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Experience and Information Design, MS2025-11-17T09:23:12-05:00

Experience and Information Design, M.S.

Experience and Information Design, M.S.

Human-Centered Design for Digital Transformation and Emerging Technologies

Part and Full-Time Available

30-Credit Degree

The M.S. in Experience and Information Design (XiD) at the University of Miami prepares designers to tackle complex challenges in our rapidly evolving digital landscape. Through a comprehensive curriculum blending user research, data visualization, design thinking, and emerging technologies, students develop deep expertise in creating impactful, human-centered solutions. The program balances design psychology with technical implementation and analytical rigor, empowering graduates to lead in product design, research, and strategic innovation.

Faculty Backgrounds
Our faculty bring expertise from diverse fields, including communication, design, computer science, engineering, and business.

User Research & Solutions
Learn to conduct user research, analyze data, and design user-centered experiences.

Labs & Studios
Design and develop innovative user experiences using our state-of-the-art labs and studios

Why XiD at Miami?

Accelerated Expertise
Transform into a design leader in just 3 semesters through intensive, project-based learning that balances theory with hands-on application

Portfolio-Powered Career
Graduate with a comprehensive portfolio of real-world projects that demonstrate your mastery of user research, data visualization, and experience design to employers

Research-Industry Bridge
Learn from faculty who are actively advancing the field through academic research and industry practice while solving real design challenges for major organizations

Cross-Functional Fluency
Collaborate with cohort members from diverse backgrounds, developing the communication and leadership skills essential for senior roles

STEM Designated Program
International students gain extended OPT opportunities while all students benefit from rigorous training in data analysis, research methods, and technical implementation

Miami Innovation Hub
Study in a city where healthcare, fintech, and emerging tech companies are actively seeking design talent to drive their digital transformation

At-a-Glance

  • Focus: Design research methods integrated with creative practices in UX, information design, and data visualization

  • Degree: Master of Science (M.S.) – STEM designated

  • Credits: 30 credit hours
  • Timeline: 3 semesters (12-18 months)

  • Options: Portfolio or Thesis (Ph.D. preparation)

  • Specialization: UX Design, Data Visualization, HCI, Design Research

  • Approach: Interdisciplinary integration of design, research, and technology

  • Financial Support: Graduate Assistantships can provide financial support to students. Learn more.

Top Game School

Recognized by the Princeton Review as a Top Graduate School for Video Game Design in 2024.

Award-Winning

Past winner of BEA’s Emerging Media & Technology award, AWE’s XR Prize Challenge, and more.

Core Courses

Explore some of our innovative courses:

In this course students will be introduced to the design thinking process and will apply human-centered design techniques to the design of interactive systems. The course provides opportunities to apply these new ways of thinking and techniques through class exercises and a course project, where the students will develop innovative concepts and prototypes for an assigned topic.

The course provides a comprehensive overview of user experience research methods and how to incorporate them into the product development lifecycle. Students will learn about user-centered design and conduct a wide range of research methods, including ethnography, questionnaires, online studies, and usability testing. There will be considerable focus on practicing research skills and reporting findings from these activities.

This course takes a comprehensive look at human limitations and abilities and how they are key to interaction design and a great user experience. Students will learn about human behavior and how to apply UX gridlines to the design of digital interfaces. Students will also learn how to produce design deliverables for real world practice.

Visual Design for Interactive Media explores the visual design of product interactions, the impact of design on human behavior, and the aesthetics and style of visual communication. Students learn about visual perception of information, visualization methods, and industry best practices. Through in-class exercises and design projects, students develop their practical skills and apply visual concepts to bring ideas to life, encourage innovation, and communicate effectively with a specific audience. Students gain comprehensive insights into visual design and the skills to create visually stunning and compelling designs that inform and delight a target audience.

This course is a seminar designed to introduce interactive data visualization concepts in a web environment. Students will be introduced to code libraries which assist in this task, best practices for interactivity and data visualization. The course will also briefly cover working with data (i.e., how to find sources, cleaning and preparing data for visualizations, etc.).

Academic Program & Graduate Success

Core Knowledge Areas

The M.S. in XiD curriculum develops expertise across interconnected domains:

Design Thinking & Strategy
User Experience Research
Information Architecture
Human-Computer Interaction

Data Visualization
Interaction Design
Visual Communication
Emerging Technologies

Graduate Capabilities

Our graduates drive innovation in organizations by combining rigorous research methods with creative problem-solving, ensuring that human-centered design principles guide digital transformation initiatives. Upon completion, graduates demonstrate the ability to:

  • Lead user research initiatives using mixed-methods approaches to uncover actionable insights

  • Design strategic user experiences that balance user needs with business objectives

  • Architect information systems that scale across platforms and user contexts

  • Create interactive prototypes that effectively communicate design concepts to stakeholders

  • Transform complex datasets into accessible, compelling visual stories

  • Facilitate design thinking workshops and cross-functional collaboration

  • Evaluate and implement emerging technologies for human-centered applications

Career Destinations

Graduates join leading organizations across sectors as:

Technology
Healthcare & MedTech
Financial Services
Media & Publishing

E-Commerce
Government
Consulting
Non-Profit

And find fulfilling roles including:

UX Designer
Product Designer
UX Researcher
Information Architect

Data Visualization Specialist
Design Strategist
Interaction Designer
User Experience Manager

Where are Interactive Media department graduates now?

