Course length
12 or 16 months
Start
October
Language
English
Where
Milan
Master of Arts in Interaction Design & Creative Technology with Advanced Practice
Designing for digital futures and emerging technologies
The Master of Arts in Interaction Design & Creative Technology is an innovative, future-oriented programme for those who want to work at the intersection of design and technology. It is ideal for students looking for a master in digital design, digital and interaction design, or a master in digital design for emerging technologies, combining creative thinking with advanced technical skills.
The course provides essential tools and methodologies to navigate a constantly evolving digital landscape, where creativity meets computation and emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, creative coding and data visualization open new directions for design. Students explore immersive design, speculative design, multisensory experiences and ethical, inclusive solutions, with a strong emphasis on interdisciplinarity.
Through a balance of theory and hands-on practice, graduates learn how to develop impactful digital projects, launch startups, collaborate with tech companies or take on strategic roles within the creative industries — building expertise across digital design, interaction design, and immersive design.
Features
The Master of Arts in Interaction Design & Creative Technology with Advanced Practice in Milan explores digital design as an evolving discipline, examining new languages, enabling technologies and emerging application scenarios. It is particularly suited for those seeking a master in digital design, a master in digital design for emerging technologies, or advanced training in digital and interaction design.
The programme trains designers capable of operating where creativity intersects with technology, combining data, artificial intelligence, interaction and computation to shape complex, ethical and inclusive digital experiences. The approach blends competencies from interaction design, speculative design and immersive design, preparing students to engage with cutting-edge digital practices.
Core topics include creative coding, AI-driven processes, data-informed design, immersive experiences, design ethics, computational design and interdisciplinary collaboration — foundational elements of leading master immersive design programmes.
Through a mix of theory and practical experimentation, students alternate technical modules with creative exploration. Industry engagement, portfolio development and design as personal research support a learning journey focused on the future of digital design and the potential of emerging technologies.
The Master of Arts in Interaction Design & Creative Technology with Advanced Practice is based on a learning strategy aimed at nurturing creative talent through the acquisition of tech-savvy professional knowledge and skills.
Its main objectives are:
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Equip students with advanced skills in the frontiers of new technology and digital design, to provide a deep understanding of the evolving digital landscape, incorporating new practices that merge technology, creative media, and strategy, with a Humanistic and Experimental approach.
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Prepare students for the 4th industrial revolution, focusing on forward-thinking, interactive virtual, physical, and digital environments, to enable future designers to work in ever-evolving and versatile contexts.
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Provide ethical, inclusive, and sustainable principles applied to technology and design, and explore interdisciplinary collaboration among areas.
To be admitted into the Master of Arts in Interaction Design & Creative Technology with Advanced Practice, candidates must hold a second class (2.2) honours or higher in art, design, or other creative disciplines from any recognised ISCED level 6 programme.
Graduates from scientific disciplines, social sciences, and humanities may also be considered, along with candidates with significant professional experience in the relevant field.
SPD also evaluates other relevant experience and/or the attendance of SPD Preparatory Courses.
International students must demonstrate an IELTS score of 6.0, with no component below 5.5.
After the successful completion of the Master’s programme, eligible students can earn the Master of Arts degree. The Master of Arts Courses are accredited by Teesside University, SPD’s Educational Partner. The standard programme (without Advanced Practice) awards a total of 180 UK credits (90 ECTS), while the version with Advanced Practice awards 240 UK credits (120 ECTS).
The 15-week Advanced Practice module is a unique opportunity to gain a first taste of professional or academic life and to put into practice the knowledge and skills acquired during your studies.
During this semester, students can choose from three options:
– a professional experience in a real workplace environment (internship)
– an in-depth research project within the school, in collaboration with a company (project work)
– an opportunity for personal and cultural growth through a study period at another institution (study abroad period)
The Major Project is the final individual research project, allowing students to investigate a specific topic at a high level within a proposed research framework or project brief. This project represents the culmination of their education and marks the beginning of their professional career.
Through the Major Project, students will gain genuine project experience at the professional level. When the project involves collaboration with companies, ideas of particular interest may be developed further, making the students’ resume more competitive in the relevant industry.
After completion of the Master of Arts in Interaction Design & Creative Technology with Advanced Practice, you are ready to embark on a career in various fields, including:
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Digital Designer
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AI UX Designer
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Design Technologist
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Creative Technologist
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HCI Designer
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Immersive Designer
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UX & Data Researcher
| YEAR | SUBJECTS | UK CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| First Year |
Digital literacy Digital Literacy will help you develop essential digital culture and design skills, focusing on societal impact, research, and creating user-centered experiences. You will explore topics like ethical design, UX research, system design, data-driven UX, and basic coding.
|
40 |
|
Future-ready (Digital) Business Digital design goes beyond interfaces to shape businesses and organizations in responsible, systemic, and interdisciplinary ways. You need futures and business literacy to collaborate across disciplines. You will explore key topics like entrepreneurship, strategic design, emerging technologies, sustainability, futurism, speculative design, and digital strategy.
|
20 | |
|
A.I, Data & Generative design AI is transforming digital experiences through AI-driven interactions, assistive AI, predictive design, and generative AI tools. You will learn the principles of machine learning, analytics, algorithmic bias, and how to apply these in design to create responsible, adaptive experiences. You will explore topics like AI basics, generative design, human-AI collaboration, bias detection, digital identities, data privacy, and data-driven storytelling.
|
20 | |
|
Immersive & Sensorial Interactions Digital design is evolving beyond screens toward immersive, multimodal environments like AR, VR, and brain-computer interfaces. While traditional media still dominate education, real-world applications demand mixed realities. Topics include smart cities, spatial computing, sensory interactions, behavioral UI, and brain-computer interfaces.
|
40 | |
| Second Year |
Advanced Practice The 15-week Advanced Practice module offers a chance to apply your skills in a real-world or academic setting. You can choose between an internship, a research project with a company, or a study abroad experience for personal and cultural growth.
|
60 |
|
Major Project Develop your own design research under the guidance of the Course Leader.
|
60 |
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