The study program lasts for 4 semesters. The first two semesters are teaching-based and require full-time attendance at the SUPSI Campus in Mendrisio. The third and fourth semesters are taken at a distance to have a period of professional internship or academic mobility and do not require attendance on campus.
Start Date
14.09.2026
Qualification
MA Degree
Application Deadline
30.04.2026
Credits
120 ECTS
Language
English
Duration
2 years, 4 semesters
Semester 1
10 modules
On-Campus
You will build essential skills through design, technical, and methodological courses, along with intensive workshops. You’ll learn programming, electronics, digital fabrication, user experience, data-driven design and research methods, developing a strong multidisciplinary foundation.
Discover the Design Thinking approach as a framework for disclosure and inquire- Experiment with proper methods, tools, and templates in a collaborative environment
- Increase your awareness about design as a medium to entangle complex situations
- Challenge yourself in a team within participatory processes and co-design activities
- Reflect on new ways of interaction
Lead by:
Elena Zordan
Lecturers:
Enrico Tedoldi
Elena Zordan
- How to create a research plan and choose the right research methods
- How to conduct user research
- How to synthesize research findings and communicate insights
Lead by:
Enrico Tedoldi
Lecturers:
Enrico Tedoldi
- How to design a mobile application starting from the foundation of digital experiences design
- How to identify user needs and validate user behavior
- Define user requirements for the creation of interactive systems with high usability and accessibility
- How to define the end-users, the value proposition, and the key features of a mobile application
- User flow and customer experience mapping
- How to generate ideas and how to translate them into experience elements (from areas of opportunity to solutions)
- User Interface basics, how to put together an interface, and how to create a design library
Lead by:
Sarah Corti
Lecturers:
Alberto Andreetto
Sarah Corti
Enrico Tedoldi
- Understand the definition and scope of data within design contexts
- Organize and structure data for use in design projects
- Identify appropriate visual models for representing data
- Use visualizations to explore and answer research questions
- Collect data from diverse sources and platforms
- Develop protocol documentation for data-driven design projects
Lead by:
Ginevra Terenghi
Lecturers:
Antonella Autuori
Ginevra Terenghi
- Foundational knowledge of programming concepts and coding principles applicable across various fields and applications
- Fundamentals of web languages (HTML, CSS) with a primary focus on plain JavaScript
- Skills to create interactive web interfaces with multimedia content
- How to use industry-standard development tools like Visual Studio Code and GitHub
Lead by:
Marco Lurati
Lecturers:
Marco Lurati
Giovanni Profeta
- Applied knowledge in parametric 3D modeling using modern collaborative cloudbased Computer-Aided Design tools (Autodesk Fusion 360)
- How to prepare 2D and 3D files for digital manufacturing with common machines available in any Fablab or Maker space, like laser-cutting and 3D printing machines
- How to prototype with digital fabrication tools as interaction designers to early test and share ideas and concepts
Lead by:
Marco Lurati
Lecturers:
Marco Lurati
- Programming tiny computers with sensors and actuators
- Sensing the world and reacting to it
- Creating a project using Arduino boards
- Prototyping a physical interactive object or experience
Lead by:
Lorenzo Romagnoli
Lecturers:
Ubi De Feo
Marco Lurati
Lorenzo Romagnoli
- How to think and design for and with AI, beyond a simple tool
- The fundamentals of Large Language Models (LLMs) and the art of prompting
- Techniques for rapidly prototyping AI-powered experiences using both cloud APIs and private, local models
- Strategies for creating new user interactions that are generative, adaptive, and unique
Lead by:
Matteo Loglio
Lecturers:
Matteo Loglio
- Programming praxis, mainly for the web platform but not limited to it
- An efficient workflow
- Structuring a complete application
- Transposing data to other domains (for example visualization)
- Encoding and decoding information
- Programming for real-time environments with focus on graphics
Lead by:
Andreas Gysin
Lecturers:
Andreas Gysin
- Provide knowledge across a wide range of topics, from general concepts to specific skills in interaction design
- Offer diverse and expert perspectives on issues in interaction design
- Integrate both the relevant theoretical foundations and the practical applications
Lead by:
Massimo Botta
Lecturers:
Invited Speakers
Semester 2
8 modules
On-Campus
You will explore specific design areas – artifacts, environments, and services – through complex projects. You will tackle design challenges in multimodal products for people daily life, responsive spaces for meaningful interactions, and intelligent digital services to advance human experience, using cutting-edge technologies and innovative business strategies.
