Interaction design concerns the design of digital artefacts and digitally mediated communication, with a focus on user experience.
Interaction design is a rapidly changing discipline, and we maintain the relevance of our education by working with real-world design cases and external clients including local industry partners and cultural and civic organizations. Navigating a shifting design landscape also requires the critical mindset of a scholar, and we foster reflective design by teaching research skills and involving students in active research projects.
The Interaction Design master’s programme at Malmö University was founded in 1998, making it one of the most established English-language design programmes in the Nordic region. The programme provides a learning experience that is grounded in Scandinavian design traditions while simultaneously embracing transformations within the vibrant, international and interdisciplinary field of interaction design. Students who complete the degree will have a Master of Science in Interaction Design (two-year, 120 credits).
The two-year programme trains students to respond to unprecedented societal needs and professional challenges, teaching the practical, theoretical and critical skills necessary for designing relations between humans and technologies. With small classes of individuals from all over the world, students will become part of an interdisciplinary group exploring how interaction design methods and approaches can respond to the complex times in which we live.
The programme starts with new students every autumn semester. Students enter the programme with different kinds of expertise, from art and design to engineering and social sciences. Upon graduation, they will have built a strong understanding of how their particular skills can be applied to interaction design and how these merge with the specialities of their fellow designers. Students will be ideally situated to work in industry, the public sector, or as researchers.
Please note that we offer one- and two-year versions of our master’s degree in Interaction Design. The degree granted for the one-year degree is Master of Science (60 credits). The degree granted for the two-year degree is Master of Science (120 credits).
In our 1 + 1 degree programmes, the first year of both programmes is identical for all incoming students. The curriculum difference between the two-year degree programmes is the additional four courses in the second year. To help choose the programme that feels right for you, please consider:
The one-year programme offers you a quick exit to industry, as well as the chance to deepen your understanding of the field at an advanced level for a year.
The two-year programme offers you a deeper dive into the field of interaction design in terms of content and approaches, further academic preparation, and is a must if you are considering PhD studies.
Once enrolled, transitioning between the programmes is an available option.
This master’s programme emphasises both studio-based design practices and theoretical engagement with the issues at the heart of design processes. Navigating a shifting design landscape requires agility in concept development and prototyping, as well as the critical mind-set of a scholar. This is achieved by structuring the education around courses that require both collaborative group projects and individual writing. Each year ends with a self-directed thesis project, comprising both practical design work and a written thesis.
Course content includes: participatory design and social innovation; tangible and sensor-based interactions; relational and embodied interactions; design-based research; and design theory. Students will work with real-world design cases and external stakeholders, including local industry partners and cultural and civic organisations. They will experiment with a range of design materials: from digital to analogue, organic to inorganic, electronic to imaginary, and social to bodily.
Courses are taught by faculty members with active research and professional profiles. The real-world relevance of interaction design is not far removed from teaching, as students are frequently involved in ongoing research projects, many of which emphasise the social, political and ethical consequences of design.
If you are interested in how designed artefacts, systems, relations and infrastructures can shape our world, and what we might do with them as designers and fellow human beings, bring your background in design, computer science, community development, arts, humanities or social sciences to work with others to make the vision of fair, caring and sustainable futures a reality.
Graduates can choose to direct their careers within a range of industries, including the political sector, or transition to academic/professional research. This programme is consistent with Malmö University’s vision of integrating academic learning with social change; creating powerful ties between teaching, research and the society at large. The programme aims to provide the tools, techniques and conceptual basis to enact change in the world, not just for the next few years, but for the next 50.
The programme comprises full-time study for two academic years. Click on the Syllabus tab for more information on courses.
The programme is based on learning-by-doing. This means that we encourage an iterative practice of experimentation and reflection. As teachers, we view ourselves as coaches guiding students in this process.
The programme is studio-based. Students will also have access to computer labs, a materials workshop and a prototyping lab for electronics, sensor and microprocessor programming.
The primary method of learning is through group work in multidisciplinary teams with classmates and stakeholders. The ability to work in teams and with others — including user communities — is an important part of our curriculum, and several projects are organised in order to practice these skills.
With our humanistic approach, students will be practising qualitative research approaches to support their design of tangible artefacts as well as digital and interactive services, systems and artefacts. We emphasise an understanding of people in their use situations. Students will be taught to develop a critical perspective based on: the close reading of relevant academic texts; participation in seminars; and writing of academic-style research papers. Two thesis projects will challenge students to deepen their practice and thought processes.
Prototyping in the studio and in real-world contexts is an integral part of becoming an interaction designer.
