Inter­ac­tion Design is here for everyone!

We don’t just make apps! Not only online, but wherever new digital tech­no­logy emerges, there are exci­ting jobs for inter­ac­tion desi­gners. Because tech­no­logy alone does not make a good product only through inno­va­tive ideas and a coherent design do meaningful appli­ca­tions emerge that are easy and fun to use – that is our goal!

We explore in the profes­sional areas of: apps, websites, web design, soft­ware and gadgets for museums and schools, DJs and musi­cians, for doctors and the fire brigade or air traffic control­lers and trans­port service provi­ders. We also have ever­yday users in mind in our Bache­lor’s program: social networks, new mobi­lity concepts, travel plat­forms, digital kitchens, pede­strian navi­ga­tion – our topics cover the entire spec­trum of the digital world.

Our Bache­lor’s degree program is fully (but not only) digital

At its core it’s about ever­y­thing digital. But it doesn’t stop there. We also work closely with product desi­gners on projects for example, when desig­ning vehicle fittings, inter­ac­tive exhi­bits for museums or devices for the ​“smart home”.

A lot of ever­y­thing, please!

As an inter­ac­tion desi­gner you work at the inter­face of design (of course), psycho­logy, mecha­nical engi­nee­ring and computer science. Because to design good products, psycho­lo­gical basics are as important as being able to talk to other specia­lists from mecha­nical engi­nee­ring and computer science …

Tech­no­logy and Programming? Yes, but …

In our course of study you will get an insight into digital tech­no­logy and programming – as much as is neces­sary for the design. If you like, you can deepen your know­ledge in the Bache­lor’s program, but computer scien­tists are better at programming. We are a univer­sity for design. So you don’t need an A in math or programming skills to study IG with us.

Or perhaps media IT instead?! Our tip: there are similar-sounding bache­lor’s degree programs in computer science facul­ties. In the curri­culum you can see that clas­sical computer science and engi­nee­ring subjects predo­mi­nate there – supple­mented by a few design or usabi­lity semi­nars. This does not mean that these courses are bad. You should, however, consciously choose a design or computer science focus. In plain language: If you study ​„user expe­ri­ence“, ​„digital media“, ​„web design“, ​„digital design“ etc. in a computer science depart­ment, you will later have diffe­rent skills and tasks than our graduates. Do you want to become a computer science engi­neer and develop tech­no­logy or do you want to make tech­no­logy usable as a designer?

In the IG degree program, you set your own focus. As in all HfG degree programs, there is a rovust study of funda­men­tals so that your basics of skills and abili­ties are in place. From the first semester, you will work in small teams on your own projects and on basic design problems, and then imple­ment them. From the fourth semester on, you choose your focus:

For us, the ques­tion is what is actually ​„meaningful“. Not ever­y­thing that is feasible should be done – this is not only true for nuclear bombs. And not ever­y­thing that sells is also a good thing. At the HfG Schwä­bisch Gmünd, we have some­thing against purely commer­cial adver­ti­sing and disposable products. We are not inte­rested in shooter games and inter­faces for mili­tary drones either. We just do the good stuff- for ever­y­body. Right at the fore­front and in uncom­pro­mi­sing quality.

Apart from the crea­tive tools of the trade, the Univer­sity also teaches a critical approach. Every project is preceded by solid rese­arch. The approach is metho­dical and rational; the design is user and problem oriented.

We do not develop adver­ti­sing or disposable products. Many projects deal with aspects of sustaina­bi­lity, disaster and deve­lo­p­ment aid or the medical sector.

Portfolio Interaction Design

We ​“HfGers” enjoy a very good repu­ta­tion. You can find us in start-ups, design offices, in design depart­ments of industry, employed or self-employed and as foun­ders. No secret: The demand for Inter­ac­tion Desi­gners is much higher than the supply, as there are only a few compa­rable courses of study in the Germany.

Any ques­tions? Then contact our degree program coor­di­nator for inter­ac­tion design at the HfG Schwä­bisch Gmünd: