Interdisciplinary Certificate in Immersive Experience Design

Interdisciplinary Certificate in Immersive Experience Design 

Eligible Students: Undergraduate University of Illinois Students
Semesters of Course Offerings: Spring, Fall 
Program length: 10 credits
Format: In-Person or Hybrid

Certificate Overview

The Interdisciplinary Certificate in Immersive Experience Design presents an exciting and inclusive opportunity for undergraduate students to delve into the world of immersive design. This enriching program empowers creative students to shape the future of immersive experiences by tapping into the power of human-centered design. Students will gain the skills to create captivating experiences that go beyond the ordinary, connecting deeply with audiences on an emotional level when designing everything from augmented and mixed reality to real environments.

Immersive experience design goes beyond just efficiency or ease of use. It's all about crafting moments that evoke emotions and leave a lasting impression. The goal is to engage users as active participants, creating meaningful memories that endure long after the experience ends.

From Pokémon Go to Disney World Parks, immersive experiences are becoming a part of our daily lives. In our increasingly immersive world, where advanced technology blends with timeless analog experiences, there is a growing demand for skilled professionals who can seamlessly integrate immersion with experience design. By joining this program, students will gain the knowledge and practical skills needed to create immersive experiences that captivate and inspire.

Key Learning Outcomes

  • Gain a foundational and practical understanding of design thinking and human-centered design
  • Understand the landscape and context of experience design and immersive experiences, both technology-driven and nontechnical
  • Demonstrate empathy with stakeholders to understand their needs
  • Define problems and opportunities within an immersive experience context
  • Apply inclusive ideation techniques to develop innovative solutions to problems within immersive experience design
  • Develop ethical prototypes of proposed solutions
  • Understand how to gather meaningful feedback, using it to iterate on solutions
  • Plan implementation of solutions, focusing on sustainability and evolution. 
  • Practice applying design skills and knowledge through collaborative projects

Required Courses

DTX 451

Introduction to Design Thinking
(3 credits) FALL ONLY

DTX 495

Introduction to Immersive Experiences
(2-credits) SPRING ONLY

DTX 495 

Design for Immersive Experiences
(2-credits) SPRING ONLY

DTX 499 

Innovation Lab (capstone)
(3 credits) FALL AND SPRING

Start here with the Certificate Initiation Form

Initiate Certificate

Complete the Certificate here

Complete Certificate

* For more information, contact Sidney Sprunger, SCD’s Learning Programs Coordinator, sidneys4@illinois.edu