The Master’s in Interaction Design aims to shape technological innovations from a multidisciplinary perspective. With the goal of training students to creatively innovate and conduct research on new forms of interaction between people and technology, the program offers a two-year curriculum focused on intensive preparation for the future of the digital and creative industries.
The curriculum combines theoretical training and hands-on practice in the design and research of interactive technologies, based on three key pillars of interaction design:
Computational and Product Engineering: the technical and development aspects of interactive products are addressed.
Arts and Humanities: the creative and aesthetic dimensions of interaction design are explored.
Social Sciences: the psychological, social, and cultural aspects of the interaction between people and technology are studied.
Through this master’s program, students will be able to design both digital and physical interfaces for interactive products and experiences. Master the future of technology with the Master’s in Interaction Design.
You will be able to take on professional roles such as interaction designer, researcher, and UX/UI designer.
The Master’s in Interaction Design trains professionals and researchers with the ability to:
Position their practice within a solid contextual, theoretical, and methodological framework.
Use imagination as a key tool in the creative process.
Develop skills for research, conceptualization, development, and evaluation of new interactive systems.
Address real, contemporary, and future societal needs through design.
Additionally, graduates will acquire:
Critical and reflective thinking skills.
Abilities to work autonomously and collaboratively.
A strong commitment to environmental respect and professional ethics, essential values in artistic and creative disciplines.
The master’s program also prepares students to understand the workings of the technological innovation sector, both in the business and academic realms, and equips them with leadership skills in research and innovation processes.
The Master in Interaction Design is built upon an exceptional teaching body, whose combination of academic experience, leadership in research, and professional practice guarantees high-level training.
Our team is composed of PhD professors specialized in the main lines of research in the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), service design, and creative technology. All of them are active and recognized figures in international academic communities (such as CHI, DIS, and CHI Play).
Vision and Method
The Master’s faculty not only transmits knowledge but also acts as mentors. They provide a crucial dual perspective:
Cutting-Edge Research: They guide students through the most innovative methodologies, linking the program directly with the work developed at the Playful Living Lab. This allows students to participate in basic and applied research projects from the very beginning.
Professional Connection: The professors are closely linked to the design and technology industry, ensuring that the curriculum is aligned with the current and future demands of the job market.
This approach ensures that our students not only learn theory but also develop the practical skills and critical mindset necessary to become the interaction leaders of tomorrow.
Discover below the profiles and trajectories of the experts who will accompany you on this learning journey.
Adelina-Laura Bulibaşa: European Connection and Avant-garde in Interactive Media
Adelina-Laura Bulibaşa brings a unique international and transdisciplinary dimension to the master’s programme. Holding a PhD in New Media Arts, her career stands out for an intense research activity that has led her to undertake numerous international exchanges with some of the most advanced interactive design research groups in Europe.
This network of global contacts, together with her previous experience in interactive multimedia, allows her to bring into the classroom the most innovative methodologies currently being applied across the continent. Adelina-Laura leads core courses such as Interaction Design Fundamentals and the Design Studio, where her expert perspective helps students integrate theory and practice in a fluid and meaningful way.
Her profile is that of a globally connected scholar who masters both the artistic and technological dimensions of the field, making her an ideal mentor for students seeking a fresh, critical, and cosmopolitan vision of the discipline.
Dr. Ferran Altarriba Bertran is not only the Director of the Master’s in Interaction Design, but also an internationally recognized researcher in the field of Human–Computer Interaction (HCI).
Impact Profile on Google Scholar
- Total Citations: His work has received 1,102 citations.
- h-index: He has an h-index of 18, indicating a consolidated research trajectory with a consistent volume of high-impact publications.
- i10-index: He holds an i10-index of 35, meaning that 35 of his publications have been cited at least 10 times.
- Publications: He has authored a total of 81 publications, including 13 journal articles and 32 full papers in top-tier conferences.
