Diploma in Interaction Design
The Diploma Programme
The mission of Orita Sinclair is to develop students into bold and imaginative professionals in the pursuit of their ambitions. The Diploma in Interaction Design aims to provide an all-rounded, interdisciplinary design education through excellence in teaching through creative and innovative design practices, and building students’ portfolios. The Design Department is committed to creating an open-minded and creative atmosphere to pursue research and discover collaborative practices that nurture students’ potential through active engagement and participation in the small class size setting. Our graduates understand where knowledge comes from and how to integrate them to influence the art and design and communication. At the end of the course, graduates will be ready to take on a wide range of roles in the creative industry—digital design, user experience design, data visualisation, and motion graphics. Extremely good. Must not be missed!
The Learning Experience
A 12-Month full-time diploma programme that covers hard and soft skills through small-class-size lectures and practical workshops taught by industry practitioners who have their ears to the design ground, and hearts eager to impart. The average teacher to student ratio for the course is 1:10.
The Final Outcome
A dynamic and creative designer who is inquisitive, multi-talented and highly trained. You will find yourself in-demand and able to meet any challenge in a new and evolving industry.
Course Details
| July 2022 Intake | Fees | Application Close Date |
|---|---|---|
| Full-Time 12 Months Coursework Part-Time 18 Months Coursework | Local Course Fees : S$16,135 Course Administration Fee : S$545 Total Course Fee Payable : S$16,680 International Course Fees : S$20,275 Course Administration Fee : S$905 Total Course Fee Payable : S$21,180 | Local : 20 Jun 2022 International : 16 May 2022 |
| All fees are inclusive of prevailing GST |
Modules
Design Fundamentals
Synopsis:
Design fundamentals looks into the essentials of compositing, arranging and manipulating images and space to communicate intangible ideas into effective visual narratives.
Objectives:
Students will learn the elements and principles of design, and the basics in colour theory to apply them effectively to integrate functionality and beauty. Thereafter, they will learn to apply mind mapping as an ideation technique.
Duration:
8 Weeks
24 Hours
Wireframing Basics
Synopsis:
Wireframing is a fundamental skill in UX to translate UI ideas and sketches into a form that can be validated based on real-world display requirements, whether on a big screen or a tiny screen.
Objectives:
Students will be taught the basics of wireframing and the use of layout grids, allowing them to create low fidelity, but detailed wireframes as well as basic interactive prototypes from their sketches.
Duration:
6 Weeks
18 Hours
Digital Interface Design
Synopsis:
Digital interfaces have become prevalent through web browsers, tablets, smart TVs, and smartphones. Therefore, their design is a crucial skill to help categorise the clutter of information into user-friendly digital spaces.
Objectives:
This module focuses on designing for responsive digital platforms. Its aim is for students to design webpages and mobile apps, learn and apply basic digital authoring skills, and to provide a general understanding of programming and its functions.
Duration:
12 Weeks
36 Hours
Adobe Basics: Photoshop
Synopsis:
Adobe Photoshop is a raster graphics editing software that can manipulate images to aid in communicating visually.
Objectives:
Students will learn how to navigate the interface of the software to work with layers, selection tools, colour adjustments, et cetera, to manipulate and enhance images. Outcomes To meet the minimum requirements of this module, a student must be
Duration:
6 Weeks
18 Hours
User Experience Studio I
Synopsis:
Design thinking is a solution-based approach to challenging assumptions and identifying problems. It is an iterative process that seeks to understand the user so that alternative and relevant strategies and solutions can be devised. One of its aspects, research, strives to obtain insights on how consumers/users react to the products/services they use or the environment in which they live in.
Objectives:
This module focuses on equipping students with the introduction of design thinking principles, especially on research. Students will learn to identify touchpoints in a user/customer journey, and the heuristics for evaluating usability to measure a user’s experience. This module will also look into the implementation and analysis of qualitative and quantitative research.
Duration:
6 Weeks
18 Hours
Typography I
Synopsis:
Typography is the visual component of text, and focuses on the basic understanding of typeface characteristics and pairing. At its core, typography performs a utilitarian function that is separate from its aesthetic role.
Objectives:
Students will learn to identify the characteristics of typefaces and their uses, and to select typefaces in supporting the message and design. Students will learn the technical aspects of typesetting, and develop an eye for choosing typefaces that are best suited for the project.
Duration:
4 Weeks
12 Hours
Data Visualisation
Synopsis:
Using patterns, trends and correlations that might go undetected in text-based data, data visualisation helps people understand the significance of data by placing it in a visual context.
