Interactive Design

what is Interactive Design?
Wikipedia states that Interactive Design is:

the study of devices with which a user can interact, in particular computer users. The practice typically centers around "embedding information technology into the ambient social complexities of the physical world."(1)

in my own words this definition is simply design that facilitates interactivity, making the user interact with whatever the design is to allow their own self control and choice to be factors of its use.


Some examples of interactive design websites:

Crappy Cat

Crappy Cat is an online game where the user takes control of a strange looking cat that the user then directs  through a 2d landscape, when the cat is placed on any of the multiple x spots on the ground a specific interaction with the landscape occurs. This website was one of the winners of the 2009 Interactive Annual Award.

Auditorium

Auditorium is another online interactive game in which users are made to direct a line of light over various bars in order to create a coherent piece of music, each bar represents one instrument and once a path between all is established the completed music piece is playing and the user advances to the next level. This was also a winner of the 2009 Interactive Annual Award.

Corona Beach Website

The Corona Beach website offers users a virtual beach to explore, by clicking and dragging in any direction the point of view changes revealing more areas that can be clicked and entered to find out more information about products, competitions and games.This was also a winner of the 2009 Interactive Annual Award.



1 - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interaction_design#cite_note-0