Areas of Expertise and Leadership
His research focuses on the intersection of design, technology, and human experience:
- Specialization: He is an expert in playful technology, participatory innovation, design methods, and Human-Food Interaction.
- Playful Living Lab: He is the director of ERAM’s Playful Living Lab, where he coordinates an active group of researchers who publish annually in some of the most prestigious international venues.
- Prestigious Roles: He serves on the editorial board of the International Journal of Food Design and has been Associate Chair at major international conferences such as CHI and CHI PLAY. He has also reviewed more than 150 academic papers.
Funding and Recognition
His capacity to attract research funding and the recognition of his scientific contributions are remarkable:
- Major Research Projects: He has participated as a senior researcher in the “UNITE” project on forest–human interaction, funded with €3.2 million, and has been co–principal investigator in projects funded by Google Research.
- Accreditation and Awards: He is an AQU-accredited PhD researcher (Agency for the Quality of the University System of Catalonia), with recognized research periods since 2017. He has also received distinctions such as an Honorable Mention at the CHI Conference.
In summary, Ferran Altarriba brings to the master’s programme a cutting-edge perspective and a direct connection with world-class research, ensuring that the programme’s content remains aligned with the latest innovations in the field.
Master of Prototyping and Architect of Interactive Experiences.
If interaction design is the bridge between ideas and reality, Jordi Márquez is the one who ensures that this bridge is both robust and innovative. With more than 20 years of experience in the field, Jordi combines a solid international academic background — Master of Arts in Design from the University of Lincoln (UK) — with an enduring passion for creative technology.
An expert in the design of interactive applications and high-complexity prototypes, he is responsible for translating the most ambitious concepts into functional physical and digital systems. As a founding member and researcher of the Playful Living Lab, his current work focuses on using design to promote sustainable and joyful lifestyles, regularly publishing in some of the most prestigious international venues such as CHI and DIS.
Having Jordi as a mentor means learning from someone who truly masters the tools of the future, from UX Management to cutting-edge technical implementation, ensuring that your projects achieve the rigor and quality demanded by the global industry.
A Leading Figure in Data Visualization and Globally Impactful Interactive Installations
Having Joan Planas as a lecturer means gaining direct access to the cutting edge of data visualization. As co-owner and founder of Domestic Data Streamers, Joan leads one of the world’s most innovative studios dedicated to capturing and translating data through interactive installations. His career represents a perfect combination of academic rigor — with a Master’s degree in Cognitive Systems and Interactive Media from Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF) — and undeniable professional success.
His achievements include the prestigious Ciutat de Barcelona Award (2014) in the design category and two Laus Awards for interactive installations.
With more than 12 years of teaching experience, Joan brings into the classroom a deep understanding of the real professional sector, the same expertise that has led him to exhibit his work in leading venues such as the CCCB and DHUB in Barcelona, as well as in global cities such as London, Berlin, and Dubai.
As an expert in Creative Technology and Tangible Computing, Joan will teach you how to master technology to create visual and physical narratives that emotionally connect with audiences.
Laura Bisbe Armengol: Bridging the Classroom and the European Professional Avant-garde.
Laura Bisbe Armengol represents a direct connection between the classroom and the cutting edge of the European creative industry.
She currently works as an Experience Designer at Tellart (Amsterdam), specializing in the creation of interactive experiences and immersive environments that blend the physical and digital worlds. Her recent work includes large-scale projects such as the Philippines Pavilion for the Osaka World Expo, an example of the global impact of her professional practice.
Holding an MFA in Interaction Design from the Umeå Institute of Design (Sweden), Laura combines an elite academic background with professional experience in major European innovation hubs such as Stockholm (McKinsey & Company) and Paris (Meaningful Design).
Her presence in the master’s programme allows students to gain first-hand insight into the latest professional trends and methodologies, learning how immersive experiences are designed beyond traditional screens.
With Laura, you will not only learn about creative technology, but also how to lead innovation in high-level international professional environments.
Dr. Oscar Garcia Pañella: Creative Leadership and International Expert in Gamification.
