Welcome
Our graduating students have created thoughtful and sometimes unexpected new interactions with digital technology.
You can preview social networks for reviving minority languages or celebrating modified Japanese cars;
iPhones knitted subtly into scarves to clarify conversation or held excitedly in ski gloves to relive the exhilaration;
mobiles transmitting lovers' heartbeats around the world or students' attitudes to alcohol across campus;
video cameras creating artificial life from the touch of a hand or holding a mirror up to our surveillance society.
Perhaps the overall theme is richer communication –whether between two people or across whole communities. This seems a worthwhile reason to design new interactions.
Ross' Profile
Our course is about connecting people with technology, through design.
We try to understand the everyday lives and culture of the people we are designing for. We master the art of building interactive prototypes that people can actually experience . And we believe that good ideas still need to be skilfully and sensitively crafted. A partnership between Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art & Design and the School of Computing underpins this depth and breadth.
Please note that from September 2010 we will be known as Digital Interaction Design, to reflect our future graduates' careers as interaction designers.
Zoom - by Ross Forrest
Zoom is an automotive photography and enthusiast network with a focus on connecting people who have a passion for modified Japanese cars. Using conventions similar to that of existing social networks, users upload and tag photographs of their cars, collaborating to create a gallery that features high quality images of tastefully modified cars and celebrates what many consider an art-form. The project challenges preconceptions of what a website is and explores a different way of navigating through a database of images - users can move from broad categories, for example, red cars right down to specific models in a particular colour with a certain set of modifications.
Ross' Profile
Contact Ross
Ross Forrest
07792491175
I arrived in Dundee having left school with a background mainly in computing, art & design and media studies. Interactive Media Design has given me the opportunity to expand on these existing skills, but has also allowed me to experiment with many forms of digital and social media, developing an approach to my work and design that has been described as “loose and free”. I have a keen interest in photography, and like to incorporate it into other pursuits such as snowboarding and car modification. My honours project reflects my fascination with the power of social media, as well as my passion for photography.
Pangram - by Katy Chung
Pangram is a social network for reviving and preserving minority languages by means of collaborative and participative efforts. By harnessing the openness of the internet, social networks and the proliferation of networked devices, the possibility of preventing further loss of language diversity is greater than ever. As spoken word comes before literacy; yet is often the most ignored element; the site aims to provide an intriguing audio based platform that encourages the less fluent to engage, learn and connect with native speakers. It hopes to bridge the gap brought about by dominating languages and prevent languages from vanishing entirely whilst adding to a growing archive of spoken word.
Katy's Profile
Four years ago, what I knew of interaction design was that it would give me the opportunity to do what I knew I enjoyed; to tinker and experiment with different technologies - this ranging from screen based work to physical interactions.
Four years later, little has changed except from an interest and belief in using technology to create something which both enables and includes. Seeing the blunt changes in how people consume and create makes it an interesting time for us all.
Reality Bytes - by Jonnie Lewis
Reality Bytes is an independently produced video game intended for the casual gaming market, where the player must aid the survival of a computer virus after it escapes into reality. While it is an experimental combination of photography with 8 bit graphics and arcade style gameplay, it also represents an aspiring game developer’s venture into the world of video game production. User testing helped provide an insight into playability issues, while online communities supported the game’s development throughout its production to ensure that it was optimised for the web platform that it is designed for.
Katy's Profile
Contact Jonnie
Jonnie Lewis
07841038779
Having had an interest in art, design and technology throughout my school life, I decided to apply for Interactive Media Design at Dundee. I have always had an interest in computer games from a young age and I saw my final year at university as an opportunity to truly immerse myself in what I love. Reality Bytes is my first venture into the world of video game development and I will be pursuing further independent video game development upon graduation. Since I am new to developing video games, I would be interested in working within any area of the process.
e.mu - by Kevin McKenna
e.mu is a pioneering new website aimed at expanding the way in which we interact with our music. Based upon the opinion that music can often convey our emotions, it was designed and developed to enhance this experience. Offering a user-friendly interface from which to organise & manage your music library, e.mu also functions as an innovative thinking tool, which can generate playlists according to mood.
Question your feelings; put yourself in a scenario, or simply rekindle your love for music, e.mu can accommodate all your musical needs through an emotional connection.