To practice reflective and experimental design activity, our projects and courses integrate seminars and hands-on workshops introducing students to, among other things, ethnographic fieldwork, critical and performative methods, low and high-fidelity prototyping, microprocessor programming and video sketching, as well as evaluation of use qualities. All these practices are backed up by literature references and examples.
Students’ thesis projects at the end of each year will be a combination of practical design processes leading to a prototype and a written document, plus the presentation and discussion of their design work in front of peers and an examiner.
Students have access to studio space, and we encourage a healthy studio culture. This is where we conduct group work, seminars, workshops, presentations and discussions. Students have access to a well-equipped materials workshop and a physical prototyping lab for electronics and sensor work. There is a vibrant culture of seminars at the faculty and the Medea Talks series frequently hosts high profile design researchers. Additionally, spaces in the University’s buildings (such as Storm and Niagara), and in central Malmö, can be used for final presentations and exhibitions.
Graduates of this programme have moved on to professional positions around the world in the design, media and ICT industries, as well as to academic research and entrepreneurship.
Many alumni take up positions as interaction designers, user experience specialists or usability specialists in the design, ICT, and media industries. For some, this involves critiquing or fine-tuning the interfaces and interactions of current products to users’ needs. For others, it comprises concept development for future products and services.
Some alumni choose strategic positions where the role of interaction design is considered in relation to market and business development, while others apply interaction design perspectives and methods to envisioning change or ‘future-making’ in politics, public organisations, the heritage sector, and NGOs.
Thanks to the close connections to world-class research, this programme also prepares its graduates to enter academic research institutes. Many alumni proceed to PhD studies and positions as teachers and researchers, at universities in Sweden as well as abroad.
Here you can find the entry requirements, as well as how the available study places are distributed between applicants in the selection.
If you have any questions about general admission, you are welcome to contact us.
Bachelor's degree or equivalent in subjects relevant for interaction design. Examples of relevant subjects include, but are not limited to: computer science, informatics, information systems, human-computer interaction, new media arts, fine arts, design (industrial, product, graphic, interaction), communication studies, media studies and cognitive science.
Approval of submitted supporting documents including work samples.
General eligibility + the equivalent of Swedish higher secondary school English 6.
Supporting documents 100%. Applicants are selected in order according to precedence from submitted supporting documents.
Please note that to complete your application for this programme, you must submit supporting documents.
To complete your application, follow these steps:
Submit the supporting documents no later than 3 February 23.59 Central European Time (GMT +1), when applying in the international admission round, 15 October–15 January.
Submit the supporting documents no later than 4 May 23.59 Central European Time (GMT +1), when applying in the national admission round, 15 March – 15 April.
Supporting documents submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Only supporting documents submitted via the form will be reviewed.
Assessment matrix and description for alternative selection, Interaction design (120 credits).
After a career in business events, Sarah Skavron made a pivot to Interaction Design, where she gained new skills and insights. Today she is a doctoral student at Lund University, exploring human-robot interaction, combining creativity and research.
After a career in business events, Sarah Skavron made a pivot to Interaction Design, where she gained new skills and insights. Today she is a doctoral student at Lund University, exploring human-robot interaction, combining creativity and research.
“I’m a career-changer. In 2012, I earned a bachelor’s degree in Tourism Studies and spent several years as an event manager. I created seminars, workshops, and conferences. My role covered many different aspects such as content development, speaker coordination, logistics and communication.
“When COVID-19 pushed all events online, I became interested in how technology connects people and supports learning. That curiosity led me to this master’s – an opportunity to build on my skills and explore a new path.”
“It was a huge learning curve for me. I had some experience in design thinking and user research but prototyping and user testing were completely new. My classmates were incredibly supportive, and we learned a lot from each other. In my second year, I also worked as a teaching assistant in the IOIO (mechatronics) lab, gaining hands-on experience with Arduino and other tools.”
“My favorite course was Design for Social Innovation. It was tough but rewarding. We got to learn methods for user research and collaborate with the Marine Education Centre in Malmö.
“Our challenge was to build more awareness about the ocean and the need to protect it among residents in Malmö. We used quite unusual and creative methods to engage different groups in conversations about their relationship to, and ideas about, the ocean. For example, we used a method called “cultural probes” – this is a package of activities where participants complete a set of exercises and creative tasks, like letter writing or drawing their ideas. This helped us to understand their emotions related to the sea and the stories they carry with them. Another interesting method we developed was to combine yoga and ideation. Yoga created more awareness and allowed for deeper reflection during the exercise – which actually yielded great results, and the participants enjoyed it, too.
