The Fundamentals of Interactive Design

Michael Salmond is a digital interaction designer, artist and digital theorist and currently teaches interaction and digital design at Florida Gulf Coast University, Florida, USA. Gavin Ambrose is a practising graphic designer whose client base includes the art sector, galleries, publishers and advertising agencies. He has written and designed several books on graphic design, branding and packaging.

Chapter 1: Interactive Design as a discipline
What is interactive design? What does an interactive designer do?
Interview: Darrell Wilkins, creative director
The design document
Using new technology
Case study: Kaiser Chiefs' website
Project: Create concepts and storyboards
Chapter 2: Ideas, prototypes and experiences
Where do ideas come from?
Influences and the creative process
The medium informs the design
Emotional attachment to the product
Designing experiences
Interview: Lydia Swangren, UX designer
Case study: Multi-platform delivery
Project: Engage through interactivity
Chapter 3: The industry process
The pitch
Interview: David Burrows, design consultant
Art direction and aesthetic
Case study: WrestleMania viral campaign
Project: Create a campaign pitch
Chapter 4: Audience, usability and testing
Design for the audience
Usability in design: rules and principles
Usability and content
Usability and visual communication
Usability testing
Interview: Trevor May, mobile designer
Case study: Glastonbury app
Project: Create an interactive promotion
Chapter 5: Motion graphics and shareable media
Motion and interactivity
Augmented reality
Video and motion graphics
Interview: Krystal Schultheiss, motion graphics developer
The video production process
Viral videos
Social media
Interview: Steve Smith, senior developer
Case study: pq-eyewear website
Project: Create a campaign for a TV series
Chapter 6: Games
Computer games
Games as an interactive medium
Interview: Pete Everett, advergame designer
Case study: Coca-Cola Open the Games
Project: Create an advergame