IXD

IXD, or interaction design, is a discipline focused on shaping the interactive aspects of products and systems. It concerns how people engage with digital interfaces and physical devices, including how controls respond, how information is presented, and how feedback guides subsequent actions. The aim is to create usable, useful, and enjoyable interactions across contexts such as websites, mobile apps, IoT devices, wearables, and ambient interfaces.

Practitioners work across the design process: researching users and tasks; defining interaction models and information architectures; designing interface semantics; prototyping interactions; and evaluating usability and accessibility. Methods include user research, task analysis, wireframing, low- and high-fidelity prototyping, heuristic evaluations, and usability testing. Accessibility and inclusive design are central considerations, as are performance, error handling, and clear feedback.

IXD complements other design disciplines; it is a core aspect of UX design but emphasizes the dynamics of interaction rather than broader experience or content alone. In practice, IXD intersects with UI design, HCI, product design, and service design, and often requires collaboration with developers, researchers, and content strategists.

Historical note: the field emerged from human–computer interaction and interface design in the late 20th century, evolving with graphical user interfaces, mobile devices, and smart technologies. Current trends include multimodal and conversational interfaces, haptic feedback, and AI-assisted interactions across devices.

Educational paths include degrees in interaction design, HCI, or related fields, and professional roles include interaction designer, product designer, UX designer with emphasis on interaction, and service designer.