Crossing the Boundaries of Interactive Media Design

The University of Dundee launched a unique interactive media design course in 2001. Now, the IMD degree is putting Scotland on the map.

Interactive media refers to media of communication that allows for active participation by the receipient. The term usually only refers to digital media. Interactive media are often designed by information designers, e.g computer games and mobile telephones.

Lecturer of IMD, Dr Catriona Macaulay, came to the university six years ago to lead the development of the course. She says, "It's unique in the UK at undergraduate level because it's a genuine blend of computing, design and interactive media design."

During students' final year at the IMD degree, they must work on an individual project. Dr Macaulay says, "For example, one student looked at how interactive media can help build confidence for stressful situations. We've also had subjects such as an interactive mouse and interactive musical instruments.

"Every Art School in Scotland has a degree show where final year students present their work. There's a lot of pressure for final year students who need to prepare projects for the degree show. However, this first year film festival ( 2007) gives new students a chance to get used to this pressure and presenting work. This is the first year that the IMD course has put on a film festival of first year's work," says Dr Macaulay.

“Each week, the students had basic video production workshops where we gave them a brief. We would focus on a style of movement and then asked them to video it and put it on the web.

The next challenge for the IMD course is to increase its number of overseas students. "We have a fairly high number of students from Scotland," says Dr Macaulay. "About 75percent are from Scotland, and 25 percent from England and overseas.

"We're very keen to have more overseas students. It represents the world in which out graduates will work. The interactive media world is diverse, and there are a lot of people from different cultures in this field.

"The IMD course appealed to me because it's inter-disciplinary and brings together researchers from across the engineering-design spectrum.

"That is what is so fascinating about the University of Dundee; we are genuinely willing to cross boundaries."

Related Links

• Interactive Media Design at University of Dundee
• Masters in Design Ethnography at the University of Dundee
• University of Dundee