Supporting document — Application for Interaction Design, master’s programme, 60 credits

For your application to be accepted you need to use this template when uploading your supporting document. It needs to be uploaded as one pdf document, comprising all three parts.

Part 1: Letter of Motivation (max. 800 words)

Please provide a Letter of Motivation where you describe your motives and objectives behind applying to the programme. Describe your expectations and ambitions relating to the courses offered in the programme.

Please also describe your experiences relating to the field of interaction design that, in your opinion, prepare you for studying thisprogramme. These experiences may be acquired from working life, from non-profit work, from education or otherwise. You should describe how these experiences have spurred youon to pursue further studies in the field of interaction design.

Write your Letter of Motivation here…

Part 2: Two examples of works samples of previous relevant work (max. 10 pages)

Part 3: Response to design assignment (max. 2 pages, after removing the existing text below)

The challenge in this assignment is to identify and describe a potential designcaseand propose a design process that works with this case. You can choose a case relating to either Internet of Things and interaction design or social innovation and interaction design. Both alternatives are described below.

The assignment consists of four parts:

  • first, describe the problematic situation that the design addresses along with the design opportunity;
  • second, describe the target audience who will be using the design as well as potential stakeholders;
  • third, describe what the design does (functionality) and the value thereof for users; and
  • finally, outline a proposal for how you want to develop the service, including design process, methods and time frame.

Allfourpartsshouldbesubmittedas2-3 pages of the supporting document/pdf. You are welcome to use different media to support your project description, such as photos, illustrations, sketches, online links to videos etc.

Case A: Internet of Things and interaction design

The field of Internet of Things, taking its starting point in connected devices, sensor data and machine learning, has, for several years, raised expectations of new dimensions in “smart” technologies. The project proposal for interaction design should address the way in which said technologies can improve ways of living, working or acting, either for people in their everyday lives or for organisations in their professional practice. Examples can range from the development of safety systems, to energy monitoring, home control and office/multimedia practices.

The design should address one of the following themes:

  • smart home
  • smart health
  • smart office

Case B: Social innovation and interaction design

Through social media and other shared media services it is possible for people to organise themselves in online local and global communities. Typically, these are interest organisations and grassroots movements that have the aim of changing how, for instance, corporate businesses and popular media communicate and affect people.

Please identify a design opportunity for a project where you think that interaction design will make a difference: how can a shared media service aid people in changing something at the scale of a local community or at the scale of an international community? The project proposal for interaction design should address the way in which a community of members can organise themselves around a theme or a topic.

One example could be the service AirBnB that offers a whole new way of travelling. Another example is treehugger. The topic should be related to how a group of people want to change something — a situation or a condition. The project should address one or more of the following topics:

  • green living
  • alternative economies
  • loneliness
  • housing
  • sharing
  • giving voice to minorities
  • activist and grassroots movements

Instructions on how to submit

When applying to the programme, submit this supporting document as one pdf, through your account at Universityadmissions.se.

Assessment criteria

The supporting document will be assessed by a team of lecturers from the programme with regard to its potential contribution to the programme.

1