Our graduates make waves at the top companies in the world.
Are you prepared to join them?

Research & Scholarship

Our faculty lead interdisciplinary research funded by NOAA, Knight Foundation, Wolfson Foundation, State of Florida, NSF, The Children’s Trust of Florida, and leading industry partners, advancing knowledge in AI/ML, immersive technologies, and human-centered design. Projects combine technical innovation with storytelling, data, and real-world application.

Dynamic Communication of Weather Risk: A User-Centered Design Approach

UM researchers are redesigning weather forecast graphics with NOAA and NCAR to improve public understanding of risk and uncertainty.

Barbara Millet
Associate Professor of Interactive Media

Alberto Cairo

Alberto Cairo

Professor of Interactive Media

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI): Two Experiments from Imposed Users’ Perspective

This study explores how “explanation by example” in Explainable AI can help users recognize algorithmic bias, especially among those with prior discrimination experiences.

Ching-Hua Chuan
Assistant Professor of Interactive Media

Faculty Spotlight

Lorena Lopez, Lecturer & M.F.A. Program Director, Interactive Media

Professor Lopez directs the MFA in Interactive Media program and specializes in interaction and immersive experience design, focusing on digital and physical interactions that transform educational spaces and museums. She holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University's School of Art and an MFA from the University of Miami's Interactive Media program.

Alberto Cairo, Professor, Knight Chair in Visual Journalism

Anna Queiroz, Associate Professor, Interactive Media

Dr. Queiroz leads groundbreaking Virtual Reality research in education and climate communication. She holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive Psychology and completed her postdoc at Stanford's Graduate School of Education.

Sanne Martens, Assistant Professor of Professional Practice, Interactive Media

Professor Martens combines her passion for understanding human behavior with design and technology to create innovative UX design solutions. She holds a Masters in Industrial Design Engineering from Delft University

Barbara Millet, Associate Professor & M.S. XiD Program Director, Interactive Media

Dr. Millet directs the MS in Experience and Information Design program and leads the University of Miami User Experience (UMUX) Lab, focusing on human-computer interaction and risk communication design. She holds a PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Miami.

Admission FAQs

Learn more about the M.S. process here. There are 4 steps in the application process:

  1. Sign up for an online account here
  2. Send official transcripts
  3. Upload letters of recommendation
  4. Upload your portfolio

The XiD (Experience and Information Design) Master’s program welcomes applicants with diverse backgrounds and experiences. While specific prerequisites may vary, ideal candidates typically possess a foundation in areas related to design, technology, communication, or related fields. This may include individuals with backgrounds in graphic design, visual arts, music engineering, advertising, UI/UX design, IT, software development, communication studies, cinematic arts, marketing, journalism, or other relevant disciplines. Additionally, candidates with experience in multidisciplinary fields, psychology, sociology, anthropology, or cognitive science, are encouraged to apply. The program values a range of perspectives and seeks individuals with a demonstrated interest in crafting user-centric digital experiences. Ultimately, applicants should showcase a passion for experience and information design, along with a readiness to engage in advanced coursework and hands-on projects in this dynamic field.

Learn more about the application process for International Students here.

As an applicant to the University of Miami M.S. in Experience and Information Design, you are encouraged to submit a digital portfolio to your Graduate Application Account. We look for individuals who are highly motivated and who demonstrate the ability to succeed in a highly competitive program. Students may choose to submit their GRE score if they don’t have a digital portfolio. Submitting a GRE instead of a digital portfolio will not affect their chances of acceptance. Students may also submit both their GRE and digital portfolio. Our institution code for the GRE is #5815, and the department code is #4599.

The digital portfolio you present will vary based on your own experiences, interests, education, and training. You may submit a broad-based portfolio containing examples of work from various media or a more focused portfolio. Applicants should submit 5-15 examples of your work. For work that you developed as a team, please indicate the role you played in the project. The portfolio should include work samples that showcase your creativity, as well as the skills and media you have learned. It should also highlight your ability to communicate ideas.

Click here to learn more about Funding Opportunities.

Click here to see all FAQs.

Graduate Program Contacts

For questions about admissions, application statuses, or financial aid please contact socgrad@miami.edu

For questions related to the Experience and Information Design, M.S. program please contact the Graduate Program Director, Dr. Barbara Millet at bmillet@miami.edu

Dates & Deadlines

Fall 2026 applications will open in Fall 2025.

The priority application deadline for Fall 2026 is Feb. 1, 2026.

The final application deadline for Fall 2026 is July 15, 2026.

Latest News

Get In Touch

For questions about admissions, application statuses, or financial aid please contact socgrad@miami.edu

For questions related to the Interactive Media, M.F.A. program please contact the Graduate Program Director, Dr. Barbara Millet at bmillet@miami.edu