Kevin's Profile
Contact Kevin
Kevin McKenna
07849938026
The technological advancements of digital media have always fascinated me for as long as I can remember. So when presented with the opportunity to study Interaction Design at University of Dundee, I thought it would be a fantastic platform from which to harness my interests. Joining the course from a computing background, I felt I needed to immerse myself more within the creative culture in a hope to develop a new understanding of people & more importantly how to design for them. By the combination of these two key areas, I gained some of the knowledge I am excited to take forward into my future endeavours.
Half Empty / Half Full - by Michael Hellicar
Half Empty/Half Full is a design based research project with the intention of exploring the social interaction that can occur between a student community and alcohol. The underlying objective of this project was in its attempt to profoundly connect with members of a student community and to actively involve people throughout the design and research process. This connection was ultimately achieved through the development, distribution and analysis of a series of research methods. These methods were designed to obtain insightful information from participants and to take advantage of current means of social media communication.
Michael's Profile
Throughout the past four years at University I have developed an avid interest in collaborative and ethnographic research. This interest has evolved into a continuous desire, to expand my own understanding of the people, places and experiences that I have the opportunity to come into contact with.
I find that my greatest strengths lie in my ability to work as part of a multi-disciplinary team, with the skills needed to adapt, and take on a variety of project dependant roles. My work and study to date demonstrate my capacity to learn, and my ability to turn ideas into tangible outcomes.
Subtle Subtitles - by Calum Pringle
Subtle Subtitles clarifies conversation with people with dysarthric speech by presenting subtitles in our peripheral vision in an intuitively crafted wearable. Those familiar with the impediment understand the slurred speech however, as with other variances in expression, strangers struggle to 'tune in' to the conversation. Current solutions for this communication difficulty use synthesised speech to replace the person's own; Subtle Subtitles ensures that the wearer's own speech and eye contact continue to be of greatest importance, preserving the intimacy of the exchange whilst quietly providing a subtle hint of the context of the conversation.
Calum's Profile
My artistic interests lead me to study at Dundee University, where I identified that my highly transferable skills could have practical application. Since joining the course I have delved into computer arts and design, and developed my skill set tenfold. I have enjoyed experience in the industry, through internship(s) in interaction and graphic design, and am eager to begin my career. My passion for meaningful and thought provoking design that actually is of benefit to others is reflected in my final year project which exhibits my feelings towards the development of communication design.
SlopeScope - by Pablo de la Peña
SlopeScope is a conceptual service for snowboarders which allows passive recording from multiple angles on a slope. Riders can review, share and learn from footage both on the slope on mobile devices such as the iPhone or from the comfort of a web browser at home.
Imagine training for a race and being able to see exactly how you took a particular gate while waiting in line for the tow back to the top to try again or being able to take home a memento of your very first time on the slopes to share with your friends and family.
Pablo's Profile
An interest in computing, art and design brought me to study Interactive Media Design at Dundee. I was brought up in a family of artists and architects, which gives me a strong passion for design detail and aesthetics. However, from a young age I became interested in the computer, more precisely, how it can be used to craft stimulating and fluid user experiences. In my work I try to encourage natural experiences by disengaging the user from traditional human-computer scenarios (for example, by removing the keyboard and mouse) as is demonstrated by my final year project, SlopeScope.Alongside my interests as a designer I am fond of photography, snowboarding, travel and experimenting with technology.
Actibeat - by Paul Creegan
ACTiBEAT is an exploration of movement and sound within the context of performance. Using a variety of sensors, the user has the ability to create different sounds based on gesture and movement. This in turn allows them to combine both the audio and visual elements of stagecraft into their routine. The development of this technology could be used in various styles of performance and may also be used to add a new dimension to the art of choreography.
Paul's Profile
I am 27 years old and was born and raised in Dundee. I have been an active member of Dundee University’s Theatre Society for over 6 years now and have been President of the society for the last year. I am intrigued by the idea of combining new and different ways of producing theatre. In the past I have mashed up Theatre with film and for this project, wanted to explore the use of technology with dance. In the future, I want to extend my experience and skills working with video and film and hopefully produce a feature.
Flat Folded Bundle - by Andrew Falconer
According to the Clean Air Council, an additional five million tons of waste is generated during the holidays in the United States, four million tons of which is wrapping paper and shopping bags.
Flat folded bundle aims to promote a sustainable alternative to modern gifting methods which is also reusable and multi-purpose. Inspired by the art of Furoshiki, we are looking towards innovative and eco-friendly solutions to the wasteful behaviour that is often encouraged by wrapping a gift.
