Master of User Experience Design
Victoria University of Wellington
Key Information
Campus location
Wellington, New Zealand
Languages
English
Study format
Distance learning, On-Campus
Duration
1 - 1 Year
Pace
Full time
Tuition fees
NZD 59,650 *
Application deadline
Request Info
Earliest start date
Request Info
* for the full programme
Introduction
All our courses are offered online at the moment for international students because of the COVID-19 pandemic border closures in New Zealand.
Wellington or Auckland
The Master of User Experience Design is delivered by the School of Design Innovation in Wellington. It’s taught using a dual delivery approach, which means teaching materials, workshops and classes are available online and in person. The programme is based in Wellington but is also offered at our Auckland campus (Kitchener Street).
A range of skills
User experience (UX) design focuses on how people interact with, and experience products and services. These experiences could be on a screen, like a website or an app, or in a physical space, like wayfinding in a museum. And, these can be a mixture of both, and quite complex. Consider the experience of travel: researching, then booking a flight online, checking in, boarding the flight, flying, landing, collecting luggage and leaving the airport.
UX designers carry out a range of tasks: they understand and frame problems through user research and analysis; they interpret findings and prioritise options; they develop concepts to solve the problems and refine those concepts through testing before and after the experience is launched for public use.
UX designers are skilled researchers, critical and creative thinkers, effective communicators, and make a variety of design outputs.
Projects at Wellington ICT. Photo / Supplied
Conversion degree
The Master of User Experience Design (MUXD) is a 12-month 180-point Master’s degree. It's a conversion degree aimed at industry professionals and recent graduates, you don’t have to have an undergraduate Design degree to apply. Recently our students have come from a range of fields including graphic design, journalism, advertising, computer science, software engineering, teaching, government policy, architecture, psychology, industrial design and anthropology. The degree builds on skills developed during professional careers and undergraduate study.
MUXD graduates are currently working in New Zealand and internationally as digital product designers, UX/UI designers, UX researchers, and service designers.
Duration and workload
The programme starts in July each year. You’ll complete your Master’s in one year of full-time study spread over three trimesters: July to October, November to February, and March to June.
Studying full time, you can expect a workload of 30 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.
Part-time study over two years is also possible. Contact the MUXD Programme Director for more information.
Curriculum
What you’ll study
The MUXD is a full-time 180-point Master’s programme that starts in July (Trimester Two). You’ll typically complete this qualification in three consecutive trimesters over 12 months.
Trimester Two (July to October)
- Mātauranga Design—SIDN 412 (15 points)
Engage with toi (Māori creativity) and mātauranga (Māori understanding) in the production of both visual and material cultural design that honours our place and past in Aotearoa New Zealand. Guided by traditional Māori protocols and knowledge, you’ll learn how to understand and interact with Māori symbols and visual-spatial strategies in ways that are culturally appropriate.
- Graphic Design Practice—MDDN 413 (15 points)
Explore and use graphic design elements, software, and strategies to build a body of design work. Analyse ways to leverage your personal experience and unique background. Through research, exercises, and projects, you’ll develop technical mastery, formal graphic design skills, and independent research skills that will help you express a unique visual identity.
- User Experience Design Practice—MDDN 417 (30 points)
In this course, students develop skills in core users experience design processes such as problem framing, qualitative research and analysis, visualisation techniques, interaction design, and prototyping. Students are introduced to designing for accessibility, and design ethics, and will use industry-standard tools and techniques.
Trimester Three (November to February)
- Advanced User Experience Studio—MDDN 416 (30 points)
In this course, students will analyse and conceive user experience design concepts, techniques and strategies. Students will explore a number of different design processes, frameworks, research methods, prototyping techniques, and design outcomes.
Electives
Students complete one of the two following courses.
MDDN 402 focuses on design skills and processes common in designing software-as-a-service products, as well as complex websites and apps.
MDDN 415 focuses on visually representing and communicating complex data and other information.
- Digital Product Design—MDDN 402 (30 points)
In this course, students will explore and implement current digital product design methods for software, complex websites and apps. The course will emphasise complex interaction design, developing design systems, the interrelationship between design research and rapid prototyping. Students will be also be introduced to digital production environments such as Agile development.
- Information Design Practice—MDDN 415 (30 points)
Examine best practices for designing with information. This course emphasises the importance of research, understanding data within its context, and anticipating the intended audience. You’ll learn techniques and concepts related to data acquisition and modelling, and you'll develop innovative ways of displaying information through different media.
Trimester One (March to June)
- User Experience Capstone Project—MDDN 502 (60 points)
In this course, students apply knowledge and skills developed in the 400-level courses to a supervised project with an external organisation, or a personal project they define. Students will focus on extending all of their abilities, with particular emphasis on designing processes and communicating with stakeholders. Student work is experimental in nature, yet practical and useful. Students apply both analytical and creative approaches to problem-solving alongside a reflective design practice.
Duration and workload
The Master of User Experience Design is typically completed in 12 months of full-time study spread over three trimesters: July to October, November to February, and March to June.
Studying full time, you can expect a workload of 30 to 45 hours a week for much of the year.
Part-time study over two years is also possible. Contact the MUXD Programme Director for more information.
Scholarships and Funding
You can look for scholarships based on your level of study, subject area, and background.