How to become an interaction designer

Is becoming an interaction designer right for me?

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

Overview
What do interaction designers do?

Still unsure if becoming an interaction designer is the right career path? to find out if this career is right for you. Perhaps you are well-suited to become an interaction designer or another similar career!

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How to become an Interaction Designer

Becoming an interaction designer involves a mix of education, technical skills, design experience, and an understanding of user-centered principles. Here are some common pathways to the career:

Bachelor's Degree
While not always compulsory, many interaction designers hold a bachelor's degree in a related field. Common majors include interactive media, human-computer interaction (HCI), UX / UI design, graphic design, industrial design, computer science, cognitive science, and psychology (especially for understanding human behavior).

A degree in any of these fields provides foundational knowledge in design principles, human-centered design, user research, and technical skills.

Master’s Degree (Optional)
For those looking to specialize further, a relevant master’s can provide more in-depth knowledge and research opportunities. A master's degree may be particularly useful for roles that require advanced expertise or working in highly specialized industries (e.g., AR / VR, healthcare).

Bootcamps and Online Courses
For those seeking a more affordable, more flexible, and/or faster route into the field, design bootcamps and online courses can provide hands-on learning and help build practical, job-ready skills and a strong portfolio. General Assembly (UX Design Immersive), Springboard (UX / UI Design), and CareerFoundry (Interaction Design and UX Design) are among the most popular bootcamps.

Many online platforms like Coursera, Udemy, LinkedIn Learning, and edX offer targeted courses in areas like interaction design, prototyping and wireframing, usability testing, human-computer interaction, and design thinking.

Regardless of the education path you choose…

Learn Core Skills

  • Design Tools – Master industry-standard tools such as Figma, Sketch, Adobe XD, or Axure for wireframing and prototyping.
  • User-Centered Design (UCD) – Learn about user research, personas, user flows, information architecture, and usability testing.
  • Prototyping and Interaction Design – Gain skills in creating interactive prototypes to demonstrate user flows and microinteractions.
  • Basic Front-End Knowledge – While not mandatory, understanding HTML, CSS, and JavaScript helps in communicating with developers.
  • Accessibility Standards – Understand web content accessibility guidelines (WCAG) to create inclusive designs.

Build a Strong Portfolio
Showcase projects that demonstrate your ability to design effective user interactions. Include wireframes, prototypes, user flows, and testing outcomes to highlight your process and problem-solving skills. Work on personal projects, redesign existing apps, or participate in design challenges (e.g., Behance, Dribbble, or Daily UI).

Gain Practical Experience
Secure internships or entry-level roles in design-focused companies. Take on freelance or volunteer projects to build experience and add to your portfolio. Participate in hackathons or design jams, where you can collaborate, design quickly, and gain feedback.

Develop a Deep Understanding of Users
Learn about user research methods like interviews, surveys, and usability testing. Practise creating personas and mapping user journeys to understand real-world problems and design solutions.

Stay Current with Design Trends and Tools
Follow industry blogs, resources, and influencers (e.g., Smashing Magazine, Nielsen Norman Group, or UX Collective). Explore emerging areas like AR / VR design, voice interfaces, and motion design.

Build Soft Skills
Develop communication skills to present your designs clearly to stakeholders and cross-functional teams. Learn to work effectively with developers, product managers, and UX / UI teams. Approach design challenges with creativity and critical thinking.

Network and Join Design Communities
Attend design conferences, meetups, or online events. (e.g., Interaction Design Association or Adobe Max). Join professional platforms like LinkedIn, Dribbble, or Behance to showcase your work and connect with other designers.

Apply for Jobs
Look for roles like Interaction Designer, UX Designer, UI Designer, or Product Designer, as titles often overlap. Tailor your resume and portfolio to highlight your skills in designing user-centered interactions.

Keep Improving
Interaction design is an evolving field. Continue to refine your skills, seek feedback, and experiment with new tools and technologies.

Certifications
There are several certifications targeted at interaction designers, and other related professionals, that can help validate skills and knowledge in the field. While these credentials are not always required to land a job, they can enhance your credibility, provide structured learning, and help you stay up-to-date with industry best practices:

  • Nielsen Norman Group (NNG) UX Certification – One of the most respected entities in the user experience field, NNG addresses topics such as interaction design, usability testing, user research, and more. The certification involves completing courses (either in-person or online) and passing exams. NNG is known for its focus on research-driven design practices.
  • Interaction Design Foundation (IDF) Certifications – IDF offers a range of affordable online courses and certifications in interaction design, UX design, usability testing, human-computer Interaction (HCI), and user research.
  • Google UX Design Professional Certificate – Offered through Coursera, this certification provides a comprehensive introduction to UX design, covering fundamental topics like user research, wireframing, prototyping, and interaction design.
  • Certified Usability Analyst (CUA) by Human Factors International (HFI) – This certification focuses on usability and user-centered design, with courses covering interaction design, usability testing, and user interface design.
  • Adobe Certified Expert (ACE) – If you work with Adobe tools like Adobe XD, Photoshop, or Illustrator, becoming an Adobe Certified Expert can be a good way to demonstrate your proficiency in the tools commonly used by interaction designers.
  • Coursera and Udacity UX and Interaction Design Courses – Both Coursera and Udacity offer a wide range of certifications in UX and interaction design from top universities and institutions. These can include specializations or nano degrees that teach interaction design, UX research, prototyping, and more.
  • UXQB Certified Professional for Usability and User Experience (CPUX) – The UXQB (International Usability and User Experience Qualification Board) offers the CPUX certification, which covers various UX topics including interaction design principles.

Professional Organizations
In addition to the certifying bodies referenced above in the Certifications section, the following organizations also support interaction designers, as well as the broader UX experience and human-computer-interaction community:

  • Interaction Design Association (IxDA) – IxDA is a member-supported organization dedicated to the discipline of interaction design. Since its launch in 2003, IxDA has grown into a network of more than 150,000 individuals with local groups around the globe, focusing on interaction design issues for the practitioner, no matter their level of experience.
  • User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA) International – This association supports people who research, design, and evaluate the user experience (UX) of products and services.
  • Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) SIGCHI – ACM’s Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction (SIGCHI) is a major organization for professionals in the HCI and interaction design fields. It is a hub for research, development, and practice related to the interaction between humans and computers.
  • Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES) – HFES focuses on human factors, usability, and ergonomics, which are key components of interaction design. This society is dedicated to improving the interaction between people and systems through research and application.
  • UX Design Institute – Credit-rated by Glasgow Caledonian University, the UX Design Institute offers professional qualifications and training for UX and interaction design practitioners. While it's an academic program, it also connects professionals to a network of design experts and offers resources to develop advanced skills.
  • Design Management Institute (DMI) – DMI is an international professional association that focuses on the intersection of design and business. It is beneficial for interaction designers who want to broaden their knowledge in design strategy, leadership, and management.
  • American Institute of Graphic Arts (AIGA) – AIGA is a professional association for design that includes interaction designers as part of its broader design community. It offers resources for visual and interaction designers to develop their craft and grow their careers.