Senior year in Drexel’s UXID program is the culmination of everything learned over the past three years. It’s a time to refine expertise, prepare for the job market, and, most importantly, complete and present the Senior Project at the Drexel Digital Media Showcase. This final year challenges students to apply their skills in a high-stakes, real-world setting, ensuring they graduate ready for careers in UX design.
Core Classes
Senior-year coursework focuses on specialization and professional preparation, with classes that guide students through their senior projects and advanced UX concepts:
- Digital Media Senior Project (DIGM490): The three-term senior project where students research, design, and develop a UX solution to present at the Drexel Digital Media Showcase. Create professional media assets for a team-based senior project in a simulated real-world production environment. This course integrates academic and practical knowledge, emphasizing digital media production, best practices, and effective presentation skills through collaboration and teamwork.
- Professional Practices in IDM (IDM401): This course provides a broad overview of the practices of all areas included in the fields related to interactive digital media, including organizational structure and roles, client communication and creative process, needs assessment, brief writing, brainstorming, concept development, pitches, pricing, proposals and presentations.
- Electives: Many students explore course electives to focus on building their skills in the area of UXID that they want to pursue after graduation. Some of these courses include Validating Product Ideas, SwiftUI, and Javascript Frameworks (Svelte, ReactJS). Students also take this time to explore electives that interest them. Pave your own path!
Skills You’ll Master
By senior year, UXID students fine-tune their skills, focusing on industry-level expertise:
- Project Management & UX Strategy
- Work through a full design cycle, from research to high-fidelity prototypes.
- Collaboration & Stakeholder Communication
- Present work to clients, faculty, and potential employers.
- Usability Testing & Iteration
- Conduct multiple rounds of user testing to refine the final senior project.
- Showcasing & Pitching Work
- Prepare for the Drexel Digital Media Showcase, a key event where senior projects are presented to industry professionals.
Preparing for the Drexel Digital Media Showcase
The Digital Media Showcase is the highlight of senior year, giving students the opportunity to present their senior projects to faculty, industry professionals, and peers. Preparation includes:
- Refining the Final Product: Ensuring designs are polished, user-tested, and ready for real-world application.
- Crafting a Strong Presentation: Communicating the problem, research process, and final design solution clearly and effectively.
- Building a Portfolio-Ready Case Study: Documenting the senior project for job applications and interviews.
- Networking & Job Hunting: The showcase often attracts recruiters, making it an excellent opportunity to make professional connections.
Tips for Success in Senior Year
- Stay organized. Senior projects require months of research, iteration, and refinement—plan accordingly.
- Seek feedback early and often. Use professors, peers, and industry mentors to improve your work.
- Practice presenting. Strong presentation skills make a huge impact during the showcase and job interviews.
- Apply for jobs early. Start networking and applying to UX roles before graduation to stay ahead.
Looking Ahead
With the senior project completed and graduation approaching, seniors enter the UX job market with a solid portfolio, professional experience, and industry connections. Whether heading into UX design, research, or strategy, the skills developed in the UXID program prepare students for the next step in their careers.