I was inspired to study a Bachelor of Design (Interaction Design)/Bachelor of Information Technology at QUT because I have always loved computers and technology. After being introduced to the world of virtual reality and designing 3D environments in my high school art class, I began seeking out degrees that would enable me to pursue my passion for interactive design.
Crafting meaningful experiences through user-centric design
I knew that I wanted a dynamic degree, and I found QUT’s delivery and curriculum to be more focused on practical projects and cutting-edge technology over traditional computer science principles and excessive theory. The Bachelor of Design (Interaction Design) and Information Technology double degree has been a really engaging and insightful experience for me. Learning the core tenets of people-centric design, before moving into more specialised technologies like creative coding and tangible media, has allowed me to explore what felt like extremely new and modern territory. Every unit within this degree has been a complex cross-section of visualisation, ethics, research, and advanced technology.
When I first began my course, I assumed that the course would be ambiguously focused on technology – this was quickly reshaped. Interaction design ended up being both deeper and broader than I expected. During my degree, I’ve worked on touch-based soundboards, interactive web apps, detailed diagrammatic drawings, totems made of bamboo, augmented reality, and now virtual reality. However, across all these projects I’ve also gained a thorough understanding of the core principles of interaction design itself. It’s been more engaging than I could have imagined.
Empowering students for success
Not only this, but the collaboration aspect has always been fun and rewarding - I believe design sets a really high tone for social interaction because everyone’s constantly inspired and ready to collaborate. QUT’s design academics always create exciting learning environments. I was often challenged and pushed to discover and create beyond what I thought I could.
The support and facilities offered by QUT also contributed greatly to my course experience. QUT's design fabrication studio was a great resource in my first and second years when I was doing broader subjects that involved physical manufacturing. I was also able to access a Quest 2 VR headset for my final capstone project. This helped me to iterate and experiment further in the world of virtual reality.
To add to this, the QUT design staff are equally as passionate about the work as the students. They are always available to answer questions and share their own experiences and tips from their time in the industry. Due to the intersectionality of design, these conversations always feed back into your work. Many of my tutors are also active in the design industry. This helped to expose me to what being a designer means in the working world, and how skills might transfer from learning to our work. The breadth of experience across the staff only enhances this.
Overall, I found that the foundations of design that I learned throughout my degree are applicable in almost every context. Topics like empathy, understanding, function, and aesthetics are highly informative and helped round out my perspective of design, and in-hand with my technical skills, I feel very capable of my practical ability to create.
