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Graduate Programs Where once we were considering interfaces and interactions on screens, we’re now consider- Today, ing how these expressions tie into bigger systems. We live in a world where we carry hospitals in our pockets and banks in our watches, and find interaction out about earthquake warnings from Twitter and birth announcements on Facebook. As data is more readily available and are informed by new formal and informal mechanisms for designers connecting, we are aware we are part of some- are writing the story so the world can participate thing bigger. in the future. Interaction creates oppor- The MFA in is as much tunities to shape and guide behavior. It opens about invention as it is about the everyday. It doors for experiences and exchanges not possi- requires students to be intimately attentive to ble before. It makes the intangible tangible; it’s behavior and to think more holistically the discipline that communicates the pragmatic about the products and services they create. Stu- future. And where we stand in the history of the dents in the program collaborate to design prag- future is a tremendous opportunity for the design matic futures, and are afforded the connections of interactions. and latitude to apply those in real-world The Interaction Design program at SVA is a contexts. They collaborate with local and inter- response to these chances for interaction. With national partners to develop critical discussion an increase in design’s possibility for influence, about interaction design’s role in the pragmatic designers are negotiating a whole new set of cir- future. We believe that in order to inherit the cumstances. Designers find themselves pragmatic future, you have to walk through the influencing the future of products and services, gate of interaction design. We invite you to be education, journalism, health care, banking, part of it. cities, and more. —Liz Danzico, chair IDEO, Johnson & Johnson, R/GA, Reuters, Degree candidates must successfully Twitter, Yelp, and more. complete 60 credits, including all required The program is your story. The courses courses, with a cumulative grade point are highly demanding, highly selective and average of 3.0. A residency of two academic highly rewarding. The program will ask years is required. In the final semester, each About the students to have a vision and make choices to student will complete a thesis project, which align with that vision. Students study must be reviewed and approved by the thesis concepts central to interaction design, committee and the department chair in order including , human-computer for the student to be eligible for degree interaction, interface design, , conferral. Program information and ubiquitous . Each class becomes a community and each choice a commitment with a story Abhinav Sircar’s (MFA 2019) Medicube builds upon the existing to build upon. The program seeks to cultivate innovation of multi-dose packaging by pharmacies like PillPack. It is an IoT-connected medicine dispenser with a built-in voice interaction design as a discipline and further assistant that provides patients with personalized, timely The MFA Interaction Design program explores its visibility as a community of practice. medicine reminders along with necessary information. the strategic role of interaction design in shaping everyday life and intends to increase environments that drive their needs, goals the relevancy of design to business and and experiences. Course materials consider society so designers can make a difference. these social constructs and human experi- The definition of “difference” is something ences as the basis for approaching problems only students know—a personal exploration across media. During the second year, only they can do—and the program is designed students apply the concepts and methods to support that exploration over two years. from the first year of study to shape their The program is collaborative. In a studio thesis projects. It is in the second year that environment, students explore prototyping a students develop deeper business acumen range of experiences that cross visual, concep- through coursework and direct relationships tual and technical boundaries. Grouped in with New York organizations. Optional transdisciplinary teams, students work both summer internships with top companies are in the studio and in the field to create available between the first and second years. inventive solutions to real-world problems. The program is practice-based. The MFA The program is people-focused. We in Interaction Design is a professionally focus on teaching how people relate to one focused program aimed at training graduates another through the products and technology to become practicing designers, entrepre- we explore. Together with open lectures in neurs and contributors intending to make a the studio and joint experiments with the New difference. Upon graduation, students are York City community, the MFA Interaction prepared to take risks, invent new forms with Design program becomes a model and center business and academia, participate in point for interaction design in the city. The strategic decision-making involved with the program’s faculty comprises the profession’s creation of interactive products and services, most exciting designers, who culminate their and equipped with tools and methods professional days by teaching graduate to make smart choices no matter where they courses in the evenings. find themselves. Alumni of the program The program is curated. During the first have proceeded not only to found their own year, students advance through the concepts initiatives, but also to become some of the and methods of interaction design, starting brightest minds at today’s best-known with an understanding of people and the companies: Apple, Facebook, frog design,

