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Advanced Training Program in
User Experience Design

Students will acquire cutting-edge knowledge in interactive technologies while developing the necessary skills to design novel and compelling user experiences.

Applications to the Advanced Training Program in UxD are CLOSED.

The Advanced Training Program in User Experience Design aims to educate and qualify active agents, aspirants or well-established professionals, as well as researchers and academics in the area of Human-Computer Interaction, in an interdisciplinary, structured and stimulant learning environment.
 

This Program offers curricular units on design and evaluation of interactive systems with a strong emphasis on human centered design techniques and the technologies that support novel user experiences. The course will also focus on the comprehension of human skills and the consequences of the use of interactive technologies as tools for work related tasks, new lifestyles and experiences mediated by computing technology.

WORLD CLASS FACULTY

Nuno Nunes

Técnico - UxD Program Coordinator

Diogo Cabral

Técnico

INDUSTRY & ACADEMIA PARTNERS

WHAT WE OFFER

A diverse experience

The Advanced Training Program in User Experience Design comprises 10 modules that account for 13 ECTS. The course offers a hands-on approach experience exposing students to a diverse set of contents through cutting-edge methods and tools.

Core Module

User-centered Research and Evaluation

 

The UCRE module provides an overview and introduction to the field HCI. The course covers fundamental research methodologies that are employed in the design of physical and digital systems/environments.

    • User research
    • Task analysis
    • Analytic and empirical evaluation methods

Coordinator (s): Raelin Musuraca (CMU)
ECTS: 2
Lecture hours/ weeks: 30h/1

Core Module

Interaction Design Studio

 

This course is addressed to professionals directly or indirectly involved in interaction design and user interface design decisions for screen-based software products and services.

    • Elements of interaction design
    • Methods: research, concept generation, prototyping, and refinement
    • Techniques: sketching, storyboarding, wireframing, prototyping

Coordinator(s): Skip Shelly (CMU)
ECTS: 2
Lecture hours/ weeks: 30h/1w

Core Module

Programming Usable Interfaces / Software Structures for UIs

The PUI module provides an introduction to usability and its main components, as well as an overview of the iterative user interface design methodology, while covering the several steps of the iterative cycle, focusing more on the prototyping and evaluation steps.

    • Visual design principles
    • Design and conduction of usability tests
    • Future user interfaces and interaction techniques
    • UI programming frameworks

Coordinator(s): Augusto Esteves (Técnico), Manuel Fonseca (FCUL), Nuno Correia (FCT-UNL)
ECTS: 2
Lecture hours/ weeks: 30h/1w

Service Design 

 

Service Design module will focus on defining and studying services and data-driven product service systems, while learning the basics of envisioning and designing them. 

    • Design new service offerings that function within these systems
    • Explain and demonstrate how a service unfolds through design and communication

Coordinator(s): Valentina Nisi (ITI/LARSyS), Jodi Forlizzi (CMU)
ECTS: 1
Lecture hours/ weeks: 18h/1w

Digital Media and Storytelling

 

This module will explore the properties of non-linear, multi-linear, and interactive forms of narratives: video games, interactive content on the web, interactive TV, video on demand, and location based media.

    • Create, produce, and distribute digital media
    • Develop storytelling strategies supported by digital media
    • Production of content, distribution  and integration in interactive applications. 

Coordinator(s): Nuno Correia and Teresa Romão – FCTUNL
ECTS: 1
Lecture hours/ weeks: 18h/1w

Human AI Interaction

 

Human AI Interaction will explore how combining the complementary strengths of Humans and AI can benefit people and communities, by harnessing the power of AI while giving people  a central role in the design process.

  • Describe general topics that are relevant when building AI systems.
  • Apply Human-AI guidelines to real-life examples
  • Design a simple AI Interactive system

     

    Coordinator(s): Tiago Guerreiro and João Guerreiro – FCUL
    ECTS: 1
    Lecture hours/ weeks: 18h/1w

Augmented and Virtual Reality

This module will cover Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality at large and introduce the key concepts, the main interaction design guidelines, and how to prototype for Extended Reality. 

  • Learn about different types of AR and VR input/output
  • How to prototype for XR
  • Discuss interface design and interaction techniques for AR and VR
  • Discuss visual and non-visual AR

Coordinator(s): Daniel Lopes, Augusto Esteves, Diogo Cabral – Técnico
ECTS: 1
Lecture hours/ weeks: 18h/1w

Data driven Design

 

The Data Driven Design module will focus on the different methods for data collection, user profiling, and A/B testing, the most common form of large-scale experimentation and UX design.

    • Learn how data can steer the design of Web applications, conversational assistants etc.
    • Basics on data collection, experimentation, and A/B testing.
    • Discuss the right environment for data-aware design.

Coordinator(s): João Magalhães  – FCT-UNL
ECTS: 1
Lecture hours/ weeks: 18h/1w

Web and Mobile Accessibility

 

This module explains how people with disabilities rely on different tools and strategies when using interactive applications and teaches accessible design techniques for visual design, information design, user experience design and interaction design.

    • Recognize the impact of design decisions on accessibility
    • Explain how people with disabilities identify and distinguish user interface components based on their properties
    • Design accessible user interfaces

Coordinator(s): Carlos Duarte and Luís Carriço – FCUL
ECTS: 1
Lecture hours/ weeks: 18h/1w 

Digital Service Innovation

 

This module will focus on Digital service innovation that involves applying concepts from service design to meet the need of customers and users.

    • Design digital service prototypes for the purpose of discovering unmet needs of customers and users
    • Differentiate between products and services and designing systems comprised of products and services
    • Model the problem, the competitive environment, value creation, user experience and the digital service itself

Coordinator(s): Skip Shelly (CMU)
ECTS: 1
Lecture hours/ weeks: 18h/1w

Classes schedule

WeekdaysSaturday
10:00LectureSeminar
11:00
12:00Studio / Lab
13:00
14:00Studio / LabStudio / Lab
15:00
16:00

WHO CAN APPLY

The candidates should have a pre-Bologna degree (Licenciado) or master’s degree in one of the main areas of the Advanced Training Program: Informatics or Computer Science, Design and Psychology or similar areas (Sociology, Anthropology, Multimedia, Communication Science, Electrical and Computer EngineeringoOr Telecommunications, Mechanical Engineering, Industrial Management).

Being a program oriented towards candidates with professional experience, preference will be given to candidates with experience in interactive technologies.

Applications will be open soon and must be submitted at Instituto Superior Técnico Advanced School, Técnico+. Onsite classes will also take place at Técnico+ facilities at the University Alameda Campus (Lisbon).

WHAT STUDENTS CAN EXPECT

Demonstrate knowledge and skills that enable the development of applications and interactive services that answer to the users’ needs and/ or provide innovative experiences.

To be able to apply knowledge on the development of human centered interactive systems and services in new situations and in technological, organizational and social contexts.

To be able to integrate methodologies and related technical competencies that would allow the development of solutions or judgements on the research, processes, and technological options, leading to the promotion of efficient and pleasant interactive systems.

Be able to communicate the HCI values, justifying and quantifying their methodological and technological choices in a clear way and justifying the importance of the cost/benefit of the principles and activities of HCI.

Demonstrate skills to integrate new knowledge, technologies, methods and techniques that are relevant in the context of the interactive systems and services development.

QUESTIONS?