Objectives:
Students will gain the understanding to use statistical analysis to organise and turn raw data into information for different sets of audiences, gathering and finding data, defining and manipulating datasets, and using cartography (map-making), statistical analysis and visual design skills to transform information into compelling narratives and information graphics.
Duration:
8 Weeks
24 Hours
User Experience Studio II
Synopsis:
Design thinking is a solution-based approach to challenging assumptions and identifying problems. It is an iterative process that seeks to understand the user so that alternative and relevant strategies and solutions can be devised. One of its aspects, ideation, strives to identify important and relevant problems that people face realistically.
Objectives:
This module focuses on equipping students with the introduction of design thinking principles, especially on ideation and prototyping. relevant problems to solve, and brainstorming multiple possible solutions.
Duration:
6 Weeks
18 Hours
Storytelling and Narrative
Synopsis:
Storytelling and narrative is the skill to make complex ideas easy to understand through storyboards and narrative descriptions. Storyboards come in the forms of sketches and digital/photographic still images, and could be used for videos, service design and process mapping.
Objectives:
Students will learn to create storyboards through sketches and captions with consideration of character development, setting, and goals.
Duration:
6 Weeks
18 Hours
Adobe Basics: Illustrator
Synopsis:
Adobe Illustrator is a vector graphics editing software that can draw and manipulate vector images to create illustrations, logos and typefaces.
Objectives:
Students will learn how to navigate the interface of the software to work with shapes, colours and lines, pen tool, typography treatment, pattern-making, et cetera, to create vector compositions.
Duration:
6 Weeks
18 Hours
Adobe Basics: After Effects
Synopsis:
Adobe After Effects is a digital and motion visual effects compositing application used in post-production process of film, web video creation, and video games.
Objectives:
Students will learn how to navigate the interface of the software to perform techniques such as keying, tracking, compositing, and animating.
Duration:
6 Weeks
18 Hours
History of Digital Media Design
Synopsis:
The advent of digital media offers designers unprecedented access to a broad array of new tools and media which are often technology-driven. Understanding the evolution of these technologies from inception will afford designers insights into ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ technologies become interwoven with design in their represent form and open up possibilities for the future and now.
Objectives:
Through the appreciation of how digital media came to be in its present forms, explore alternatives to existing design solutions and anticipate new design problems.
Duration:
10 Weeks
30 Hours
User Experience Studio III
Synopsis:
A good user experience has become increasingly important in a human-centred society. User experience design requires a design thinking process that acquires and integrates a service or product with aspects of branding, design, usability and function.
Objectives:
Students will conduct relevant user research and apply the analysed findings with the design thinking approach, learnt from preceding user experience studios I and II, to devise strategies and execute solutions with consideration of user testing in problem-based scenarios.
Duration:
12 Weeks
36 Hours
Coding
Synopsis:
Coding creates instructions and actions for computers using programming languages as seen applied in websites, apps, and other digital technology people interact with. Creating a functional product prototype not only allows the designer to communicate design solutions to stakeholders as close to the actual product as possible, but also to conduct more accurate user testing.
Objectives:
In this module, students will learn to create prototypes using computer languages HTML and CSS (cascading style sheets) to simulate functional designs.
Duration:
10 Weeks
30 Hours
Physical Computing
Synopsis:
Design applications with physical, real-world components are becoming increasingly common. This can pose unique challenges to designers who are only acquainted with the software aspect of interaction design.
Objectives:
In this module, students will harness the power of physical components such as LEDs, sensors, and other actuators by means of the Raspberry Pi computer, and complement the hardware setup by integrating it with digital dashboards and visualizations. Students are to apply concepts in interaction and design to build a prototype of a Smart Home or Smart City device with internet-connected features.
Duration:
8 Weeks
24 Hours
Professional Design Practice
Synopsis:
Professional practice here refers to the conduct and work process, such as interview preparation, portfolio building, and work ethics and practices of the design communication and interaction design industries.
Objectives:
Students will be guided on the considerations required to package their individual portfolio based on their strengths, works and/or direction, and gain an insight on the processes and practices in design, and understand the importance of networking, and client management.
Duration:
10 Weeks
30 Hours
Final Major Project
Synopsis:
This module introduces students to problem solving using a structured process to tackle a project commissioned by a hypothetical client. Generally, the following steps may be applied: • Defining the problem • Generating ideas and solutions • Evaluating solutions • Implementing and following up on selected solution • Presentation
Objectives:
Students will be assessed on the culmination of their skills and knowledge learnt in the programme. Students are required to work through the entire design thinking process, from Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype and Test, starting with a design ethnography of a UX problem, culminating in a design solution for the researched problem.