4 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN CASE STUDY Shane Strassberg Serving with UX Design

Much of Shane Strassberg’s (MFA 2017) profes- sional life has been spent getting different perspec- tives on human interaction. From being a vacuum salesman, a horse-racing photographer, a bartender and even a U.S. Marine, all the experiences that he’s gained have laid the foundation for where he is today: a UX for the U.S. Digital Service. 

6 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN 7 Early in his career, Shane became dis- his education—but this time he was inter- illusioned with his education in broadcast ested in obtaining a better understanding of journalism. Being a native New Yorker, the humanity. Shane received a master’s degree events of 9/11 made a deep impact on his life, in anthropology and attended some design and after taking up various odd jobs out of courses, eventually discovering UX design. school, Shane ended up enlisting in the U.S. In connecting with other veterans working in Marine Corps. Having felt incapable of struc- tech, he developed a deeper interest in the turing his career, he was motivated in part by intersection of technology and culture, which a desire to regiment himself and to organize led him to SVA—the alma mater of his grand- his ambitions as a professional. “I always had father (and fellow veteran), Bernie (SVA lofty goals, but I couldn’t break them down,” was then called Cartoonists and Illustrators Shane says. “Joining the Marine Corps was to School). teach myself how to get to that.” Once Shane joined the MFA Interaction After serving two tours in Iraq, and being Design (IXD) program, he began using his party to one of the worst battles of the war, research to find ways in which design could Shane was affected by the inhumanity of the aid people and, ideally, reduce conflicts. “I conflict. Upon returning to America, he was determined to use the G.I. Bill to continue

ABOVE, FROM LEFT: Shane Strassberg in fatigues; with his grandfather, Bernie. Shane’s grandparents met at the Cartoonists and Illustrators School, now SVA. OPPOSITE: A design Shane helped create for a digital platform for NYC Veterans.

8 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN had an internal feeling of just wanting to help communities or help people,” he says. “I’m not coming into this to work [to get] into the best technology and design firms; that’s not my goal. My goal is to use this and apply it somehow to make the world a better place.” Since completing his degree in 2017, Shane has found himself once again serving the United States—but this time through the U.S. Digital Service (USDS). The USDS is an agency of the U.S. government that is using design to better the lives of citizens, which is the way Shane prefers doing his part for the nation. “I want less conflict in the world,” he says. “I think we can do that through good research and good design. We can solve a lot of problems—on local, national and interna- tional scales.”

TOP: NPR: In Our Shoes VR allows users to step into the middle of a story to gain vivid insights into people’s lives. BOTTOM: Link NYC Safe City solution to allow people in danger to connect to the closest LinkNYC to get attention of people nearby who may offer help.

10 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN 11 Curriculum/ Sample Program Course In the MFA Interaction Design program, students work both individually and collaboratively on the practical application Offerings of the concepts and methods that the program advances. This is a sample of our recent course listings. For our full curriculum, please visit: sva.edu/interactiondesign/curriculum.

