Design experiences, both digital and physical, that help people connect, learn, and take action. With our BFA in Interaction Design (IxD), you'll develop skills in creative coding, UX/UI, motion, prototyping, AI, and design research, all while building a portfolio grounded in ethical design.
Bachelor of Fine Arts
Major, Minor
121
4 Years
Portland
PNCA graduate Nathan Galvan creates dynamic content as a Digital Design Specialist for the Portland Trail Blazers’ G League team.
After earning his BFA in 2023, Nathan Galvan applied his skills in storytelling, motion graphics, and interactive art to work as a Digital Design Specialist for the Portland Trail Blazers’ G League team. Inspired by his thesis and mentorship at PNCA, he creates dynamic web, email, and social media content with a fresh, experimental approach to branding.
Students develop skills in Figma, AI, and other design tools to create mobile apps, motion graphics, and interactive experiences. They use creativity and technology to craft visual communication with impact.
From web designers to art directors, our alumni across a variety of majors have built careers in human-centered design and have contributed to a wide range of graphic and interactive projects. Many work at top companies like Nike, Microsoft, Wieden+Kennedy, and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Senior Art Director shapes digital storytelling across NBC News platforms
Kara Haupt is the Senior Art Director at NBC News Digital, where she leads a team creating visual experiences. Before NBC News, she art directed for The New Yorker online and served as a Design Lead on the 2016 Hillary Clinton presidential campaign.
Design Director creates digital experiences for global brands and artists
Skylar Jessen is a Design Director in New York City, developing digital products and interactive experiences for clients from UNICEF to T-Pain. His work has been recognized by Fast Company and focuses on sustainable revenue for artists.
Our professors are art directors, designers, and UX/UI experts with real-world experience. Build connections with professors, visiting artists, and leaders across tech and design.
Kristin Rogers Brown is an award-winning creative director and designer with experience in studios, publishing, and in-house design. She teaches advanced design courses that help students build strong portfolios and professional skills. She has spearheaded initiatives like Design Week Portland and contributed to AIGA Portland’s Women Lead and Design for Good programs.
Salvador Orara, an educator and creative technologist, explores how emerging technologies shape everyday life and design practice. His work blends speculative design, sound art, and creative technology to imagine cultural transformations, while his teaching focuses on ideation, design thinking, and strategies that empower designers to drive innovation and meaningful change.
Adam Parry teaches design strategy, UX/UI, branding, and systems design with a people-centered approach. A design director at Instrument and founder of Friday Saturday, he brings more than 15 years of experience working with nonprofit and mission-driven organizations. Adam mentors students in creating thoughtful, research-based design experiences that connect creativity with social impact.
Take courses rooted in design, technology, and ethics. Build foundational skills in front-end development and prototyping. Experiment with interactive design through projects, internships, and mentorship.
Learn to design and develop your own apps and websites using tools such as HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and Figma. Build responsive, user-friendly experiences and turn your concepts into fully functional prototypes.
Push the boundaries of what’s possible with technology. Design your own advanced project using VR, immersive media, and emerging tools, and bring it to life as a polished, portfolio-ready experience you can showcase.
The BFA in Interaction Design requires 60 semester hours, which includes fourteen three-credit required courses in the major, four three-credit studio electives, and a six-credit thesis experience. This 60-credit major contributes to the 121 credits required for the BFA degree.
Our Interaction Design program is open to first-year, transfer, and international students. Learn more about PNCA’s undergraduate admissions process to get started.
Most students receive financial aid, including scholarships, federal work-study, and need-based grants and loans. Interaction Design students are also considered for full-tuition scholarships. PNCA is committed to a fair and equitable admissions process, and all BFA applicants are automatically considered for merit-based scholarships. Other scholarship opportunities are available, some with separate applications.
Willamette University