Digital Experience Design Major - Bachelor of Design
Overview
Design digital products such as websites, apps, wearables, AR/VR and games. Learn how people interact with digital products, research real-world problems and create digital solutions that are useful, usable and desirable.
If you love using digital products and want to create the next killer app, a career in digital experience design is for you. Train for one of the many careers within DXD: user experience designer (UXD), interaction designer (IX), user interface designer (UID), web designer, product manager, information architect (IA), service designer (SD) or customer experience designer (CX).
In practice-based, hands-on courses, learn to understand and identify client problems, recognize user needs and translate these into wireframes, prototypes and visual interfaces. Learn and apply new processes and techniques to create digital products using the latest industry tools and practices to meet the emerging needs of a rapidly changing technological environment.
Degree Requirements
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTE 110 | Drawing Foundation | 3 |
| DESN 110 | Design Studio I: Visual Organization, Composition and Visual Language | 3 |
| DESN 120 | Design Software I | 3 |
| DESN 131 | Typography I | 3 |
| DESN 150 | Image Structure and Meaning | 3 |
| DESN 171 | History of Visual Communication Design | 3 |
| DESN 203 | Concept Visualization | 3 |
| DESN 205 | Design Studio II: Process, Audience, and Context | 3 |
| DESN 220 | Design Software II | 3 |
| DESN 231 | Typography II | 3 |
| DESN 240 | Introduction to Digital Experience Design | 3 |
| DESN 271 | History of Modern Design and Material Culture | 3 |
| DESN 290 | Business of Design | 3 |
| DESN 310 | Design Studio III: Concept and Communication | 3 |
| DESN 311 | Visual Identity Design and Branding I | 3 |
| DESN 313 | Information Design I | 3 |
| DESN 344 | Interaction Design I | 3 |
| DESN 380 | Design Research | 3 |
| DESN 410 | Design Studio IV: Applied Design Research | 3 |
| DESN 415 | Design Studio V: Capstone | 3 |
| DESN 480 | Design Issues Seminar | 3 |
| ENGL 102 | Analysis and Argument | 3 |
| Choose 3 credits of ENGL from the following: | 3 | |
| Approaches to Literature: Trends and Traditions | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Narrative Across Media | ||
| Approaches to Literature: Contemporary Literature and Culture | ||
| Program Options | 6 | |
| Students are required to complete 6 credits of program options (see list below) from the MacEwan Bachelor of Design program (courses that use the DESN subject code). This requirement cannot be completed through transfer credit. Not every program option may be offered every academic term. | ||
| Electives | 24 | |
Students are required to complete 24 credits of electives (defined as courses selected by the student, excluding those that use the DESN subject code), with no more than 12 credits at the 100-level. | ||
A minimum of 9 of these elective credits must be from the Social Sciences (PSYC, SOCI, ANTH, POLS, ECON and BCSC 200). | ||
3 elective credits must be from the School of Business (ACCT, BUSN, FNCE, HRMT, INFM, INSR, INTB, LEGL, MARK, MGMT, MGTS, MSYS, ORGA, PMGT, SCMT). | ||
| Major Requirements | 21 | |
| Students must complete 21 credits of requirements specific to the major. Please see Major Requirements tab. | ||
| Total Credits | 120 | |
Program Options
List of Program Options
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DESN 200 | Drawing for Illustration | 3 |
| DESN 243 | Digital Experience Design History, Theories and Issues | 3 |
| DESN 246 | Game Design I: From Principles to Practice | 3 |
| DESN 250 | Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| DESN 260 | Video Production I | 3 |
| DESN 261 | Motion Graphics I | 3 |
| DESN 295 | Field Placement | 0 |
| DESN 300 | Illustration Techniques | 3 |
| DESN 314 | Environmental Graphic Design | 3 |
| DESN 315 | Visual Narrative and Storytelling | 3 |
| DESN 316 | Branded Environments | 3 |
| DESN 317 | Publication Design | 3 |
| DESN 318 | Advertising Design I | 3 |
| DESN 340 | Web Design & Development I | 3 |
| DESN 342 | Digital Experience Design and Usability: Methods and Practices | 3 |
| DESN 345 | Service Design Seminar: Principles and Concepts | 3 |
| DESN 347 | Immersive Learning I | 3 |
| DESN 349 | Digital Experience Design Internship | 3 |
| DESN 350 | Photo Lighting, Production, and Styling | 3 |
| DESN 352 | Image Manipulation and Post-Production | 3 |
| DESN 360 | Video Production II | 3 |
| DESN 361 | Motion Graphics II | 3 |
| DESN 363 | Intro to Visual Effects | 3 |
| DESN 393 | Multi-disciplinary Visual Communication Design Studio | 3 |
| DESN 395 | Internship | 3 |
| DESN 411 | Visual Identity Design and Branding II | 3 |
| DESN 413 | Information Design II | 3 |
| DESN 418 | Advertising Design II | 3 |
| DESN 440 | Web Design & Development II | 3 |
| DESN 442 | Information Architecture and Content Strategy | 3 |
| DESN 443 | Multi-disciplinary Digital Experience Design Studio | 3 |
| DESN 444 | Interaction Design II | 3 |
| DESN 445 | Service Design Studio: From Research to Solutions | 3 |
| DESN 447 | Immersive Learning II | 3 |
| DESN 460 | Video Production III | 3 |
| DESN 485 | Special Topics in the Design Field | 3 |
| DESN 486 | Individual Study | 3 |
PATHWAYS
The pathways below are recommendations on courses that students could choose for the 21 credits of program options/electives (no declared major) if they have a particular area of interest. Students can also develop their own pathway by selecting various program options.
