MA Studio 1: Competition 2025
Developing Two Competition Projects Through the Lens of User Experience and Creative Coding
‍
The teaching methodology is structured around a dual-track engagement with high-stakes industry briefs. This primarily happens through the iF Design and D&AD competitions. The curriculum is divided into two tracks: a user-experience focus for iF Design, and a creative-coding-driven output for D&AD. Students are required to address the intersection of human-centred empathy and generative technology. Support is delivered through a structured cycle. This cycle includes independent practice, peer critique, and iterative testing. Students utilise interaction design methods to address complex real-world problems that do not have single solutions. For example, in one classroom activity, students begin by forming small design teams to interpret an iF Design brief. They conduct field-based participatory user research and then collaboratively map user journeys. In another assignment, designed for the D&AD track, students prototype interactive installations using generative coding tools. They present their work-in-progress for peer feedback and document insights from an industry mentor session for further iteration. The methodology is grounded in participatory research and critical inquiry. Journal articles and industry interviews support this process. The course balances technical experimentation with critical reflection on the broader impact of design on culture, community, and the environment. This approach positions the classroom as a live laboratory. It cultivates the versatility and professional maturity necessary for impactful solutions to global challenges.