“Other than that, I enjoyed doing the group work, we defined our processes and supported each other with complementing skill sets throughout the projects.”
“There are four elements to my job: I collect data through interviews, workshops, observations or other methods and write about my findings; I’m involved in teaching Interaction Design; I take courses, for example in Academic Writing or Research Methodology, and I work on tasks related to the EU projects that fund my doctoral studies.
“My subject is human-robot interaction. I am interested in how we can create sustainable and meaningful futures with robots. The two projects that I am involved in offer some interesting perspectives on that. In one project, we are developing a robotic assistive device for people with upper-limb impairments together with other partner universities. Our role is to make sure that the robotic solution addresses the needs, aspirations and capabilities of the users – which is extremely important as technology is sometimes developed on what is technically possible and less on the users’ needs and wishes.
“The other project is about robots in the workplace, in which we are exploring the experiences and perceptions of workers who collaborate with robots. Our aim is to further develop recommendations and guidelines on what is important to consider when introducing robots in work contexts.
“I love the creative freedom of my doctoral work – there are lots of ways to design academic studies, experiment with methodologies, and present findings. I also really enjoy connecting with fellow researchers at conferences and seminars, discussing our work and what we have discovered.”
“An academic education in Interaction Design challenges you to think critically about the relationships between people and technology, the benefits and potential, as well as the negative consequences. It also helps you sharpen practical skills by giving you the chance to take on projects and learn how to reflect and write about the impact of technology more widely.”
Max Angenius worked in the design industry for a few years before he decided to study design at a master's level. He chose Interaction Design at Malmö University because of its humanistic approach to interaction design. What he didn't expect was to develop an interest in building things with...
Max Angenius worked in the design industry for a few years before he decided to study design at a master's level. He chose Interaction Design at Malmö University because of its humanistic approach to interaction design. What he didn't expect was to develop an interest in building things with electronics and programming, which he says the programme opened the door for.
– Before studying the Interaction Design Master's programme at Malmö University, I completed a Bachelor's in digital design and worked for a few years as an Interaction designer. I worked very broadly with design back then, helping health technology start-ups and the public sector to develop the future of healthcare through technology. After a few years in the design industry, I was hungry for new knowledge and was at a point in my career where it was time for a change. Deepening my fundamentals in design through a master’s degree seemed like an appropriate step in my life.
While looking around for master’s programmes in Sweden, I got the impression that Interaction Design at Malmö University had a humanistic approach to interaction design, which suited my interest at the time. I was, and still am, interested in how interaction design as a subject explores the intersection between people, society, and technology. The programme does have a humanistic approach, but it also introduces programming and electronics to students of every skill level.
During my studies, I went from avoiding programming and electronics to enjoying and pursuing them in my design projects. Over the two years, I have worked with diverse challenges with elevators, fencing, future theatre, and more. I've learned to create prototypes using microcontrollers and code, conduct codesigns workshops, and approach artificial intelligence from a design point of view.
– During the programme you learn the theoretical pillars of design: design process, embodiment, participatory design, play, design research, social innovation, and more. Almost all the courses let you practically apply these theories in projects. You also learn to work in teams with people from different backgrounds, cultures, and skills. That's an equally valuable skill to have when you are a designer.
My favourite courses were the thesis projects. The thesis projects are a chance for you to shine as a designer and deep dive into subjects that interest you. In addition to that, I enjoyed the Playful and Ludic Interaction course. Exploring playful interaction was intriguing and fun because it was not something I had done much of before in my career.
– I think master studies add another layer of fundamental design knowledge. Studying a design master gives you the tools to approach almost any design problem. University studies provide you with solid ground to stand upon as a designer. This master’s programme allows you to be an interaction design generalist with the opportunity to specialize in your interest.
I'm also interested in doing a PhD in the future, which is another reason I chose to study at a master’s level. I can see myself as a teacher at a university or in the design industry. I have been working as a teaching assistant for the past year at the University, which made me more interested in a teaching role in my design career.
– After graduation, I want to work in the design industry again and contribute to solving problems for human beings, society, and the planet. I'm looking forward to working with different stakeholders in different contexts. Previously I worked with health technology and health care. Now I hope to contribute to industries such as music, gaming, education, and more. I enjoy being an Interaction designer because I can apply my skills to any industry that involves people and technology. I also hope that teaching will be a part of my future career.
Take a look at the thesis project "Technology For Social Innovation: Open Data Platform for Monitoring the Condition of the Environment" by student Roksana Patrzałek. A good example of the kind of projects we work on at the Interaction Design master's programme.