FIRST YEAR/FALL CREDITS A History of Design 1.5 The Fundamentals of Physical Computing 3 Hello World: The Logic of Interaction 3 Research Methods 1.5 A HISTORY OF DESIGN and Transformation 3 A review of critical movements in Strategic Innovation in Product/Service Design 3 design from the second half of the 20th century to the present is the focus of this course. CRAFTING INTERACTIONS FIRST YEAR/SPRING We will consider how much of the craft that designers Interaction design concepts can The Advanced Fundamentals of Graphic Design 1 have valued historically is important for what we do be hard to describe. And the best The Advanced Fundamentals of UX 1 today. Using insights grounded in history, students way to both communicate and Conversation Design 1.5 will evaluate what separates good design from “other” improve your design is to pro- Crafting Interactions 3 design in digital media, and review case studies of why totype it quickly and often. This Design in Public Spaces 1.5 certain products and companies have risen triumphant course examines how to integrate Entrepreneurial Design 3 over others. Students will visit centers of design in lightweight prototyping activities, Framing User Experiences 1.5 New York City and learn to use them as resources for as well as some basic research and Smart Objects 1.5 research, exploration and experimentation. testing techniques, into every stage Writing Basics 1 of the interaction design process. DESIGN IN PUBLIC SPACES A range of methods will be covered, from paper SECOND YEAR/FALL Interfaces are embedded in nearly every prototyping to to body- 3 aspect of our daily lives—from grocery storming. Students will learn how to choose the Future (Im)perfect: : Exploring the Hidden Ethics of Emerging Technologies 1.5 shopping to banking to reading books. How appropriate method to suit different dimen- Future Wearables 1.5 can we integrate technology with the phys- sions of a design problem at different stages in Public Interfaces 3 ical world to create better interfaces and the process, and the pitfalls of each approach. Thesis I: Development 6 more useful, playful and meaningful experi- The course is highly collaborative with ences? This course explores how interac- hands-on prototyping and testing. Working SECOND YEAR/SPRING tion design fundamentals apply to physical individually and in teams, students will create And One More Thing . . . 3 spaces by surveying branded environments, rapid exercises, with one prototype developed Form, Content and Behavior 1.5 retail stores, museums, urban settings and or iterated each week, with the goal of evolving Leadership, Ethics and Professional Practices 3 corporate venues with specific user goals toward more robust ways of expressing ideas in Narrative and 1.5 and design considerations in mind. rich interactive form. Thesis II: Presentation 6

12 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN 13 FUTURE WEARABLES Current handsets are immersive, and perhaps too much so. There’s an additive, enhanced product that may suggest a better experience: wearables. Students in this course will develop lifestyle products that are an enhanced edition of a core or stand-alone device. They will be encouraged to emphasize displays in different places, new inputs, haptics and staying local. The challenge is to deliver appropriate data in an unob- trusive way.

FORM, CONTENT AND BEHAVIOR Content is often an afterthought in the interaction design process. This course, held at the end of a stu- dent’s time at SVA, seeks to correct that. We’ll look at how design can guide content creation, whether on Twitter or at The New York Times, talk through editorial power structures, and look inside existing files and digital content forms to understand why the digital world can be resistant to change. We’ll also discuss the discipline of content strategy and how it is applied to improve digital products. Simultaneously we will make, edit, and distribute a class podcast about student thesis projects, and learn as much as we can about creating and syndicating content in the modern world of giant media platforms.

LEADERSHIP, ETHICS AND PROFESSIONAL PRACTICES

Students testing a prototype for The Fundamentals of Physical Creative business practices, ethical standards and Computing class in the Visible Futures Lab THE FUNDAMENTALS OF effective networking are the cornerstones of this PHYSICAL COMPUTING course. Case studies will illustrate the importance of DESIGN MANAGEMENT This class is a practical hands-on creating viable and responsible business models. Once a product or service is designed, it needs to be managed. Whether as an entrepreneur, exploration of physically interac- Through studio tours, guest lectures, case activities a design consultant or an in-house designer, integrating the creative and business sides is rarely tive technology for the designer. and small-group exercises, students will observe and easy. This course will illustrate how to mediate between the two, empowering students Students will learn how to interface critique examples of successful, flawed and failed to merge the design and business aspects effectively. We will examine design in its real-world, objects and installations with the practices. Upon completion of this course, students will contemporary contexts (rather than silos such as , or mobile design) viewer’s body and ambient stimuli be equipped to describe and cite examples of creative to realize its broad potential and reach. such as motion, light, sound or business practices, ethical standards and effective intangible data. Starting with the networking in design management. ENTREPRENEURIAL DESIGN basics using the open-source Ardu- Building on concepts of methods of interaction design, this studio course focuses on needs ino platform, the course will move analysis, framing, prototyping, iteration and collaboration in an applied context. Each through electrical theory, circuit student engages in semester-long projects that bring together business goals, user needs design, microcontroller program- and technology. ming, sensors and complex output, including motors, video and inter- between objects.

