INTERACTION DESIGN PROGRAMME

The Interaction Design Programme is a world-renowned and intensive educational experience that imparts the skills, mindset and knowledge to become a proficient interaction designer. Through a life-centred approach we foster creativity, critical thinking and innovation.

Bill Verplank, one of the pioneers of Interaction Design, giving a lecture at CIID in 2010. Photo by Mayo Nissen, IDP alumnus and visiting faculty.

WHEN

Next cohort:
April 2025 - March 2026
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Future cohorts will start in:
September 2025
January 2026

WHERE

Bergamo, Italy

APPLY BY

February 28th, 2025

START YOUR APPLICATION

We are accepting applications for the next cohort of the Interaction Design Programme. Imagine spending a year of your life in Italy with cross-disciplinary peers from all around the world. Taught by 40+ experts in design and technology, you will be completely immersed in a hands-on learning environment, working on projects that bridge urban life and the natural world.
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Scholarship Opportunities: The scholarship programme has been made possible through the generous support of the CIID Network who are dedicated to fostering the next generation of interaction designers.

Each scholarship offers unique selection criteria and financial support, covering between 25% and 75% of annual tuition fees. These grants are designed as non-repayable awards, with no strings attached regarding post-graduation work or residency requirements. The programme aims to support students in their educational journey and equip them with the skills to contribute meaningfully to creating a regenerative planet and society.

For the inaugural phase, CIID is excited to announce scholarship commitments for:
- Students of Costa Rican nationality
- Students holding EU country nationalities
- Italian nationals residing in Italy

Eligibility and Application Process: All scholarships are exclusively available to students accepted into the IDP cohort starting in April 2025. Applicants are not required to submit separate applications for scholarships. Instead, scholarship eligibility will be determined based on the official IDP application, which includes an essay, portfolio, CV, and letters of recommendation.

Full scholarship for one Italian applicant: A fantastic chance for creative Italian talent to thrive in a vibrant, multicultural environment thanks to Compagnia delle Opere di Bergamo.

Merit-based loans: Thanks to our partnership with Intesa Sanpaolo, all IDP participants can access loans of up to €50,000 for tuition and living expenses.

‍The IDP application process is the same for all so please follow the guidelines on the admissions page.

If you are interested in learning more about the IDP, we invite you to sign up for an individual info session.

Go here to learn more about out curriculum, locations, admissions and fees.

Book an info session

OVERVIEW

OUR APPROACH

Learning By Doing

We apply a hands-on and life-centred approach to interaction design. We believe in early, iterative, and rapid prototyping as an integral part of the entire design process.

Immersive Education

Each year, up to 24 people come together from all over the world together to participate in the Interaction Design Programme. An immersive curriculum covers tangible and screen-based interfaces, service design and strategic thinking. We place equal importance on teamwork, communication, and collaboration as much as technical and design skills.

A Global Perspective

We value life experience, open-mindedness, and different cultures. We push the boundaries of interaction design by hosting international visiting faculty who are highly regarded experts in their respective fields. The diverse backgrounds of the IDP participants provides an effective platform for peer-to-peer learning. So far we've had participants from 45 countries: Australia, Austria, Argentina, Brazil, Belgium, Canada, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Italy, India, Indonesia, Iran, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Jordan, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Mexico, Nepal. Norway, Poland, Portugal, Peru, Russia, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, UK, and the US.

Bridging Education and Industry

CIID provides a model of education that is relevant for people at different stages in their professional lives. Through collaborative Industry Partnerships, students are exposed to a broad range of topics and real-world contexts which enables them to embark on successful career paths beyond graduation. Our alumni have gone on to work all around the world as Interaction Designers, Experience Designers, Service Designers, Design Strategists, UX/UI Designers, Creative Technologists and Design Researchers.

Making an Impact

Students are taught to identify opportunities for innovative problem solving. They graduate with the ability to create meaningful, pragmatic, and socially relevant interventions that have a positive impact on people and the planet.

Hands-on, learning by doing

Prototyping in the lab

Jose Chavarría's Interface changes perspectives though design, technology and nature

YOUR EXPERIENCE

We offer a vibrant and unique life experience that combines creativity, collaboration and learning. IDP participants come from diverse backgrounds which fosters a rich, cross-disciplinary and multi-cultural studio environment. The collaborative nature of projects encourages people to work together, pooling their expertise to tackle a broad range of challenges.

