Our mission is to create better digital experiences.
The Center for Digital Experiences was founded in 2019 by School of Information professors Craig M. MacDonald and Elena Villaespesa. Through our UX consulting and academic research, we apply a human-centered, ethical approach to the design and evaluation of user interfaces and interactive products.
Our Goals
Our primary goals are to enhance and support the School of Information’s UX curriculum through the following activities:
Securing partners for UX course projects
A key feature of SI’s UX curriculum is its unique blend of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) theory and UX practice, which we achieve through the use of project-based learning. Client-based course projects provide students opportunities to learn and practice UX skills while engaging with real-world problems.
Increasing the visibility of UX work
Through our website and social media channels, we promote the UX expertise of SI faculty and students. We also showcase exemplary student UX work, which increases the marketability of SI students to potential employers and helps attract new students.
Providing shared resources for UX projects
We help coordinate SI faculty’s UX-related research activities by pooling individual resources and enabling efficient and effective research planning. Through this work, the Center serves as an incubator for innovative research projects.
Our Facilities
Our facilities are located on the 6th floor of the Pratt Manhattan Center, Pratt Institute’s Manhattan Campus. Our classrooms and labs are equipped with state-of-the-art technology for research and design, including usability testing and eye-tracking software.
As we support a creative and collaborative environment, clients and research partners can meet with students and faculty in conference-style classrooms or our design studio and are encouraged to be active participants in students’ projects.
