UIC’s Information and Interaction Design 1st Graduation Exhibition Opens with Great Success

-First Graduating Class of Information and Interaction Design Major (Techno-Art Division), founded in 2012

On October 9th, an exhibition was held by the first graduating class of Underwood International College’s (UIC) Information and Interaction Design (IID) Major. It was held at FIFTY FIFTY, an art gallery located in Garosu-gil, Sinsa-dong, and went on a run until October 13th.

Working on the theme “The Tip of the Iceberg,” twelve prospective graduates of the first class of IID showcased their unique talent and interests through a variety of projects at the exhibition. The event was organized with the hope that students realize their vast untapped potential, akin to the unseen enormous portion of an iceberg submerged under water.

Projects on display ranged from information and motion designs to new product and UX (User Experience) designs. Some of the UX design projects featured included ideas for a smart dining table for modern families lacking daily conversation, a Tamagotchi-themed anti-virus program for a more interactive PC maintenance, and a resting area on campus for students to relieve stress. Also on exhibit were visual exploration projects, such as magazine cover designs, and projects encouraging human interaction, such as a board game based on the theme of apology and reconciliation.

The opening ceremony was attended by faculty, students and other guests who congratulated the participants for coming up with meaningful projects. While this year’s exhibition was small in size, its success is expected to enjoin future participants to be more creative, and even encourage future exhibitions to be bigger and more ambitious.

IID Major seeks to develop effective information systems and explores new forms of interaction based on a principle of human-centered design in order to foster flexible and creative global leaders in tune with the trends of the society. It is one of the three majors under UIC’s Techno Art Division which focuses on future-oriented interdisciplinary approaches to technology, management, and design.

Underwood International College and Swinburne School of Design Sign Student Exchange Agreement

-Prospects for cooperation with Australia’s highly reputable Swinburne University of Technology 

On October 23rd, Underwood International College (UIC) signed a student exchange agreement with School of Design at Swinburne University of Technology in Australia. The ceremony took place in Yonsei International Campus in Songdo, led by the Dean of UIC, Hyungji Park, and the Dean of Swinburne School of Design, Scott Thompson-Whiteside.

Through the exchange agreement, the two institutions are expected to cooperate through knowledge-sharing projects and other collaborations. By also actively utilizing the Design Factory Global Network, of which both are members, students will have more opportunities and access to various industry-university projects.

Visitors from Swinburne University of Technology had a tour of the Design Factory Korea after the signing. They also met with the faculty members and students of UIC’s Techno-Art Division to discuss possibilities of future collaborative programs.

Swinburne University of Technology, known for its interdisciplinary curriculum spearheading education in design, culture, technology and management, was founded in 1908 and has seven campuses in Australia and Malaysia. According to the 2015 QS World University Rankings, Swinburne ranks between 51st and 100th for Art and Design as a reputable school in the field of design and innovation.

UIC Students Join 200 Students in International Product Development Project

Techno-Art Division students participate in Aalto University Product Development Project in Finland

Students from the Techno-Art Division of Underwood International College (UIC) are participating in the Aalto University Product Development Project (PDP), the biggest and most famous student-project course in Finland. On October 27th, 200 participants from 10 countries attended the kick-off ceremony for this year’s PDP held at the Aalto Design Factory in Finland. The opening events lasted for four days. UIC students were only participants from Korea and also the very first.

UIC students teamed up with students from other universities, faculty members of Aalto University, and staff from a sponsor company. They were given the task of coming up with a project to be sponsored by KONE, a leading elevator manufacturer in Finland. The team is given until May of next year to produce a prototype of a lightweight elevator capable of reducing energy consumption, and all project expenses are covered by KONE.

PDP is an interdisciplinary experimental co-creation platform hosted by Aalto Design Factory and is a one-year curriculum designed by Aalto University. It is an industry-university cooperative program which focuses on hands-on learning for students embracing diverse majors such as engineering, design, and management. Under this program, teams are formed and are given the task of finding practical solutions for specific issues proposed by private enterprises or non-profit organizations. It began in 1997 and approximately 2,000 students from various countries and universities since then have completed more than 200 projects proposed by multinational institutions including Philips, Ericsson, GE, Airbus, and UNICEF.