[ID Discuss] Guidance for someone interested in your field

[id at ourbrisbane.com]

Quoting pnason at rcn.com:
> As people working in this field, what suggestions might you
> have for someone wanting to become an Interaction Designer? 
> Do I need to go back for a masters degree?  Is there anything
> else I can try?  

Patricia,

"It depends".  What specifically do you want to be designing?

Before just jumping in and 'making up' a portfolio, I'd suggest you choose a
focus and do what you are alluding to - get some solid grounding.  There are a
number of options here, and in my opinion you've already touched on the best two
in your coursework and so may wish to pursue them further:
HCI - great for more granular tasks such as designing software components of a
specified system.  This area traditionally focusses primarily on the cognitive
aspects of designing efficient software systems.  However, recently this avenue
of study has evolved to include other considerations; or
Human Factors - aimed at more holistic solutions - designing any type of system
to fit the person/s that will use or be part of the system.  Human Factors *is*
Interaction Design (by a diffferent name) if you go by the definitions of ID
I've come across to date. 

There are also other avenues.  If you are more interested in socio-tehcnical or
political systems, there's always the study of Activity Theory.  It all depends
on what you want to do.

I hope this helps.

Best regards,

Ash Donaldson
User Experience Designer