The Digital Design degree is a liberal arts, generalized undergraduate program that provides exposure to the varied design fields in media and prepares students for employment or graduate study in a wide range of industries.
Because the field is evolving and broad, exposure to the breadth of opportunities is an explicit objective, as is comprehensive education in the basic principles of visual design using computer technologies.
Initial coursework emphasizes intellectual development of relevant principles of art and design, hand-eye coordination and development of student projects with both traditional, analog and digital tools.
The program progressively builds in complexity and provides opportunities for student-selected detailed investigation into areas of interest (e.g. game design, character design, interactive product design), or continued exploration in the breadth of opportunities.
It is an additional objective that students understand and be able to utilize a variety of applications and tools to be able to select the right one for the design problem at hand, and develop strategies for learning new tools and techniques in order to grow and learn when those change and evolve.
Learning Outcomes:
Development of knowledge related to the visual, spatial, sound, motion, interactive and temporal elements and features of digital technology and principles for their use in the creation and application of digital media-based work.
Understanding of narrative and other information and language structures for organizing content in time-based or interactive media; the ability to organize and represent content structures in ways that are responsive to technological, social, and cultural systems.
Understanding of the characteristics and capabilities of various technologies (hardware and software); their appropriateness for particular expressive, functional and strategic applications; their positions within larger contexts and systems; and their influences on individuals and society.
Knowledge of the processes for the development and coordination of digitally based art and design strategies (e.g. storyboarding, concept mapping, and the use of scenarios and personas).
Ability to analyze and synthesize relevant aspects of human interaction in various contexts (physical, cognitive, cultural, social, political and economics) with respect to technologically mediated communication, objects and environments.
Understanding of what is useful, usable, effective and desirable with respect to user-centered and audience-centered digitally based communication, objects and environments.
Knowledge of history, theory and criticism with respect to such areas as film, video, technology and digital art and design.
Ability to work in teams and to organize collaborations among people from different disciplines.
Ability to use the above competencies in the creation and development of professional quality digital media productions.
Development of a commitment to life-long learning and active engagement in professional communities.
