accredited by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research (MIUR). The Academic Master’s Degree is validated through NABA, Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti Milano. You’ll also earn a second valuable qualification: the Domus Academy Master’s Diploma.

Domus Academy’s accreditation has helped build relationships with prestigious companies, so you have the chance to gain practical work experience during your course of study. An accredited degree, plus the practical experience you gain through an internship, shows employers that you received a top-quality education and that you bring industry-relevant knowledge and skills to the table when you join their team. Domus Academy’s accreditation also means that the relevant academic credits you earn at Domus Academy will transfer to other institutions if you choose to work toward another master’s or a doctoral-level degree.

Career Opportunities
Those who attend the Master develop skills and competencies necessary to cover different and strategic planning roles such as: Interaction Designer, User Experience Designer, Creative Director, Digital Strategist, Design Manager.

The aim of the Master in Interaction Design is to train anyone who possess the practical and conceptual tools essential to develop strategies for the ICT world, which can combine project awareness and creativity to more specific skills. Therefore, employment opportunities can be numerous, including: research institutions, telecommunications companies, and architecture and design studios.

Declaration of Value
In order to receive the Academic Master Degree at the completion of the program students holding a non-Italian Bachelor Degree are required to have their degree validated prior to starting the program. In order to do so, students must contact the Italian Embassy or Consulate in the country where the degree was issued in order to ask for the so called “perfezionamento documenti”, consisting of:

• Translation into Italian (by certified translator) of the student’s High School Diploma*
• Translation into Italian (by certified translator) of the student’s High School Academic Transcripts*
• Translation into Italian (by certified translator) of the student’s Bachelor Degree*
• Translation into Italian (by certified translator) of the student’s Undergraduate Academic Transcripts*
• “Dichiarazione di valore in loco” (Declaration of Value) of the student’s High School Diploma & Bachelor Degree. (The “Dichiarazione di valore in loco” is the document attesting that the study qualification obtained in the student’s country of residence is valid for accessing Italian Universities or Academies)

For a complete list of Italian representative authorities worldwide please see here. The legalized and translated documents, as well as the “Dichiarazione di valore in loco” will be issued to the student.

*Please Note: All Consulates vary and they may have slightly different requirements. You must contact the Consulate, which holds jurisdiction where the diploma/degree issuing school is located.

The program is organized in four main modules lasting eight weeks each that include courses and workshops, followed by an 8 week internship period and a final portfolio presentation. For a full description of the program structure see Interaction Design Master’s Degree.

Core Workshops – Required

• Experience Design Workshop
• Tangible Interactions Workshop

Elective Workshop – Choose one

• Envisioning Workshop
• Experience Design
• Identity Design
• Product Strategy
• Service Design

Courses

• Storytelling & Visual Narrative
• Digital & Physical Prototyping
• Design Research Methods & Tools
• Personal Branding

Internship

*prices are subject to change

This is an SAI Select Services Program; it includes the important on-site services!

• Academic Master’s Degree awarded by Nuova Accademia di Belle Arti (NABA)
• Master’s Diploma from Domus Academy
• Program tuition
• Student health insurance providing full coverage and medical emergency evacuation
• SAI orientation to the host city and school
• SAI staff on-site providing assistance as needed and 24-hour emergency support

Pre-departure and Re-entry services

• Admissions counselor assigned to you, providing friendly assistance throughout your study abroad experience
• Helpful pre-departure tools and resources
• Assistance with student visa application
• Assistance with financial aid and loan processing
• Paid registration fees for national re-entry conferences
• SAI alumni network

Housing is not included in SAI Select Services Programs. However, your SAI Admissions Counselor will be happy to provide you with information and recommendations for local housing agencies, as well as school-provided apartments. Students who do not have prior housing arrangements should begin speaking with their Admissions Counselor as soon as possible.

Passports
Passports should be valid for 3 months after planned departure from Italy.

Student Visas
In accordance with Italian law students studying in Italy for 90 days or more are required to obtain a student visa. Those with Italian/EU citizenship are exempted. Non-US nationals should consult their local Consulate for information on student visa requirements.

Students must appear in person at the Italian Consulate to present their student visa application. Our Student Visa Office is available to assist students in getting ready for the appointment; SAI provides student visa consulting for all our students at no cost.