- Ideate an interactive product based on multimodal interfaces; in particular they will concentrate on combining voice recognition and tangibles interfaces
- Design and prototype a conversational agent and a voice user interface in a personalized experience based on novel paradigms of UI Design
- Communicate and showcase a functioning prototype and documentation to describe the context of use and interaction modalities
Lead by:
Serena Cangiano
Lecturers:
Enrico Bassi
Serena Cangiano
- Understanding the complexity of interactive installations, as well as acquiring a common foundation in prototyping through the combination of all the technical disciplines acquired in previous courses
- Ideate, design and prototype an interactive installation in a team setting, following a given project brief
- Use machine learning, HTML, CSS, JavaScript, SQL and Python as the main programming languages to prototype an interactive installation
Lead by:
Leonardo Angelucci
Lecturers:
Leonardo Angelucci
Marco De Mutiis
- Analyzing a competitive landscape
- Conducting design research with end-users
- Synthesizing end-user observations and information into insights
- Designing an intelligent, multi-touchpoint product/service experience that delights end-users and is sustainable from a business perspective
Lead by:
Giorgio Baresi
Lecturers:
Giorgio Baresi
Nicolò Calegari
Martina Granello
Loris Lento
Maria Paola Valicenti
- Work with layered and heterogeneous data within urban design contexts
- Identify patterns, correlations, and insights in multi-dimensional data sets
- Design interactive experiences that communicate complex information to diverse stakeholders
- Translate real-world research questions into data-driven design interventions
Lead by:
Antonella Autuori
Lecturers:
Antonella Autuori
Ginevra Terenghi
- Master key tools for designing and validating business models
- Develop skills to create effective marketing and communication strategies
- Understand the fundamentals of business planning for innovative projects
- Learn how to structure and present a compelling business case for the market
- Strengthen your strategic thinking to turn creative ideas into viable business opportunities
Lead by:
Leandro Bitetti
Lecturers:
Leandro Bitetti
Monica Mendini
- Refine and iterate a project on business and technological requirements
- Define and plan product development strategy
- Plan and quote design activities
- Assess the resources to scale and manufacture an interactive project
- Plan a strategy and a proposal to scale an idea into a funded project
Lead by:
Serena Cangiano
Lecturers:
Nicolò Calegari
Serena Cangiano
Invited Speakers
- Introduction to the professional world and understanding different profiles working on a project
- How to present oneself to the professional world
- How to craft a personal and functional portfolio for screening and interviews
Lead by:
Sara Palmiotti
Lecturers:
Denise Orifici
Sara Palmiotti
- Provide knowledge across a wide range of topics, from general concepts to specific skills in interaction design
- Offer diverse and expert perspectives on issues in interaction design
- Integrate both the relevant theoretical foundations and the practical applications
Lead by:
Massimo Botta
Lecturers:
Invited Speakers
Semester 3
5 modules
Remote
You'll gain professional experience through an internship or study abroad. Online courses will help you build key skills in personal branding and storytelling, teamwork and project management, communication and publishing for design. Following a dedicated design research path will help you identify the topic and challenge of your thesis project.
- Experience a professional environment through an internship
- Deepening a specific knowledge through academic mobility
- Managing workload, time, and deliverables independently
Lead by:
Massimo Botta
Lecturers:
Antonella Autuori
Ginevra Terenghi
- Effective management of projects using different approaches (e.g.: Agile, Scrum, Waterfall, etc.)
- Organizing tasks, resources, and timelines for optimal project execution
- Forecasting and estimating project effort, costs, people and resource allocation
- Handling challenges related to managing teams, clients, and project uncertainties
Lead by:
Elena Zordan
Lecturers:
Sarah Corti
Enrico Tedoldi
Elena Zordan
- Structure the outline of a text with key messages and topics
- Critically describe an interaction design project for different audiences
- Edit texts according to editorial guidelines and publishing formats
- Publish design outputs through open licenses and platforms
Lead by:
Serena Cangiano
Lecturers:
Antonella Autuori
Serena Cangiano
Ginevra Terenghi
- Learn how to present yourself in the job market as a designer
Lead by:
Denise Orifici
Lecturers:
Denise Orifici
Sara Palmiotti
- Identify the relevant industry or sector in which the thesis project will be situated
- Select a core topic within that industry
- Define a specific challenge to address
- Translate that challenge into a UX and UI challenge
Lead by:
Massimo Botta
Lecturers:
Massimo Botta
Serena Cangiano
Semester 4
1 modules
Remote
You'll work on an applied thesis project, using your research, technical, and design skills to create innovative solutions for various industrial sectors, potentially leading to entrepreneurial opportunities.
- Formulate a clear and actionable research plan grounded in relevant and appropriate methods
- Develop a complete project, from initial concept to final documentation and a working prototype
- Apply a human-centered design methodology to realise an individual, complex project over an extended period
- Work independently and manage tasks with autonomy
Lead by:
Massimo Botta
Lecturers:
Massimo Botta
Serena Cangiano