- Hasibullah Sahibzada
- Pavel Karpashevich
- Preetha Moorthy
- Mark Eisenberg
- Gabriela Moline León
- Tony Zöppig
- Youngmo Oh
Hasibullah Sahibzada (Afghanistan)
Human Computer Interaction always interested me. I first started CS&M at BUW, where HCI subjects are included. When the new HCI program started, I switched. During my masters, I worked on various interdisciplinary projects where I enhanced my knowledge in interaction design, user-centered design, statistical analysis, usability engineering and testing. In one project, I did research on interactive costumes for the theater stage and developed one in teamwork. This gave me a lot of insight on how and where to start research from, how to organize and face challenges in a project.
The HCI faculty is always open to new ideas and I took the opportunity to suggest ideas for my theses. My thesis was on “Comparison of Interactive and Non-interactive advertisement in public displays”. Doing this I met many helpful people inside and outside University, with full assistance of my professors and the whole department. I could successfully conduct my experiments with the available resources and a comfortable place. With the support of HCI staff, an academic paper was written for a conference, and if it is accepted, it will be my first ever paper published.
The HCI master encourages students to participate in projects and lectures from other departments. In a course from Media Art I learned about generating electronic music. I developed an interactive music installation where users can generate and control music on a table. I worked on the LightWalk project from Media Architecture, and programmed its interaction using Kinect sensors. This was exhibited at the Jena City Light festival and thousands of people experienced the installation. I have done two other projects in my interdisciplinary electives.
Weimar, besides of its rich cultural heritage, has a fairly relaxed study environment, being a non-crowded city. I could focus on my studies and projects anywhere, working undisturbed in the lab, the park or my dormitory. I met so many people from different countries and cultures. Now I have many international friends and have good personal contact with them even when I leave Weimar.
If you would like to have an excellent educational background, good study conditions, a multi cultural environment and a good career, then you should not miss the opportunity to join the HCI program.
Pavel Karpashevich (Belarus)
Coming from a Human Factors background and with experience of working in IT-companies, the Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) Master’s program was a great opportunity to learn the essence of user-centered design and ubiquitous computing, as well as to build a practical skill set for application of HCI research methods.
The program had several serious advantages. First, it is possible (and you are encouraged!) to take courses from virtually any other program or department at Bauhaus University and other universities in the region. Second, during my studies, I had a chance to participate in two semester-long research projects. Results of one of these were shaped into an academic paper, which was accepted for publication at the MUM conference. Third, my Master’s thesis had interdisciplinary nature, combining HCI with product design and performance art; furthermore, it was done in cooperation with respectable German theaters.
Some of the mandatory courses can be considered challenging, as they expect in-depth course content understanding and demonstration of technical skills. The challenge is fair, and I am glad that I’ve acquired this knowledge and skills.
All in all, I believe that the HCI Master's program was a jump-start for my career in the academic field and a solid preparation for my current PhD studies.
Preetha Moorthy (India)
Starting as an Engineer in Computer Science, I began my studies in the Computer Science and Media Master’s. Having only a little experience in the IT industry, I wasn’t satisfied and ready to work in front of a screen all day! Hence, when I attended the first lecture in HCI, I knew this was my calling. With much inspiration from Prof. Dr. Eva Hornecker, today I am proud to say that I am a Master’s Graduate in HCI. The HCI program provided various opportunities to not just learn about Usability of devices or prototyping systems based on user-centred approaches, but also other fields, ranging from Architecture to Product Design.
The program allowed me to think outside of my comfort zone to explore other fields from an HCI perspective, which enabled me to understand that HCI is not just limited to building prototypes but also evaluating it. Along with the two semester projects, I had the chance to do a semester project in Product Design, which later proved advantageous for my Master’s thesis. My thesis was based on the integration of electronics and fabrics by creating an interactive touch and feel book for children. An interdisciplinary approach combined designing the product and its evaluation.
Though courses can be a bit challenging, persistence and attainment of in-depth skills and knowledge made the climb to the top of the mountain (finishing my Masters!) worthwhile. I believe the Master’s program in HCI has nurtured me for a career in academic research and enabled me to pursue a PhD.
Mark Eisenberg (Ireland)
The HCI program at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar is perfect for those who want to strengthen their academic profile and put their best foot forward in the search for a postgraduate career. My B.Sc. in Digital Media Design was a mixture of computer science, product design and sociological research and I found the HCI curriculum to be a fitting progression.
The course is challenging and requires a decent technical background, yet it allowed me to engage my interests and wasn’t so overwhelming that I couldn’t take time for myself and make new personal connections. Weimar is very multicultural, meaning that you can meet people and students from all walks of life.
