Digital Media Minor

This course provides a thorough understanding of the theory and practice of studio recording and sound reinforcement. (Offered fall semester.) Course Fee $50

A study of the basic principles and elements of two and three dimensional form and composition. Alternate discussions and projects designed to acquaint the student with materials and techniques in the plastic arts. Three double periods. (Offered every semester.)

This course will introduce students to computers and programming. It will begin with a study of computer hardware and software relationships, and a review of common operating systems in use today, with a detailed review of microcomputer operating systems. Then programming language construction and principles will be covered, culminating in problem solving and algorithm development in a high level computing language with several programming projects. (Offered spring semester.)

This course serves as an introduction to the processes, techniques, and aesthetics of digital media. During the course, students are introduced to five fundamental disciplines: Design thinking, graphic design, digital photography, digital video, and audio. The course culminates in a capstone experience in which student work in teams to create a project that addresses a contemporary social, health, cultural, or other issue. The resulting campaign is intended as a portfolio piece via which the student may use to demonstrate both digital media skills and experience working as a team to a potential employer. (Offered every semester.)

Students will work with traditional 35 mm and digital cameras and scanners to produce photographic images that can be improved, manipulated, altered, and printed from the computer. They will learn to control camera settings, adjust imagery using sophisticated photo manipulation software, and explore the variety of digitally based, photograph quality printing. Students will experiment with the fundamentals of photography while developing a portfolio of creative photography. Meets the general education creative and performing arts requirement. (Offered fall semester.)

This course reviews the overview of the technical and aesthetic issues relevant to the design profession. Studio work and research will be assigned. Specific focus on problems in visual organization, typography, and design theory as an expressive design element will be studied. Course content will concentrate on fostering creative thinking along with prescribed techniques and media. Three double or two triple periods. Cross listed with ARTD 230. Prerequisite: ARTD 111. (Offered fall semester.)

Students will work with traditional 35 mm and digital cameras and scanners to produce photographic images that can be improved, manipulated, altered, and printed from the computer. They will learn to control camera settings, adjust imagery using sophisticated photo manipulation software, and explore the variety of digitally based, photograph quality printing. Students will experiment with the fundamentals of photography while developing a portfolio of creative photography. Meets the general education creative and performing arts requirement. (Offered fall semester.)

This course reviews the overview of the technical and aesthetic issues relevant to the design profession. Studio work and research will be assigned. Specific focus on problems in visual organization, typography, and design theory as an expressive design element will be studied. Course content will concentrate on fostering creative thinking along with prescribed techniques and media. Three double or two triple periods. Cross listed with ARTD 230. Prerequisite: ARTD 111. (Offered fall semester.)

This course will provide the student with a hands-on experience in utilizing digital media, the internet, and social networking. Each student will utilize video equipment and the internet to promote a group of people (maybe a team, a club, a cause, etc.). A prime goal of this experience will be to create a community following. Blogs, fan pages, text messaging and video sharing services will be utilized. This course can be taken two times for credit. Prerequisite: DMDA120.

Instruction on the primary components of web design including: information architecture, usability, web technologies, and visual communication. Special attention is given to design, content creation, website development, and project management. Prerequisite: ARTD 111 and DMDA 120. (Offered fall semester.)

Students will work to master the ability to shoot, capture, and edit digital video. They will create mattes and other types of still digital pictures. They will prepare media in various types of formats and for various types of output. A major project will be to produce a short clip video which will integrate various software applications. Prerequisite: ARTD 241. (Offered spring semester.)

This course will provide the student with a hands-on experience in utilizing digital media, the internet, and social networking. Each student will utilize video equipment and the internet to promote a group of people (maybe a team, a club, a cause, etc.). A prime goal of this experience will be to create a community following. Blogs, fan pages, text messaging and video sharing services will be utilized. This course can be taken two times for credit. Prerequisite: DMDA120.

This course addresses ethical business practices and legal issues unique to the creative professions. Topics include copyright, intellectual property, and trademark law. Additionally the course discusses the right of publicity and the current legal status of artificial intelligence. Related business and legal issues include business structures common to the creative industries, standard contracts in the creative industries, pricing creative works, and negotiation of fee arrangements, sale of rights, reservations of ownership, and royalties. Many creatives work as freelance professionals, therefore the course discusses the rights and status of independent contractors under the common and Illinois law, as well as the implications of work for hire arrangements to the creative professional. Prerequisite: DMDA 120.

This course explores the methods and objectives of motion and time based graphics. Emphasis is on visual design of commercial, educational, or narrative multimedia electronics presentations. Prerequisite: DMDA 230 (Offered fall semesters.)

Advanced instruction and assigned studio work in one or more topics within the design field including but not limited to: information design, design methodology, advertising design, image design, typography, user centered design, electronic imaging, graphic design history, communication theory, design for social issues, and/or package design. Cross listed with ARTD 365. Prerequisite: DMDA 230. (Offered spring semester of odd calendar years.)

This course will give the student a chance to demonstrate talent in the area of digital content. Each portfolio will include interactive design (including visual, navigation, and information design), creative arts, and various projects with technical merit. The student will demonstrate the level of expertise that has been gained from Digital Media courses, such as Graphic Design, Web Design, Computer Programming, Digital Video, Digital Photography, Digital Multimedia, and Studio Recording. This portfolio is intended to prepare students for entry into the job market or graduate school. (Offered every semester.)

Continue in learning of standard pre-production, production, and post-production practices for shooting digital video projects. Students will learn more about shooting in a variety of lighting and acoustic situations and will explore more advanced editing techniques. Concentration will be in two areas: documentary and narrative/drama. Also, students will explore the role of video in contemporary culture, especially as it relates to traditional film history. (offered as independent study)

This course functions as a survey of the history of the media arts, covering multiple overlapping eras of historical significance in design, photographyy, and film/video, emphasizing how and why cultural historical events led to the evolution of differing stylistic and theoretical approaches to design. This course involves significant reflective and scholarly writing. Meets the general education upper division writing intensive requirement.