Life at CIID is characterised by project-based learning. This, combined with access to cutting-edge tools, enables people to bring their ideas to life, whether it's designing installations, crafting physical prototypes, or coding interactive experiences. The dynamic learning environment simulates the rapidly evolving field of interaction design. Many people have won well-respected awards including Core 77, IXDA Awards, UX Awards, INDEX Design to Improve Life.

We host talks, exhibitions and events that expose participants to leading experts in the field and provide networking opportunities. We also encourage self-organised workshops for further skill-sharing outside of the planned curriculum. In the past there have been illustrator workshops, photography classes, yoga sessions and cooking demonstrations.

Beyond the educational aspect, CIID values personal growth and cultural enrichment. There will be ample opportunities to experience local culture, explore urban and rural environments, and be inspired by the rich heritage of art and food.

Our tight-knit community of IDP participants, faculty, and alumni, ensures that people form lasting friendships and professional connections that extend far beyond their time at CIID.

Collaboration between faculty and students

VJ and projections - self-organised skill-sharing

Video and communication skills are an important part of the experience.

"The IDP has opened up a breadth of new creative doors with the confidence to pursue any of them. Of course, the courses have given me a foundation in many bleeding-edge fields such as physical computing, behavior change, biomimicry, and immersive environments. But more importantly, the IDP fosters a community fearless to bring the design process to any topic under the sun."

NORRIS HUNG

Product Designer at Regrow
Previously – IDEO and Code for America
IDP 2020

CURRICULUM

The Interaction Design Programme takes place over a calendar year and is divided across: Foundations, Investigations, a Final Project, and a series of Industry Projects.

FOUNDATIONS

These skills-based courses are designed to provide participants with the fundamentals such as Life-Centred Research, Physical Computing and Machine Learning.

A prototype from the Intro to IxD foundation class

INVESTIGATIONS

An opportunity to pursue more in-depth design projects on context based briefs. Past classes have included AR/VR, Design for Behaviour and Impact, and Service Design.

Pamphlets for behavior and impact workshop.

Design for Behaviour & Impact materials

FINAL PROJECT

This self-driven project provides an opportunity to do individual work. Students undergo rigorous research, concept development, prototyping and documentation.

Jose Chavarria's Final Project Interface

INDUSTRY PROJECTS

These innovation workshops enable participants to collaborate with industry partners. Taking place towards the end of the IDP, these projects serve as a platform to apply core learnings.

Some of our many Industry Project partners

SEE CURRICULUM DETAILS

LOCATION

The Interaction Design Programme takes place in Bergamo, Italy.

Part of the Astino complex, our studio is an architecturally stunning, former monastery which has been renovated to a high standard and regularly hosts events around food, music and art. The surrounding land is full of life due to the local focus on regenerative agriculture.

Located in the alpine region of Lombardy approximately 40 km northeast of Milan, Bergamo’s intention is to become a sustainable city by incorporating technology and innovation. Through low impact, sustainable choices and with elevated energy standards, the aim is to create a multi-functional, integrated city with excellent infrastructure and public services. This provides a perfect context, ripe with possibilities, to use our life-centred approach to conceptualise and implement design solutions.

We have hosted successful Pop-Up school classes here and we are very much looking forward to embedding the Interaction Design Programme in this location where we can build upon the rich history of Italian design and craftsmanship.

The Astino Complex in Bergamo, Italy

Soldering stations in the digital fabrication lab

Inside the CIID studio at the former monastery

View of the renovated building from outside

The atrium provides a dramatic backdrop for hosting presentations, talks and events

The surroundings allow for direct contact with nature and regenerative initiatives

ADMISSIONS

CIID is focused on the broad potential of design and technology so we ensure that the Interaction Design Programme has a diverse cohort of up to 24 participants.You should be curious and creative, a team-player, enthusiastic about design, and have the desire to work in a cross-disciplinary environment. We’re looking for people who are prepared to jump into an experiential learning environment, willing to share their existing knowledge and to push the boundaries of current thinking.

Book an info session

Start your application

INTERACTION DESIGN PROGRAMME

IDP 2024/25 IS LIVE!

OVERVIEW

CURRICULUM

LOCATION

ADMISSIONS

ALUMNI

FAQs