Visual Communication Design
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DESN 200 | Drawing for Illustration | 3 |
| DESN 250 | Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| DESN 314 | Environmental Graphic Design | 3 |
| DESN 315 | Visual Narrative and Storytelling | 3 |
| DESN 316 | Branded Environments | 3 |
| DESN 317 | Publication Design | 3 |
| DESN 318 | Advertising Design I | 3 |
| DESN 411 | Visual Identity Design and Branding II | 3 |
| DESN 413 | Information Design II | 3 |
| DESN 418 | Advertising Design II | 3 |
Digital Experience Design
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DESN 243 | Digital Experience Design History, Theories and Issues | 3 |
| DESN 246 | Game Design I: From Principles to Practice | 3 |
| DESN 340 | Web Design & Development I | 3 |
| DESN 342 | Digital Experience Design and Usability: Methods and Practices | 3 |
| DESN 345 | Service Design Seminar: Principles and Concepts | 3 |
| DESN 347 | Immersive Learning I | 3 |
| DESN 413 | Information Design II | 3 |
| DESN 440 | Web Design & Development II | 3 |
| DESN 442 | Information Architecture and Content Strategy | 3 |
| DESN 443 | Multi-disciplinary Digital Experience Design Studio | 3 |
| DESN 444 | Interaction Design II | 3 |
| DESN 445 | Service Design Studio: From Research to Solutions | 3 |
| DESN 447 | Immersive Learning II | 3 |
Photography, Video and Motion Graphics
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| DESN 250 | Introduction to Photography | 3 |
| DESN 260 | Video Production I | 3 |
| DESN 261 | Motion Graphics I | 3 |
| DESN 315 | Visual Narrative and Storytelling | 3 |
| DESN 350 | Photo Lighting, Production, and Styling | 3 |
| DESN 352 | Image Manipulation and Post-Production | 3 |
| DESN 360 | Video Production II | 3 |
| DESN 361 | Motion Graphics II | 3 |
| DESN 363 | Intro to Visual Effects | 3 |
| DESN 447 | Immersive Learning II | 3 |
Illustration
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| ARTE 120 | Drawing I | 3 |
| ARTE 205 | Painting I | 3 |
| ARTE 215 | Painting II | 3 |
| DESN 200 | Drawing for Illustration | 3 |
| DESN 261 | Motion Graphics I | 3 |
| DESN 300 | Illustration Techniques | 3 |
| DESN 315 | Visual Narrative and Storytelling | 3 |
| DESN 361 | Motion Graphics II | 3 |
List of Course Substitutions
| Credit Earned in: | May Be Substituted for Credit in Program Course: |
|---|---|
| DESN 100 | DESN 203 |
| DESN 101 | ARTE 110 |
| DESN 102 | ARTE 110 |
| DESN 103 | DESN 203 |
| DESN 210 | DESN 205 |
| DESN 210 | DESN 220 |
| DESN 230 | DESN 131 |
| DESN 330 | DESN 231 |
| DESN 390 | DESN 290 |
| DESN 241 | DESN 344 |
| DESN 251 | DESN 350 |
| DESN 252 | DESN 352 |
| DESN 341 | DESN 444 |
| DESN 343 | DESN 440 |
| DESN 391 | DESN 295 |
Major Requirements
The Digital Experience Design major is 21 credits with a maximum of 9 credits at the 100-level.
