Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Interaction & UI/UX Design
- San Francisco, USA
- Online
Master degree
DURATION
6 semesters
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Jan 2027
TUITION FEES
USD 1,615 *
STUDY FORMAT
Distance Learning, On-Campus
* per unit for international students / USD 1,407 per unit for domestic students
Key Summary
The MFA program provides advanced study for students pursuing a career in web design and new media. Progress in the MFA degree is measured through a rigorous process, both at the midpoint and final reviews.
Studio courses develop creative and technical acumen, with attention to mastering user experience design, while advanced courses provide a focused learning environment for building final thesis projects. Students will graduate with a portfolio and comprehensive thesis project showcasing their talent.
Graduate students will meet the following student performance criteria:
MFA Thesis Project
- Present a clearly defined design project worthy of the MFA degree
- Provide proof of concept demonstrating the feasibility of the project
- Produce a final thesis project demonstrating design thinking, visual communication and technical skills
Design Thinking
- Gather, analyze and apply the information necessary to develop design solutions centered on real target users
- Demonstrate thorough knowledge of thesis topic and identify resources for content development
- Create interactive architecture to effectively support the needs of the project’s functionality
Visual Communication
- Effectively utilize grid, hierarchy, typography, color, and composition
- Apply the above design principles to effectively implement/display interactivity appropriate to the project
Technical Abilities
- Demonstrate an understanding of current interactive technologies by identifying appropriate technical tools to implement a core component of the thesis project
- Establish and document the technical scope of the thesis project
User Experience
- Demonstrate a realistic consideration of potential users
- Develop final testing plan based on initial explorations
- Apply testing results to refine projects throughout the design process, documenting key iterations along the way
Professional Readiness
- Effectively articulate and defend ideas and process
- Accurately cite or credit sources used to develop a thesis proposal, project, and presentations
- Demonstrate organizational skills in the thesis proposal and record of thesis project development process
- Develop and demonstrate the skills required for the chosen professional path, as demonstrated in the thesis project, portfolio, and personal website
Academy of Art University Learning Outcomes
Graduates of the Academy of Art University will demonstrate the ability to:
- Produce a body of work suitable for seeking professional opportunities in their chosen field of art and design.
- Solve creative problems within their field of art and design, including research and synthesis of technical, aesthetic, and conceptual knowledge.
- Communicate their ideas professionally and connect with their intended audience using visual, oral, and written presentation skills relevant to their field.
- Execute technical, aesthetic, and conceptual decisions based on an understanding of art and design principles.
- Evaluate work in their field, including their own work, using professional terminology.
- Recognize the influence of major cultural and aesthetic trends, both historical and contemporary, on art and design products.
- Learn the professional skills and behaviors necessary to compete in the global marketplace for art and design.
Academy of Art University offers some of the best training and hands-on experience to help accelerate your career. We pride ourselves in doing an exceptional job preparing you to excel in your future web design career. Our degree programs are designed to equip aspiring artists and designers with a comprehensive toolbox of marketable skills that lead to success in the interaction and UI/UX design industries.
User Experience Designer
As a user experience designer, you’ll use the User Centered Design process to understand the what, why, and how a product is used. You’ll get to know your users through research and you’ll use their input to guide the process so that you can provide them with a design that is not only intuitive but also delightful.
Product Designer
As a product designer, you'll focus on designing new features for digital products. You will create visual designs, and interactive prototypes, and work with design staff, developers, and business stakeholders involved in the creation and maintenance of a project.
UI Designer
As a user-interface designer, you'll work with user experience designers and developers to create mockups, prototypes, and layouts for web applications and dashboards.
Interaction Designer
An interactive designer is responsible for design strategy, identifying key interactions of a product, creating and testing prototypes, and keeping up to date on technology trends. Combining strong design thinking and excellent visual design skills, you’ll create digital products that impact the user.
Mobile Designer
As a mobile designer, you'll create new and engaging experiences for emerging mobile devices and screens.
Motion Designer
As a motion designer, you'll concept user interfaces, interaction animations, and design for emerging devices and platforms.
Unit Requirements
| Major | 30 |
|---|---|
| Directed Studies | 18 |
| Graduate Liberal Arts | 9 |
| Elective | 6 |
| Total | 63 |
Degree Requirements
- Successful completion of Final Thesis Project
- Minimum grade of C in all required 63 units
- Minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA and the following Academic Study requirements:
- 1 Art Historical Awareness & Aesthetic course
- 1 Cross-Cultural Understanding course
Curriculum
Semester 1
- ADV 605: Digital Graphics (Major)
- IXD 601: Tech 1: Front-End (Major)
- IXD 606: User Experience Design (Major)
Semester 2
- GLA 606: Crossing Borders: Art & Culture in a Global Society (Graduate Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - GLA 615: History of Graphic Design (Graduate Liberal Arts)
Recommended for summer - IXD 605: Visual Design & Typography 1 (Major)
- IXD 608: Tech 2: Back-End (Major)
- IXD 613: Motion Graphics and Video (Major)
Semester 3
- IXD 618: Advanced Tech: CMS (Major)
- IXD 635: Visual Design & Typography 2 (Major)
- IXD 643: MFA Thesis Ideation and Preparation (Major)
Semester 4
- ADV 695: Collaborative Project: The Agency (Elective)
- IXD 610: Balancing Creativity and Profitability (Major)
Recommended for summer - IXD 810: User Experience (Directed Studies)
- IXD 820: Technical Implementation (Directed Studies)
Semester 5
- IXD 695: MS: Collaborative Project: MS: Automotive UI (Elective)
- IXD 820: Technical Implementation (Directed Studies)
- IXD 830: Visual Design (Directed Studies)
Semester 6
- GLA 676: Professional Practices for Designers & Advertisers (Graduate Liberal Arts)
- IXD 830: Visual Design (Directed Studies)
- IXD 900: Internship (Directed Studies)