Dr. Oscar Garcia Pañella is one of the most influential figures in the fields of Serious Games and Gamification, as demonstrated by his inclusion in the prestigious Forbes Top 100 Creatives list. Holding a PhD in Computer Science, his elite academic background includes postdoctoral work at the Entertainment Technology Center at Carnegie Mellon University (USA), a global benchmark in technology and entertainment.
With a unique ability to bridge advanced research and strategic consultancy, Oscar has collaborated with institutions such as Harvard Medical School in the publication of reference works including Serious Games for Health.
A TEDx speaker and director of the Serious Games Lab, students in the master’s programme will have the privilege of learning from someone who actively leads innovation in Game UX and Playful Design, bringing a high-level professional perspective that connects directly with the demands of the global digital industry.
Dr. Carlos Ruiz Brussain: Master of Creativity and the Exploration of the Unconscious.
With a distinguished career spanning more than 15 years, Dr. Carlos Ruiz Brussain is a key figure at the intersection of art, visual storytelling, and methodological innovation. He holds a PhD in Arts from the University of Northampton (UK) and has transformed the field of illustration through his creative framework “Hyperdream,” a unique methodology that uses play as a way to manifest the unconscious and foster practice-based artistic research.
His professional experience is both extensive and international. Active since 1998 as an art director, animator, and illustrator, he has published several reference books on drawing and character creation.
His strong teaching profile has led him to lecture at globally recognized institutions such as Nanyang Polytechnic in Singapore, consolidating a cosmopolitan vision that he now brings directly to our students.
In the master’s programme, Dr. Ruiz Brussain is responsible for the courses Creative Technology and Research Through Design, where he teaches how to use creative practice and prototyping not merely as outcomes, but as rigorous tools for discovering new and disruptive knowledge within the digital sector.
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Become part of a creative and multidisciplinary community that designs the future of technology and human interaction.
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Donada la profunda afinitat temàtica entre el Playful Living Lab i el Màster en Interaction Design, els estudiants del programa trobaran àmplies oportunitats per col·laborar amb el laboratori. Algunes s’integraran en el currículum, a través de cursos basats en projectes com el Design Research Lab o el Treball Final de Màster, on els estudiants treballen dins l’entorn físic i intel·lectual del laboratori. Altres oportunitats prendran forma més enllà dels cursos, ja que els estudiants s’uniran a projectes de recerca en curs i iniciatives comunitàries. El laboratori ofereix un context valuós per a aquells que aspiren a construir una carrera investigadora, desenvolupar habilitats acadèmiques i fer una transició perspicaç cap a estudis de Doctorat o altres camins orientats a la recerca.
The Playful Living Lab is a group of designers and researchers exploring playful technologies and experiences. We start from the belief that technology can support humans far beyond productivity: it can help us find joy in everyday life (individually and collectively) and foster ways of living that are stimulating, socially meaningful, and ecologically sound. Building on this premise, we use situated co-design to envision technological futures grounded where joy and care are entangled. Our aspiration is to nurture futures where the flourishing of individuals, communities, and the planet stands on the shoulders of joy.
Our research is published in leading venues in Human-Computer Interaction and Design Research, such as CHI, DIS, and CHI Play, and is also shared through artistic and industry events. The lab brings together designers at all stages of their careers (from senior researchers to undergraduate students, and everything in between) and has a strong educational mission: to mentor the next generation of interaction design researchers. All interested students in ERAM’s design programmes are invited to participate.
Given the deep thematic affinity between the Playful Living Lab and the Master in Interaction Design, students in the programme will find ample opportunities to engage with the lab. Some will be integrated into the curriculum – through project-based courses like the Design Research Lab or the Master’s Thesis, where students work within the lab’s physical and intellectual environment. Others will take shape beyond coursework, as students join ongoing research projects and community initiatives. The lab offers a valuable context for those aiming to build a research career, develop academic skills, and transition insightfully toward Ph.D. studies or other research-oriented paths.
