Interaction design has become a well-established and respected field with a bright future which the soon-to-enter-the-workforce youth should take note of for a fulfilling career ahead
As technology increasingly becomes a part of every aspect of human life, it calls for designing ways in which we interact with it, that is to say it calls for ‘Interaction Design’. Everyday tasks—right from setting the alarm, making the perfect cup of morning coffee, monitoring heart rate to doing one’s taxes, planning meals, controlling lights and centre-locking the house – are all being enabled by technology. Moreover, not just at the tap of a button but increasingly through simple voice commands. Technology today is about being simple, minimal and intuitive while performing evermore complex tasks. Therefore, aligning with the growing demand Interaction design as a field has gained the scale and the traction it has whilst continuing to expand.
Having emerged in the late 1980’s and early 90’s, Interaction Design now is well-established and a sought-after career path for many aspiring young adults. Since it is a multidisciplinary field that brings together insights from psychology, human-computer interaction, graphic design, computer science etc, it has seen many with experience also transition into the space for the path-breaking opportunities it presents. Here is a list of some job titles that someone practicing interaction design could have based on their area of expertise:
Interaction Designer: This role involves designing the overall interaction between a user and a digital product or service. Interaction designers consider how users will navigate a product, how they will interact with different features, and how the product will respond to user actions. More than ever, now interaction designers are focusing not just on screen based devices but the IoT or the Internet of Things as more and more homes begin to get automated.
User Experience (UX) Designer: This role involves building digital products and services with a focus on creating a positive user experience. UX designers conduct research, create wireframes and prototypes. They often work alongside developers to translate their designs into the actual product. The tech-savvy interaction designers are steering towards designing immersive user-experience in virtual and augmented reality.
User Interface (UI) Designer: UI designers focus on the visual aspects of digital products and services. They are responsible for creating the look and feel of a product or service, including layout, typography, and colour. In some organisations they might also go by the fairly traditional title of the Visual Designer wherein their role may focus more on creating visually appealing and brand-consistent designs.
(Digital) Product Designer: As the title conveys, a Digital Product Designer is responsible for designing and refining digital products such as software applications, mobile apps and web platforms.
Service Designer: Service designers focus on designing a seamless end-to-end experience of a service. They consider all touchpoints between a user and a service, including digital and physical interactions.
User Researcher: User researchers gather data and insights about users to inform the design of digital products and services. They may conduct surveys, interviews and usability testing to gain a better understanding of user needs and behaviours.
Information Architect: Information architects are responsible for organising information in a way that is easy for users to find and navigate. They create information hierarchies, navigation systems and search functionality.
Now while these titles might be familiar to many, as the field advances in keeping with the technology and the challenges that comes along, there have also emerged some new-age career opportunities along the breadths of Interaction design which focus on humanising technology, such as:
Voice User Interface (VUI) Design: VUI design is still relatively new compared to other sub-fields of interaction design. However, it is growing rapidly and becoming more established as more companies and organisations adopt voice-enabled technologies.
Digital Wellness Designer: Digital wellness designers are responsible for designing digital products and services that promote healthy and balanced use of technology. They may work to reduce screen time, encourage mindfulness and promote healthy habits.
Ethical Designer: Ethical designers are responsible for ensuring that digital products and services are designed with ethical considerations in mind. They may work to prevent harmful uses of technology and ensure that user data is protected and used responsibly.
The above might somewhat have a predecessor in the now relatively obsolete title of the HCI Specialist of the 1990s and 2000’s. However, these are not just neologisms but as the scale of operations grows for the field— as no industry remains untouched by technology, larger organisations can afford to pay professionals for these niche roles based on the specialist needs of the organisation. Finally, here is an allusion to position titles on the peripheries of interaction design that might tickle some brain: Human-Centered AI Designer, Digital Anthropologist and the ‘Humanising Technologist’.
These are just a few examples of the many career opportunities available in the field of interaction design. As technology continues to evolve, there will likely be many new and exciting opportunities in this field. Universities and educational institutions across the globe and within India now offer courses and degrees in interaction design, as there are also numerous professional organisations and communities dedicated to advancing the field. Interaction design as such has become a well-established and respected field with a bright future which the soon-to-enter-the-workforce youth should take note of for a fulfilling career ahead.
