What is UI/UX?
Recently we've had a number of parents and students ask about UI/UX so if they're asking you might be too. UI/UX or User Interface / User Experience is the intersection of art, design, and technology that is behind each experience we have when we interact with technology. Every time we complete an online form, surf a website, order a product or service, we are using the product of UI/UX. UI/UX is also known as Human Centered Design.
Students interested in this field may approach it from the creative side and impact the color selection, site layout, user movement from screen to screen, psychological tone of the site, and so on. They bring the "human" to human centered design. The other side of this equation is the technology side, those who program the site to create the intended experience. These two components must work together to provide a successful experience, we've all used aesthetically beautiful sites that don't function well, and sites that do exactly what we want but are visually unappealing. UI/UX marries design and usability.
Studying UI/UX at the undergraduate level is somewhat new so you may have to search widely to find a program that suits you. Here are a few to consider, each varies in their curriculum and may focus on art, design or technology, so pay attention to the courses and degree (BFA, BS, BA) when doing your research:
DePaul User Experience Design
Northeastern Experience Design
Purdue UX Design
Parsons Communications Design
Syracuse Industrial and Interaction Design