14 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN 15 THESIS II: PRESENTATION AND ONE MORE THING . . . Selecting the appropriate format In this course, you’ll get help figuring out what kind of for a fully functional thesis project designer you want to be, on what type of career path HELLO WORLD: THE LOGIC OF is critical to its success. It should and at what sort of organization—agency, nonprofit, INTERACTION include proof of concept that shows start-up, established business and so on. Each week, Hello World is traditionally the very first program the depth of research and appli- experienced interaction designers will visit for Socratic people write when they are new to a programming cation, and also demonstrate the question-and-answer sessions that probes their posi- language. It’s used to test programming syntax, research, strategy and artifacts tions, their successes and failures, and the way these implementation and sanity. The goal of this class is that have been gained through relate to one another. There will also be in-class exer- to provide students with a primer on understanding second-year course work. Each cises to learn more about each other and track where the world of and software and student must present a thesis students think they’re headed professionally, and designing with code. Students grow the tools they project to be approved by the thesis why. Through these interviews and activities, they’ll need to read and understand source code, critically committee and the department chair. develop a stronger sense of which jobs and which types RESEARCH METHODS think about software applications and write their own of institutions might work best for the role they want. User-centered design begins, by programs. They start with a foundation in program- Students will be set to design the greatest interactive definition, with an understanding ming and build applications of increasing complexity experience of them all: their professional life. of users. In this course, students as the course progresses. By the end of the semester, will learn how to model interac- students will have the skills to speak the language tion by conducting qualitative and of (almost) any machine using fundamentals from quantitative research into users’ Python, JavaScript and C. A student creates an affinity diagram in behaviors, attitudes and expecta- preparation for her Research Methods class. tions. By exploring ethnographic techniques, STRATEGIC INNOVATION IN testing, log analysis, surveying and other research PRODUCT/SERVICE , students will discover how to engage user The design of interactive products feedback effectively at every stage of the design pro- and services differs from other cess. We will also address how to conduct secondary forms of design in important ways. research into published literature and other sources Developing the context for suc- that can inform thesis projects and beyond. cessful user experiences requires designers to think more holistically SMART OBJECTS about the business models for The ubiquity of embedded computing has redefined the the products they create: how the role of form in material culture, leading to the creation value proposition to customers and of artifacts that communicate well beyond their static users unfolds over time; what’s physical presence to build ongoing dialogues with both being “sold” and where the costs people and each other. This course will explore the rich of production and management relationship among people, objects and information occur; and how to engage, com- through a combination of physical and digital design plement and benefit from other methods. Beginning with an examination of case studies, services that intersect with what is students will gain a sense of the breadth of product being offered. This course will help design practice as it applies to smart objects. Through students become more effective a combination of lectures and hands-on studio exer- at understanding and describing cises, we will investigate all aspects of smart object the strategic decisions involved in design, including expressive behaviors (light, sound and the creation of interactive products movement), interaction systems, ergonomics, data and services, and equip them with networks and contexts of use. The course will culminate tools and methods for generating in a final project that considers all aspects of smart innovative options and making object design within the context of a larger theme. smart strategic choices.

16 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN 17 Faculty Where To learn more about the faculty members and to read their biographies visit: sva.edu/interactiondesign/faculty.

