Usability/User Experience Specialist was recently named one of the best 31 careers in 2008 by the US News & World Report. The Digital Arts and Communications school (DIG) at Academy of Art University is one of a few select programs in the nation that offers BFA degree training in Usability or User Experience.

Usability and user experience specialists (also known as "UX specialists") make sure that technical products are easy and pleasurable to use. They watch and interview potential users to find out what their needs and preferences are for the product. After a prototype is developed, they watch and re-interview potential users to suggest changes in the product.

As the number of new, complex products increases so does the demand for usability specialists. In fact, usability specialists and user experience specialists receive a higher salary in the Bay Area, where Academy of Art University's campus is located, than anywhere else in the country. According to PayScale, a website that measures job salaries, professional user experience and usability specialists in the San Francisco Bay Area make a median salary of $115,000.

The digital arts school at Academy of Art University integrates traditional art skills and concept development with new technologies and platforms. Functionality, target audience, and user experience grounded on the fundamentals of basic front-end and back-end scripting languages are key components to Internet design as well as testing and performance for communication and for profit. Graduates of the program learn to become specialists in website usability, web information architecture and interactive products.

With classes in usability testing, prototyping, multimedia design and production coordination and more, it is the ideal program for somebody interested in becoming a usability/UX specialist. In addition to an onsite BFA program, Academy of Art University offers a flexible online BFA and AA degree program.

Graduates of the digital arts and communications school have gratifying careers and work for renowned digital arts films such as American Greetings, Auctiva Corporation, IOTA Design, Kaiser Permanente, Rodale, Toyota and many more.

About Academy of Art University, San Francisco
With nearly 12,000 students, Academy of Art University is the nation's largest private art and design university. Established in 1929, the school offers accredited AA, BFA, M.Arch and MFA programs, as well as continuing art education with classes in copywriting, fashion merchandising, interior design, new media, computer animation, sculpture, graphic design, cinematography, industrial design, digital photography and car design. Students can also enroll in a flexible online degree program in art and design.

Academy of Art University is an accredited member of WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges), NASAD, Council for Interior Design Accreditation (BFA-IAD) and NAAB (M-ARCH).

For more information visit www.academyart.edu or call 1-800-544-2787.