Master of User Experience Design

The MUXD is a Wellington ICT Graduate School programme delivered by the School of Design Innovation at Victoria University of Wellington.

User experience design is one of the largest growing design fields that addresses all aspects of user experience from understanding the identity of the users to the creation of the designs they interact with. User experience designers work across digital and physical media to improve the overall experience of design. User experience designers are skilled researchers, critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators and expert design practitioners.

The Master of User Experience Design (MUXD) is a one-year, full-time, 180 point master’s degree. It is aimed at industry professionals and/or recent graduates without an undergraduate qualification in media design, i.e. a conversion master’s degree.

The degree will build on the relevant skills these students have developed during their professional careers and/or undergraduate university study, such as problem solving, critical thinking and verbal and written communication.

Matauranga Design—CCDN 412 (15 points): This course engages with toi (Maori creativity) and matauranga (Maori understanding) in the production of both visual and material cultural design that honours our place and past in Aotearoa New Zealand. Guided by traditional Maori protocols and knowledge, students will learn how to understand and interact with Maori symbols and visual spatial strategies in ways that are culturally sound and appropriate.

Graphic Design Practice—MDDN 413 (15 points): In this course students will explore and utilise graphic design elements, software, and strategies in the pursuit of a body of design work, while analysing ways to leverage personal experience and unique backgrounds. Through research, exercises and projects, students will develop technical mastery, formal graphic design skills and independent research skills towards expressing a unique visual identity.

User Experience Design Practice—MDDN 417 (30 points): In this course students will become adept at the techniques common to user experience (UX) design, such as: research into persona development, case study analysis, user interface design, rapid visualization and prototyping. Students will also become adept at using the industry standard tools and techniques of UX design.

Trimester Three
Advanced User Experience Studio—MDDN 416 (30 points): In this course students will analyse and conceive user experience design and research concepts, techniques and strategies. Moving from research, prototyping, evaluation, and similar user experience design essentials, the course will explore more complex issues through an independent project requiring in-depth research relating to context and audience.

Choose one of the following elective courses:

Digital Product Design—MDDN 402 (30 points): In this course students will explore and implement current digital product design methods and software while planning and deploying independent project strategies. An emphasis will be placed on design thinking and creative approaches to front-end development, design and prototyping techniques based on industry related projects. Students will be encouraged to synthesize their unique backgrounds and personal experience within the projects

Information Design Practice—MDDN 415 (30 points): This course examines best practice for designing with information, including the importance of research, understanding the context or data, and anticipation of the intended audience. Topics will span the techniques and concepts related to data acquisition, modelling, and developing innovative ways of displaying Information through different media.

Trimester One
User Experience Design Practicum—MDDN 502 (60 points): This studio consists of a supervised research-based practicum, working towards a mastery of user experience research through a specified design project. The work will be experimental in nature, generally as a placement in industry, yet at the same time, require a conceptual approach that leverages a criticism of the status quo.