A profile of the interactive communication professional: foundations, current trends and perspectives

Abstract

Over the last few years the role of the interactive communication professional has changed parallel to technological innovation and the introduction of new communication paradigms. Digital technology has facilitated the creation of the interaction designer, a professional position in many production teams and digital newsrooms that has yet to be fully defined. This paper presents an attempt to define the characteristics and necessary knowledge of the interaction communication expert. This is done by reviewing the skills needed for the practice of interaction design, looking at the career paths offered by graduate and undergraduate studies in interactive communication, and evaluating a case study in the field of interactive documentary. By comparing the results of the three analytical methods (literature review, comparative analysis, and case study) we present research that covers the differing perceptions that exist of this professional position. This analysis brings to the surface a lack of consensus in an emerging field that is still evolving and adapting since its appearance nearly twenty years ago.