Liz Danzico Criswell Lappin Marshall Sitten WeAmazon GoldmanWork Sachs Square chair, co-founder, head of design, Bigtincan senior vice president, director MFA Interaction Design; vice of and ser- Capital One Labs Google The New York Times president of design, NPR Lisa Lurie vice design, Citi Community product designer, IBM Development Dropbox Instagram Tile Jonathan Bloom senior conversation designer, Roger Mader Ted Southern Electronic Arts Johnson & Johnson Twitter Google co-founder, managing president, CEO, partner, Ampersand Final Frontier Design Etsy Memorial Sloan Kettering WeWork Angela Chen Cancer Center interaction designer, design Karen McGrane Luke Stern Facebook WhatsApp director managing partner, co-founder, Game of Phones Sidewalk Labs Bond Art + Science frog design Yelp Jenny Clark Sam Wander Spotify associate director,product Hirumi Nanayakkara product designer, Facebook design, argodesign director, product marketing, The Knot Neil Wehrle Chappell Ellison senior director of design, lead content strategist, Huge Maziyar Pahlevan SmartThings graphic designer Paul Ford Adriana Valdez Young writer; co-founder, Postlight Niamh Parsley design strategist, Openbox senior product designer, Eric Forman Flatiron Health Jeffrey Zeldman principal, founder, , Automattic; Eric Forman Studio Krystal Persaud co-founder, An Event Apart founder, Grouphug Daniel Goddemeyer Wenting Zhang interaction designer Matt Raw senior experience designer, vice president, design, Adobe Carrie Kengle The New York Times co-founder, Area of Effect Kristin Salomon Tanya Kraljic senior electrical engineer, voice UX conversation littleBits designer, Google Jason Severs Bruno Kruse chief design officers, Droga5 co-founder, Area of Effect

18 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN 19 Lecturers, Mentors & Thesis Advisors Application

Ryan Avent Steven Heller Winslow Turner Porter III senior editor, economics author; co-chair, MFA Design, director, producer, columnist, The Economist co-founder, MFA Interaction creative technologist , School of Visual Arts Daniel Burka Steve Portigal APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS design partner, Seth Johnson principal, Portigal Consulting For a full list of application requirements and detailed instructions, visit: Google Ventures , IBM sva.edu/grad/howtoapply Marc Rettig „ Online Application and $80 Application Fee: sva.edu/apply Frank Chimero Giorgia Lupi managing principal, Fit graphic designer, co-founder, Accurat Associates teacher, writer DEADLINES Ellen Lupton Mark Shepard For information on application deadlines, visit: sva.edu/grad/timeline Dennis Crowley author; educator; senior architect; curator, co-founder, foursquare curator, contemporary “Toward the Sentient City” IMPORTANT LINKS design, Cooper Hewitt „ FAQ: sva.edu/grad/faq Tina Roth Eisenberg Charlie Todd „ International students: sva.edu/grad/intl founder, CreativeMornings, Chelsea Mauldin founder, Improv Everywhere „ Tattly, swissmiss executive director, Tuition and fees: sva.edu/tuition Public Policy Lab Talin Wadsworth „ Visit SVA: sva.edu/grad/visit Nicholas Felton principal designer, Adobe author, The Feltron Annual Jeff Merritt Report app; co-creator, head, Internet of Things, Chris Woebken Reporter and Daytum.com World Economic Forum, independent designer Center for the Fourth Bethany Fong Industrial Revolution Dona Wong senior interaction designer, author; senior vice president, accessibility lead, Google Mari Nakano digital strategy and design director, communications, Federal Jason Fried NYC Mayor’s Office for Reserve Bank of New York co-founder, CEO, Basecamp Economic Opportunity Milica Zec Raul Gutierrez Craig film and virtual founder, CEO, Tinybop writer, designer, publisher reality director

Usman Haque Peter Morville designer; entrepreneur; author; founder, president, creative director, Umbrellium Semantic Studios

Scott Heiferman Matt Mullenweg co-founder, CEO, Meetup founder, CEO, Automattic

20 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN 21 Contact Us Contact Us