HCI has abundant choice of electives, so I was able to take relevant modules from the Media Arts and Design program. My two semester-long projects were focused around live projection mapping technology and urban projection interaction, making them eye-catching pieces for my portfolio. I found that the practice in academic writing, critical thinking and problem solving is very beneficial for future work. The computer science focused modules provided fascinating insight into modern software and hardware development processes. I learned more about the core of UX practically through Usability Testing and statistics, application of HCI Theory and Interaction Design.
My Master’s thesis involved the creation of an Internet of Things interface, which I entitled “HomeNodes”. The interface was projected onto household objects. Users could connect objects using a touch enabled wall interface and by tapping a smartphone on different objects. HomeNodes was subsequently tested and evaluated with users.
Having finished my Masters degree, I currently work as UX/UI Designer in Munich at BMW. Here I can already see how the skills acquired in my studies will apply to an enterprise environment. The course overall has expanded my horizon and provided me with lasting memories and experiences.
Gabriela Molina León (Venezuela)
The HCI Master's programme is best for people who want to work on user-centered design and interaction technologies. Ideally, you have a technical background and are interested in academic research.
I had the opportunity to learn about very diverse and relevant topics such as computer vision, machine learning, virtual reality, and game design. In the research projects, you go through the whole process of designing, implementing and evaluating an innovative technological tool to conduct research on a particular problem. You learn how to work in a team, possibly a multidisciplinary one.
In my first project, we collaborated with architects to develop a multi-touch application for floorplan search on tablets and tabletops. In my second project, we designed and evaluated a game to explore innovative game input devices. For my Master's thesis, I developed a data visualization framework for tiled-wall displays. We focused on designing and implementing multi-touch interaction techniques to help users visually explore data on the tiled-wall.
Thanks to the overall experience, I got into data visualization research, and I'm currently pursuing my PhD on the topic. The Master allowed me to discover new topics in the field of computer science, to specialize in my favorite one, and to discover my interest in academic research. At the same time, despite its small size, Weimar has an active and very welcoming international student community
Tony Zöppig (Germany)
During an internship, I discovered my interest in working with and developing new human-machine interfaces such as augmented and virtual reality. This led me to search for a master's program to expand my knowledge in this field, and found the HCI program in Weimar.
As my bachelor's degree had a strong focus on marketing, I was given a set of courses as admission requirement to enhance my limited background in software engineering and programming. These courses were challenging, but manageable with some dedication. It was particularly nice that I could also count some of these achievements as elective courses towards my master's degree. The high level of requirements also applies to some of the mandatory courses and the exercises and assignments for these. As a student, you are expected to engage with challenging topics and questions on both conceptual and technical levels. However, the excellent teaching and helpfulness of professors and lecturers enable significant learning progress and study achievements.
In addition to the warm and friendly atmosphere at Bauhaus-Universität, I was especially delighted by the high level of self-determination given in the program. This is facilitated partially by a wide range of elective courses. These allow attending lectures from other faculties as well as other universities in Thuringia, thus allowing a truly customized study experience aligned with personal interests. Furthermore, there is the option to take part-time semesters to facilitate coordination with concurrent work as a student employee, for example.
During my studies, I was particularly fascinated by the Virtual Reality lectures, which led me to complete both semester projects and my master's thesis in this field. Following my graduation in 2022, I now work as a research assistant at the group of Virtual Reality and Visualization, and look forward to further exciting years at Bauhaus-Universität.
Youngmo Oh (South Korea)
In reflecting upon my journey as a graduate of the HCI program at BUW, I am struck by the profound influence it has had on my path as a UX designer. This educational odyssey, marked by its demanding nature, has proven to be a crucible of growth, blending challenge with reward in equal measure.
Throughout the program, I encountered various challenges, particularly in understanding the intricate dynamics between technology and human behavior. From conducting thorough user research to crafting intuitive design solutions, each step demanded meticulous attention to detail and a deep comprehension of user needs. A significant aspect were the two mandatory projects in the curriculum. These served as a test bed for applying academic learning and technical skills. Through comprehensive research and development, I was able to uncover common challenges and develop innovative solutions, refining my skills in innovation, problem-solving, and collaboration.
Studying in Weimar's vibrant arts and culture scene enriched my educational experience, exposing me to diverse perspectives and fostering adaptability. Collaborating with peers from varied backgrounds challenged me to think critically and navigate different professional cultures effectively.
Despite challenges, completing the HCI program at BUW has equipped me with the skills and resilience necessary to excel in the ever-evolving field of UX design. As I shape innovative digital experiences across diverse industries, I am grateful for the valuable lessons learned during my time in the program and look forward to seeing how this educational background will continuously help me to impact people's lives in meaningful ways.