Andrew's Profile
My passion lies in taking existing concepts or ideas and meticulously crafting them into new forms that solve problems and relay information in new, creative ways. I like to think I excel when working in fast paced environments, which is something that attracted me to Interactive Media Design. I have a keen interest in vector graphics, though I struggle when faced with a blank canvas. Handcrafting and piecing things together has become a keen interest and focal point of any project I undertake. My time at Duncan of Jordanstone has given me the opportunity to study a broad subject range, spanning across interactive storytelling, service design, graphics and illustration work to video editing, desktop publishing and exhibition planning.
Pillow Talk - by Joanna Montgomery
Pillow Talk is a project aiming to connect long distance lovers. Each person has a pillow for their bed and a chest sensor which they wear to sleep at night.
The chest sensor wirelessly communicates with the other person's pillow; when one person goes to bed, their lover's pillow begins to glow softly to indicate their presence. Placing your head on the pillow allows you to hear the real-time heartbeat of your loved one.
The result is an intimate interaction between two lovers, regardless of the distance between them.
Joanna's Profile
How do I write about myself in 100 words? As an individual I like to question things, to experiment with technology and to physically create things. I’m fairly inquisitive, a big thinker and I’m pretty determined, but fortunately the combination of all of the above usually produces some good results. When I graduate I hope to be challenged somewhere where I can drink lots of tea and creatively explode on a daily basis. Well, looks like I didn’t need 100 words.
Steel Beast - by Simon Kusza
Steel Beast plunges the user into the role of a tank driver in the claustrophobic innards of a Sherman tank during World War II.
With extensive research and testing, Steel Beast aims to immerse the user with every aspect of driving a tank in a combat zone - from being issued orders by the tank commander via the radio, to feeling the tank rumble underneath them as they roll into battle. Extensive user testing was conducted to ensure that the experience was as ergonomic as possible, whilst still providing an authentic experience for the users to lose themselves in.
Simon's Profile
Contact Simon
Simon Kusza
07517238948
I have been interested in the field of computer arts and games from a young age. I chose to study Interactive Media Design because it combined these interests into one subject with links in the industry.
My final year project, Steel Beast, allowed me to combine my interests of programming, electronics, woodworking, and military history into one outcome.
I would like to take these interests and skills and pursue them as a career once I graduate.
Illuminite - by Robert Fitzpatrick
Illuminite is an educational installation that combines both physical and screen based content which allows the user to learn about our solar system. Using a model to depict the various planets, the user can then select each in turn to display a multimedia tour that takes them on a journey through the solar system.
Robert's Profile
Born in Glasgow, I studied multimedia computing at Langside College before moving to Dundee to study interactive design at Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art. As a student of interactive design I have an interest in creating educational and informative exhibits or devices. I feel that my future lies in helping to bring knowledge and understanding to those who may need it. Using the skills I have learned at university as a foundation, I would like too further expand my knowledge and use this as a starting off point for any future career.
Touch of Life - by Neil Dawson
John Conway's “Game of Life”, rich in metaphor, demonstrates how complex and extraordinary behaviour can emerge from the simplest of rules. Typically a mouse or other pointing device is used to exert fine control over the program, creating a surprising disconnection between the user and a simulation with so much meaning.
"Touch of Life" creates a compelling relationship between the two, where the user must literally kick-start the program with their own energy by placing their hand into the exhibit.
Neil's Profile
With a background in computing, graphic communication and art, I love to go beyond the screen and see a project brought into the physical world, apply my design skills in new areas, tinker, debate and perfect. Above all I value thoughtfulness and simplicity.
My work this year has reflected my interest in video games, specifically exploring their evolution as a medium for art
Caught You - by Jen Strachan
Caught You is an interactive installation which allows its users to physically engage with, and question the notion of, our Surveillance Society. CCTV has become a large part of the modern world we live in today. It has been said that the average Briton can be captured up to 300 times a day by any of the 4.2 million surveillance cameras found throughout the country.
Caught You uses an interactive CCTV mirror to place the user at the center of this intrusive experience, helping to bring the issue to light, and open up the topic for questioning.
Jen's Profile
While at high school I was interested in subjects such as art and design and Graphics, I took these interests with me when I began my studies of Interactive Media Design. Four years later I still have a keen interest in all these areas, but now also enjoy working with photography and imagery, two things while played a key role in my degree project. I am keen to take all the skills I have learnt over the past fours years forward with me and creative and enjoyable and bright future for myself.