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Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 39 - Roma 0687940271

Communications Science (A.Y. 2025/2026) - Public Institutions and Digital Media

Foundations of Interaction Design


Credits: 9
Content language:Italian
Course description

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of interaction design, experience design, and interface design principles as applied to physical and digital communication ecosystems together (i.e., phygital). The course provides an in-depth overview of the basic principles of Interaction Design and analyzes the main theoretical frameworks that form its foundation. We will explore key concepts such as activity theory, distributed cognition, embodied interaction design, and action stage theory. The primary goal of the course is to provide students with a clear and comprehensive understanding of the theories and debates that animate this discipline, stimulating the development of critical and informed thinking.

Prerequisites
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Objectives

The course structure combines face-to-face lectures and practical activities aimed at verifying learning. Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

- Understand the fundamental principles of Interaction Design.

- Know the main theories underlying interactive design.

- Critically analyze central debates within the discipline.

Program

The main contents of the course include:

- Principles of interaction design of digital artifacts examined in a transmedia dimension, that is, with the exploration of fundamental design principles applied to different digital media, interaction experiences that span multiple platforms, and interactive experience design.

- Design Concepts in Interaction, Experience and Interface design: Insight into the key concepts that define the design of human-computer interaction, the overall user experience and the design of effective and intuitive interfaces.

- Understanding and Critical Perspective on the Design of Phygital Interaction Ecosystems: Gain in-depth understanding and critical analysis skills of the challenges and opportunities associated with designing communication ecosystems that seamlessly integrate physical and digital elements.

The course is organized into four main areas:

Design, artifacts, experience

The first area introduces students to the essential theories and guidelines that define the discipline and professional practice of Interaction Design. Crucial topics such as experience design and the role of artifacts for human cognition will be covered

Design of interaction with digital technologies.

The second area expands students' knowledge of the debates shaping the international Interaction Design landscape by introducing advanced theoretical perspectives and emerging research areas:

- Activity Theory: Understanding the socio-cultural context of interaction and the role of artifacts as mediators of human activity.

-Distributed Cognition (Distributed Cognition): Analysis of how cognition extends beyond the individual to include tools, environment and other people.

-Social Theories and Interaction Design: Exploration of the social impact of interactive technologies and implications for design.

Advanced Digital Technologies and Cognitive Processes.

The third area further extends thinking about the design of advanced digital technologies, with the inclusion of virtual reality and immersive environments, spatial displays and automation in accordance with an integrated approach of design, cognitive ergonomics and human factors.

Application domains

The fourth area further specifies the themes introduced in the third by providing application domains and areas of study of interaction design and human factors.

Book

● Bagnara, S., & Smith, G. C. (2006). Theories and practice in interaction design. CRC press.

● Hallnäs, L., & Redström, J. (2006). Interaction design: Foundations, experiments. Textile Research Centre, Swedish School of Textiles, Unversity College of Borås and Interactive Institute.

● Norman, D., The Design of Everyday Things, Publisher: Basic Books, Edition year: 2013

● D. Norman (2011) Living with complexity. Pearson , with topic Technology - ISBN: 9788871926469.

Exercises

The course includes two Labs, the first one being experimental and the second critical:

  1. Interaction Design Lab.

The first lab proposes an experimental activity of research, design and evaluation of an interaction scenario with digital technologies, highlighting cognitive, social and collective implications.

  1. Debates and Contemporary Perspectives in Interaction Design Lab.

The second Lab proposes to develop students' knowledge of the debates shaping the international Interaction Design landscape by introducing advanced theoretical perspectives and emerging research areas.

For the 6 CFU course, participation in only one of the Labs will be required.

For the 10 CFU course, participation in both Labs will be required.

During the Labs there is a strong real-time interaction between students and faculty/tutors related to experimentation with new technologies and critical discussion of previously proposed topics on the Forum. Before each meeting, therefore, the lecturer/tutor assigns a topic, related to the lectures, and fixes together with the students the date of the meeting. The activities take place in within the interactive classroom made specifically for the implementation of the workshop activities. The lecturer/tutor follows the discussion carefully and intervenes only to correct or stimulate the discussion.

Professor/Tutor responsible for teaching
Alessandro Pollini
Video professors
Prof. Francesco Di Nocera - Università "La Sapienza" di Roma
Prof. Alessandro Pollini - Università Telematica Internazionale UNINETTUNO
Prof. Simone Pozzi - Università San Marino IUAV
List of lessons
Alessandro Pollini
Alessandro Pollini
Alessandro Pollini
Alessandro Pollini
Simone Pozzi
Alessandro Pollini
Alessandro Pollini
    •  Lesson n. 8: Interfacce  Go to this lesson
Alessandro Pollini
Francesco Di Nocera
Alessandro Pollini
Alessandro Pollini
    •  Lesson n. 12: Visual design  Go to this lesson
Alessandro Pollini
Alessandro Pollini
Simone Pozzi
Francesco Di Nocera
Alessandro Pollini