Course structure
In the first semester, you’ll immerse yourself in the world of design and develop an appreciation of its significance in both contemporary and historical contexts. You’ll learn not only to see design, but to consciously perceive and understand it.
At the same time, the focus is on your personal development: how can you organise yourself most effectively?
How do you take responsibility for shaping your own study programme? A particular highlight is your first project, in which you’ll put the fundamentals of user experience design (UXD) into practice. You’ll work as part of a team, gain your first experience of design processes and develop your own ideas. In this way, you’ll lay the foundations for your study programme and your creative future.
In semesters 2–4, the focus remains on practical work – the projects are at the heart of each semester and grow in complexity as you do.
In the second semester, you’ll develop your own approach as a designer in the Design Theory module and explore human-centred design in your project. A compulsory elective module gives you additional scope to focus on key areas of interest.
In the third semester, you’ll delve deeper into professional practice. In this semester project, you’ll develop UX solutions for the mobility of tomorrow. Two compulsory-elective modules offer you the opportunity to expand your knowledge in specific areas.
The fourth semester challenges you to design user experiences for hybrid, networked systems. Here, too, you’ll be supported by two compulsory-elective modules.
Throughout the programme, personalised coaching remains a valuable source of support to further drive your individual development.
In the fifth semester, you’ll leave the campus and spend six months gaining practical experience. Your compulsory work placement offers you the chance to apply your knowledge in a real-world working environment and gain valuable insights into the industry.
Whether at an advertising or multimedia agency, an IT service provider or a consultancy firm – you can undertake your placement at a variety of organisations. Larger corporations also offer exciting opportunities, for example in the fields of user research or UI/UX design within their design departments. Here, you’ll not only gain practical experience but also forge valuable contacts for your future.
Wow, you’re almost there! This semester, you’ll be developing a project on the topic of ‘UX in Space and the Environment’: this calls for creative concepts that combine digital experiences with spaces or the environment.
You’ll also choose two compulsory elective modules, which will give you the chance to explore new areas or deepen your knowledge.
Research project: Laying the foundations for your Bachelor's project
Before you start your Bachelor's project, you’ll have four weeks to explore a topic of your choice in depth. This research project forms the basis for your project.
You’ll be supported by two lecturers of your choice, who will draw on their specialist knowledge to guide you. This will enable you to explore your topic in depth and start your final project fully prepared.
Bachelor’s Project: The Final Sprint – Show what you’re made of!
Now comes the final major step in your study programme: your Bachelor’s project. Over twelve weeks, you’ll work – either alone or in a team – on a project based on the topic you’ve chosen yourself, which you’ve previously prepared for in the research project. Whether it’s a theoretical piece of work or a practical project, this is where you’ll put all your knowledge and skills to use.
You’re now a real expert – this is your chance to show what you’re capable of and create a strong addition to your portfolio for your future!
What you need to know before you start your degree
Do you want to make creative changes? Then apply for the UXD study programme. We hold an aptitude test once a year, where you can demonstrate your talents and your enthusiasm for analysis, design and creation in the digital world. The study programme always starts in the winter semester. Between 1 April and 1 July, you can register for our aptitude test so you can start your UXD study programme as early as the winter semester!
Your focus: theory brought to life through projects
From the very start, the study programme focuses on your projects. You’ll carry out one project in each semester from the first to the sixth. In these projects, you’ll analyse user situations and requirements, develop strategies and concepts for services, digital products and systems, and create step-by-step prototypes which you’ll test with others. You’ll develop interaction concepts and interfaces and present your findings. Your coaches will support you throughout this process. At the same time, we place great importance on you learning quickly how to develop your skills independently in the future. From the second semester onwards, you’ll expand your skills portfolio with optional modules offered as opportunities in addition to the projects.
Your next step towards your dream job
In the fifth semester, it’s time to get out there and start your career! You’ll undertake an exciting six-month work placement in the media industry. For example, you might design the user experience for the automotive sector, in the medical field, for immersive exhibitions, for a chemical company, for broadcasting, or for clients of design agencies or software studios. You can apply the experience you gain there directly to your project in the sixth semester.
Your Bachelor’s thesis – a project close to your heart
In the seventh semester, you’ll work on your Bachelor’s thesis, which consists either of a research paper and a project or a theoretical paper. You can choose the topic based on your interests. If you wish, you’ll have the opportunity to use the university’s start-up funding to turn your project into a start-up.
You design – and continue to develop
When you design products or services, you grow with every challenge. Through the users, you gain new perspectives, test your abilities and gain new experiences with every task. It’s not just about the final result, but also about the journey to get there. You learn from your mistakes, reflect on your own work and ask yourself: Who am I as a designer? What can I do better? Through dialogue with others, you learn to express your thoughts clearly and persuasively. At the same time, you practise responding respectfully to other opinions – an important skill known as the ability to engage in discourse. During the design process, you’ll encounter obstacles, make decisions, receive feedback and keep taking new steps, which helps you develop further. This fosters your resilience – the ability to grow through challenges and not give up. Critical thinking and personal responsibility are skills that make you strong! They enable you to tackle and overcome challenges with confidence, both at work and in everyday life.