We encourage applicants to visit our department. Contact us ACCREDITATION Pursuant to Section 52.21 of the Regulations of the directly to schedule a department tour or sign up to attend an The School of Visual Arts has been authorized by the Commissioner of Education, the educator preparation Information Session. For more information and to register, New York State Board of Regents (www.highered. program offered by the School of Visual Arts is con- go to: sva.edu/grad/visit. nysed.gov) to confer the degree of Bachelor of sidered to be continuously accredited for purposes If you have any questions about the application process, Fine Arts on graduates of programs in ; of meeting the New York State requirement that all contact Graduate Admissions at 212.592.2107 or email: Animation; Cartooning; Computer Art, Computer such programs maintain continuous accreditation. [email protected]. Animation and Visual Effects; Design; Film; Fine Arts; The School of Visual Arts’ Master of Arts in Teaching ; ; and Video; in Art Education program was previously accredited MFA Interaction Design Visual and Critical Studies; and to confer the degree by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator 136 West 21st Street, 3rd floor of Master of Arts on graduates of programs in Art Preparation (CAEP). New York, NY 10011 Education; Critical Theory and the Arts; Curatorial Practice; Design Research, Writing and Criticism; and The Master of Professional Studies in Art Therapy Liz Danzico, chair to confer the degree of Master of Arts in Teaching degree program is approved by the American Art Steven Mayer, director of operations on graduates of the program in Art Education; and to Therapy Association, Inc., and as such meets the edu- Rodel Oiga, senior systems administrator confer the degree of Master of Fine Arts on graduates cation standards of the art therapy profession. Naomi Barth, communications and project coordinator of programs in Art Practice; Art Writing; Computer Eric Forman, student advisor, head of innovation, faculty Arts; Design; Design for Social Innovation; Fine Arts; Illustration as Visual Essay; Interaction Design; CREDITS Tel: 212.592.2703 Photography, Video and Related Media; Products of © 2020, Visual Arts Press, Ltd. Fax: 212.592.2135 Design; Social Documentary Film; Visual Narrative; Executive creative director: Email: [email protected] and to confer the degree of Master of Professional Anthony P. Rhodes Site: sva.edu/interactiondesign Studies on graduates of programs in Art Therapy; Creative director: Gail Anderson Department site: interactiondesign.sva.edu Branding; Digital Photography; Directing; Design director: Brian E. Smith Photography. Design: Anthony Carhuayo facebook.com/svaixd Editorial: Sheilah Ledwidge, Abby Kreh instagram.com/svaixd The School of Visual Arts is accredited by the Middle Case study writer: John P. Kazior twitter.com/svaixd States Commission on Higher Education (msche.org), Case study photographer: Jeremy Cohen vimeo.com/svaixd 3624 Market Street, Suite 2 West, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 267.284.5000. The Commission on Higher Education is an institutional accrediting agency The School of Visual Arts does not discrimi- recognized by the U.S. Secretary of Education and the nate on the basis of gender, race, color, creed, Council for Higher Education Accreditation. disability, age, sexual orientation, marital sta- tus, national origin or other legally protected The School of Visual Arts is an accredited institu- statuses. tional member of the National Association of Schools of Art and Design (nasad.arts-accredit.org). The College reserves the right to make I love the word interaction: changes from time to time affecting policies, The Interior Design program leading to the Bachelor fees, curricula and other matters announced of Fine Arts in Interior Design is accredited by the in this or any other publication. Statements in it can be about the designer’s Council for Interior Design Accreditation (accredit-id. this and other publications do not constitute org), 206 Grandville Avenue, Suite 350, Grand Rap- a contract. interaction with the medium or the ids, MI 49503-4014. COVER: StreetSmart VR designed by Kohzy Koh, MFA 2017 The School of Visual Arts’ Department of Art user’s interaction with the design.” Education is currently pursuing accreditation of its educator preparation programs by the Association for —Kohzy Koh, MFA 2017 Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation (AAQEP).

22 MFA INTERACTION DESIGN 23 School of Visual Arts

209 East 23rd Street, NYC sva.edu/grad