The Student Perspective: Navigating Interaction Design Department at National Taipei University of Technology
2023.11.10文章系列介紹
作為設計師度過的每一個平凡日子。
Several years ago, when I was searching for Interaction Design department at National Taipei University of Technology (NTUT), there is only few information about it, despite as a local Taiwanese student like me. So, after graduated from bachelor program of Interaction Design (IXD), I decided to write this article to help more students who are also interested in IXD, both local and international. I gathered information that future students might need as much as I can, including brief introduction to Interaction Design, program and courses, environment, scholarships and other related resources.
Note 1: This article is based on my personal experience as a local student in IXD department, detail might vary since you will enroll in international program.
Note 2: This article is wrote specifically for international students. If you prefer to read in Chinese, please refer to here.
A brief introduction to Interaction Design
Interaction Design is an inclusive domain, contains or overlap with several domain like Human-Computer Interaction, Visual Design, Industrial Design and so on. In practical use, Interaction Design can be used in installation art, UI/UX design, web design, AR/VR/MR, 3d animation and game.
Installation Art
You might seen of installation art in exhibition, museum or other places before. But here, we speak of installation art especially refers to the ones you can actually interact with. For example, teamLab, a renowned international art collective, held an exhibition at National Taiwan Science Education Center in 2021, featuring a projection mapping art that visitors can interact with flowers from the digital screen with their arms movement.
There is no specific form of installation art, it all depends on the concept you want to present. In IXD department, you will learn to use single-board micro controllers like Arduino or Raspberry Pi combine with phone, tablet, projector to make interesting projects.
UI/ UX Design
Take mobile app for example, when we are using app, we all have a goal or task to complete. In order to interact with our device (smartphone in this example), we need an intermediary layer, and that’s where User Interface (UI) comes in, and your experience along the journey of the service, is User Experience (UX).
Even though UI and UX design is highly related to aesthetics, but the outcome can be evaluated objectively. UI designers can follow certain guidelines, principles or theories, while UX researchers can use tools like eyes movement tracking, contextual interview, questionnaire to discover more qualitative insights. And this is the major part you will be learning in the department.
Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality / Mixed Reality
Based on the proportion of physical elements to digital elements, it can be classified into a spectrum from AR (Augmented Reality) to VR (Virtual Reality), and the whole spectrum can be called MR (Mixed Reality).
AR primarily consists of physical elements with an integration of digital components, whereas VR is an environment entirely made up of digital elements, creating the sensation of entering an entirely different world.
The game “Pokémon Go” is a well-known example of AR, which mixes real-world and digital features. The “Quest 3” from Meta is a VR headset that lets you experience a completely digital world. Similarly, Apple is planning to launch a new device called “Vision Pro” in 2024, which is for MR, combining both real and digital elements.
3d Modeling and Animation
In the IXD department, you will learn about the basic of 3d modeling and make an original animation eventually. Learning 3d not only can be used in animation, but also can be a handful tool for concept presenting, 3d printing and laser cutting.
Game Developing
If you’re into gaming, consider making a game for your project to display your originality and concept. The IXD department includes a course on C# programming in its undergraduate curriculum, which is essential for creating games with the Unity engine. Yet, to tailor your game development to your specific vision, you’ll need to engage in some self-learning as well. Below is some game demo videos from me and my classmates:
Programs and courses
The Department of Interaction Design was founded in 2009, offering 4-year and 2-year programs of Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees, respectively. The International Master Program of Interaction Design and Innovation was established in 2018 as an expansion of an already well-established academic master’s program with a global vision, admitting students from all over the world and collaborating with foreign universities through workshops and exchange programs. Thus, this program brings cultural diversity to the interdisciplinary learning environment that is located in downtown Taipei.
Depending on the program level, students are expected to achieve different academic goals. The bachelor program students are expected to make an interaction design project, whereas master programs students put more efforts on academic research of Interaction Design (this apply for both local and international students).
Also, in recent years, the Taiwanese government has invested heavily in the Bilingual Education for Students in College (BEST) program, and this includes efforts at NTUT. As a result, an increasing number of courses are now being taught in English. You can refer to course search system shown below to get more detail.
- Academic Calendar
- English Course Search System (Select “International Program for Interaction Design and Innovation” at program field)
B.S. Program
- Curriculum (Adjust “year” parameter in the URL to see latest version of curriculum.)
- Official Introduction
M.A. Program
- Curriculum (Adjust “year” parameter in the URL to see latest version of curriculum.)
- Official Introduction
- Faculty Members (Thesis Advisor List)
2024 Feb. update: Dr. Ping-Hsuan Han is the advisor on the International Bachelor Program of Interaction Design and Innovation this year. If you have any questions or require further assistance during the application process, I recommend you to reach out to our admissions team at jessie8915@mail.ntut.edu.tw (Ms. Jessie Liou) or han@mail.ntut.edu.tw.
Environment
Location
NTUT is nestled in the heart of Taipei City, Taiwan’s capital. Located in the bustling Daan district, the campus sits adjacent to the “Zhongxiao Xinsheng” MRT station, offering seamless subway connectivity.
In addition to the MRT, numerous bus routes pass near the campus, providing easy access to various parts of the city, with both the iconic Taipei 101 and the central Taipei Main Station only a 15-minute journey from campus. Taxis and bike-sharing services are also readily available.
Classrooms
Tuition, Fees and Scholarship
According to the information listed on the official website in Nov, 2023, the tuition fee for 1 semester for IXD bachelor and master program is shown below:
| Currency | Bachelor Program | Master Program |
|---|---|---|
| NTD | 54,837 | 63,002 |
| USD | 1,694 | 1,946 |
| THB | 60,629 | 69,657 |
| IDR | 26,565,276 | 30,520,735 |
Depending on the program level, you might be eligble for different scholarships from NTUT or Taiwan Government.
Related Resources
Official Sites
- NTUT Official Site
- Office of International Affairs, NTUT
- Admission Instruction for International Students
- Interaction Design Department Official Site
Professors’ personal or lab website
2024 Feb. update: Below is the list of professors’ personal or lab website link. Some professors are not listed on the list because no website link is provided. If you have any questions about the program, I especially recommend you to reach out Prof. Tai or Prof. Han, the Program Director for Bachelor and Master program.
| Name | Title | Research Category | Website Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hsiao-Yue Tsao | Professor / Chair | Display Technology / Interactive art / Gender Studies and Interactive Science and Technology | Portfolio |
| Chien-Wen Cheng | Associate Professor | Interactive Computer Music / Music Technology / Music Technology / Music Theory / Digital Music Production | Interactive Music and Multimedia Lab |
| Tai, Nan-ching | Associate Professor / Master Program Director | Digital Fabrication / Tangible Interaction Design / Natural User Interface / High Dynamic Range Imagery / Space Perception | HCI and Behavioral Science Research Lab |
| Han Ping-Hsuan | Assistant Professor / Bachelor Program Director | Human-Computer Interaction / Virtual Reality / Mixed Reality / Haptics / Creative Engineering Education | Personal Website |
Students Projects
- Behance page of 106 grade graduation exhibition
- Behance page of 2019 winter camp for Interaction Design department
Conclusion
If you have any questions about this article, I am willing to help ! Please contact me through email or DM my instagram account.
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