Duration:
12 Weeks
72 Hours
Entry Requirements
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Career Opportunities
| Data Visualiser | Digital Media Designer | Information Designer | Interaction Designer | App/Mobile Designer |
| Storyboard Artist | Web Designer | UI Designer | UX Designer | |
Orita Sinclair is proud of its graduates who go on to become highly successful professionals and practitioners.
Testimonials
Adam Ng,
Graduated from School of Design
Nguyen Thu Huyen,
Graduated from School of Design
Teaching Faculty
Meet our passionate educators who are all industry practitioners. They are seasoned designers and trend-setters in the creative field.
Boon Lim
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
MA in 2D and 3D Visualisation,
Lougborough University
Boon has a decade of working experience in printing, promotions, and advertising, working with brands such as Skippy, Lipton, Martell, Chivas, and Alfa Romeo, and government statutory boards such as BCA and NEA, before moving on to tertiary education.
Kevin Tan
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
BA (Hons) Graphic Communication,
Goldsmiths' University
A multidsiplinary designer who is active in ser Experience Design and Web Development for the past 5 years. Kevin always has been fond of designing and developing digital ideas, products or solutions that are modular and have strong emphasis on clean, playful and usable design
Chua Yeeling
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
Diploma in Interactive Media Design,
Temasek Polytechnic
Yeeling's professional creer kickstarted 7 years ago in Advertising before trasitioning to Experience/Interaction Design. For the most part, she embarking on this little journey called "Freelancing" and became an independet Designer. Since then, se has been working with various agencies/companies/start-ups/SMEs, while also experiencing in-house/remote working arrengements and all that in-between.
Jade Pang
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
Diploma in Visual Communication, Commercial and Advertising Art,
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
With 7 years experience in visual digital design, Jade specializes in user experience design with a keenes to articulate the message and strategy behind visual execution through research, analytics, journey mapping and qualitative studies. Jade was part of the digital experience teams of SingTel, HungryGoWhere, SingPost, and Standard Chartered Bank and was involved in kick-starting digital transformation projects. She also won Best Local App and Top Rated App for HungryGoWhere, and World Post & Parcel Award for user experience and interface design of the SingPost SAM kiosk.
Lim Cheng Chong
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
BA (Hons) in Computing (Computer Science),
National University of Singapore
Cheng Chong is an online and offline technology teacher. Finding his passion for computing at a young age, he wrote his first line of code at the age of 10. Throughout the years, he has gained a wealth of experience in learning technology efficiently, having acted as a peer trainer in secondary school and at his alma mater the National University of Singapore. In the present day, he is a highly rated adjunct lecturer at the diploma level in several institutions, and an ACTA-certified adult educator.
Jackson Chua
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
Advanced Diploma in Multimedia,
Raffles Design Institute
With over 13 years of experience in the video industry, Jackson has been working in his own studio on corporate videos and campaigns with clients such as Marina Bay Sands, Dassault Systemes and NTUC Enterprises. Bringin a storytelling perspective to his work, he is known for creating a nimble and flexible creative team that helps him to bring his visions to life.
Boon Lim
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
MA in 2D and 3D Visualisation,
Lougborough University
Kevin Tan
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
BA (Hons) Graphic Communication,
Goldsmiths' University
Chua Yeeling
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
Diploma in Interactive Media Design,
Temasek Polytechnic
Jade Pang
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
Diploma in Visual Communication, Commercial and Advertising Art,
Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts
Lim Cheng Chong
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
BA (Hons) in Computing (Computer Science),
National University of Singapore
Jackson Chua
Adjunct Lecturer,
Design Faculty
Advanced Diploma in Multimedia,
Raffles Design Institute
How to Apply
All prospective students are encouraged to contact our Recruitment Executive or authorised recruitment agents for a pre-course counseling session if they would like to enrol for a course with Orita Sinclair School of Design & Music. The purpose of this session is for us to address the needs of students as an individual, professional and as a student of our institute.
You might be interested in
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are a few steps to help you become a UI/UX designer in Singapore:
- Learn the fundamentals of UI/UX design.
- Practise prototyping using wireframing tools like Figma, Sketch, or Adobe XD.
- Create your projects to hone your design skills.
- Build a portfolio to showcase your work.
- Apply for jobs in UI/UX design.
You must have a strong understanding of interactive design to be a UI/UX designer. Although being a coding expert isn't necessary, you should be familiar with HTML and CSS and be able to make minor website changes.
Enroling in a Diploma in Interaction Design programme will better prepare you to work in UX design. This 12 – 18 month course will teach you the fundamentals of design, the basics of wireframing, and the importance of understanding the user experience as an aspiring UX designer.