| Code | Title | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Students must take 12-21 credits from the following list of Digital Experience Design courses: | ||
| DESN 243 | Digital Experience Design History, Theories and Issues | 3 |
| DESN 340 | Web Design & Development I | 3 |
| DESN 342 | Digital Experience Design and Usability: Methods and Practices | 3 |
| DESN 345 | Service Design Seminar: Principles and Concepts | 3 |
| DESN 347 | Immersive Learning I | 3 |
| DESN 349 | Digital Experience Design Internship | 3 |
| DESN 413 | Information Design II | 3 |
| DESN 440 | Web Design & Development II | 3 |
| DESN 442 | Information Architecture and Content Strategy | 3 |
| DESN 443 | Multi-disciplinary Digital Experience Design Studio | 3 |
| DESN 444 | Interaction Design II | 3 |
| DESN 445 | Service Design Studio: From Research to Solutions | 3 |
| DESN 447 | Immersive Learning II | 3 |
| Students can then take 0-9 credits from a list of related courses within the Bachelor of Design and in other university programs: | ||
| DESN 246 | Game Design I: From Principles to Practice | 3 |
| DESN 260 | Video Production I | 3 |
| DESN 261 | Motion Graphics I | 3 |
| DESN 361 | Motion Graphics II | 3 |
| CMPT 101 | Introduction to Computing I | 3 |
| CMPT 103 | Introduction to Computing II | 3 |
| CMPT 200 | Data Structures and Algorithms | 3 |
| CMPT 310 | Computers and Society | 3 |
| Total Credits | 21 | |
Course Substitutions
| Credit Earned in: | May Be Substituted for Credit in Program Course: |
|---|---|
| DESN 440 | DESN 343 |
| DESN 444 | DESN 341 |
Program Learning Outcomes
- Solve communication problems using comprehensive visual design research, processes and methods.
- Apply a human-centered approach using theories and methods of the social sciences.
- Create a visually and conceptually integrated response to communication problems aimed at informing, instructing or persuading.
- Integrate historical and contemporary understanding of visual and material culture into design practice.
- Use industry-standard production methods, tools and technologies for the creation, reproduction and distribution of visual responses across various media.
- Communicate ideas, information, arguments and analyses, and design proposals, orally and in writing, to team members, clients and stakeholders.
- Work collaboratively as a member of leader of interdisciplinary teams.
- Organize and manage design projects and client relations.
- Evaluate responsible practices in design, including an understanding of sustainability, citizenship, social responsibility and cultural preservation.
Admission Requirements
Applicants may be admitted to one of the following:
Regular Admission
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicants must have a minimum overall average of 65 percent, with no course grade lower than 50 percent, in the following high school courses:
- ELA 30-1 or 75% in ELA 30-2
- Four subjects from Group A, B, C, or D
Notes:
- Applicants are strongly encouraged to present a broad range of subjects in order to benefit from the breadth of learning and to increase flexibility of future program and course choices.
- A maximum of two Group B subjects may be presented; they must be from different disciplines.
- A maximum of one Group D subject may be presented. Group D subjects used for admission must be 5-credit or any credit combination of at least 5 credits (e.g., two 3-credit subjects).
Applicants with nine or more university-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Mature Admission
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicants must be 20 years of age or older and have been out of full-time high school at least one year by the beginning of the intake term. Applicants must have the following:
- ELA 30-1 with a minimum grade of 65 percent (or equivalent)
OR
- Six credits of university-level English with no grade less than C-
Applicants with nine or more university-level credits must also present a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale.
Previous Post-Secondary Admission
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Admission in this category does not imply or guarantee the transfer of any coursework and/or credential unless a block transfer agreement (internal or external) is in effect and published in the calendar by the Office of the University Registrar. In addition, transfer of coursework does not imply or guarantee that an applicant will be admitted.
Applicants must have completed one of the following from a recognized institution:
- A diploma in design (or equivalent)
OR
- A minimum of 24 university-level credits with a minimum Admission Grade Point Average (AGPA) of 2.0 on a 4.0 scale and must have completed the required high school courses listed under the Regular or Mature Admission category.
Additional Admission Criteria
All applicants must meet the following:
1. English Language Proficiency
To be evaluated through the Office of the University Registrar
Applicable to all admission categories
All applicants must meet an acceptable level of English language proficiency. We will require official
documents such as high school or post-secondary transcripts or proof of successful completion of
standardized language evaluation. Full details are available in MacEwan University’s academic calendar or
online at MacEwan.ca/ELP.