Potter College of Arts & Letters • Department of Art & Design
UX design is the art of crafting dynamic interactive experiences across products, devices, and platforms.
UX design is in the intersection of design and technology. This rapidly growing field is in high demand, and WKU is one of the first Universities to offer UX degrees!
While UX is most commonly associated with digital design, such as websites, apps, wearable tech, screens, or any interaction between a person and technology, the principles of UX can be applied to physical spaces as well.
In our modern tech-driven world, the significance of user experience (UX) cannot be emphasized enough. It encompasses the integration of human insights into the process of designing, researching, and creating solutions. UX delves into various disciplines including design, human-computer interaction, product design, user-centered design, and usability.
Each course helps students work towards become a professional, creative UX practitioner. Courses blend the creative, technical, and ethical considerations needed to be a professional in the industry. They ensure that graduates are well-rounded, adaptable, and prepared to contribute meaningfully to the UX industry.
Job titles in UX vary across organizations. Most careers typically fall into one of three categories:
While there's over 134 unique job titles related to UX (Nielsen Norman Group), typical job titles include:
UX professionals are in high-demand, and those who work in UX typically view their jobs as satisfying (Nielsen Norman Group).
The BFA in Visual Arts (514) is a professional arts degree, with concentrations in Animation, Graphic Design, Studio, and UX (User Experience).
Program Code: 514
The AB in Visual Studies (509), with concentrations in studio and art education, is a liberal arts degree with a broad program of study in the visual arts. Students can take UX courses to fulfill program requirements.
Program Code: 509
The User Experience Certificate is open to all those with an interest in UX Design and is a shorter version than the BFA major. This is a great academic add-on for those seeking a “stackable” credential.
Game Design is an interdisciplinary certificate including departments from PCAL and OCSE. It is open to all students with an interest in computer game design.
Extended Reality (XR) Research Lab
The XR Lab at Western Kentucky University is a student-based, interdisciplinary research team focusing on the implementation and education of extended reality systems.
Interface Design and Experience Analysis (IDEA) Lab
The IDEA Lab is a transdisciplinary, collaborative, student-focused lab that brings together campus, community, and corporate partners. The lab is dedicated to making technology and ideas more accessible.
Students are also welcome to apply to Imagewest. For off-campus internships and jobs, visit the following job boards:
The best way to learn about UX is to take the intro course! This course introduces user experience design theory—the practice of placing users and their needs as the focus of designing products, environments, web sites and/or applications. Students learn the five stages of "design thinking" as part of the UX process: empathize, define, ideate, prototype, and test.
Offered approximately every Fall and Spring
Prerequisites waived upon request, email the faculty teaching the particular section you would like to take.
PCAL Program Highlight: User Experience (UX)
04/17/2024 • PCAL
Western Kentucky University SunSketcher app collects eclipse data
04/10/2024 • WKNY
NASA looking for ‘citizen scientists’ to photograph solar eclipse to help map the sun
03/27/2024 • New York Post
WKU English Student Spotlight: Starr May
02/06/2024 • WKU News
‘From college town to knowledge town’: Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear visits WKU Innovation Campus
01/25/2024 • College Heights Herald
WKU graduate presents app to better museum design
9/24/2023 • Bowling Green Daily News
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