Digital Multimedia Design
For up-to-date information, visit the DMD Program Hub.
Background
Design is now a relevant force in science, art, business, politics, technology, humanities, and other traditionally siloed fields. Admittedly, this means that deciding how and what to teach a designer in a multi-domain program becomes a rather daunting task. On July 01, 2012, Penn State University suspended a program called Science, Technology, and Society (STS)—an event embroiled in controversy—just as Harvard initiated their own STS program. [1] Content of Penn State STS courses included historical contexts for technological, scientific, and social progress through history. These topics are relevant to design because STS subject-matter is a deep-dive into the visible and invisible forces that shape design decisions, and consequently, the impacts of those design decisions on society. The Digital Multimedia Design program intends to bring some of that important context into the curriculum, though it is not intended to (and simply could not hope to) replace supplemental studies into the STS field.
As you move through your academic career, you can and should explore aspects of design that you find exciting and fulfilling. A maker bears a responsibility to know the implications of their work and how other people are ultimately affected. In this degree program, you will examine design as it relates to digital tools and skills needed for storytelling, products and artifacts, interaction and experiences, and the production and dissemination of knowledge.
DMD 100: Digital Multimedia Design Foundations will expose you to a broad design perspective so that you can apply it as a conceptual frame for your studies. In other words, even though you will be studying content not specifically talking about design, you will be able to understand the relationship between what you are learning and the larger context of design. After you complete DMD 100 and other prescribed courses, you will enroll in other courses that will help develop digital production skills, build awareness to contemporary issues, and locate historical context. Once you have explored relevant subject matter in other courses, you will be ready to rejoin the DMD major courses to synthesize your interests and skills into projects.
In DMD 300: Digital Multimedia Design Studio, you will apply your experiences from previous coursework to narrow your focus while producing projects in collaboration with your peers. DMD 400: Digital Multimedia Design Capstone is the capstone course in which you will create an entirely self-directed design project for inclusion in an online thesis project exhibition.
Mission
The Digital Multimedia Design Program promotes the values of imagination and creativity as human resources. Digital media generally refers to the storage and transmission of information in increasingly varied multimedia digital formats and devices, and within a changing array of modes of communication. Design is a means by which we respond to change in a purposeful way. By focusing on critical issues and opportunities, designers develop plans for taking innovative and strategic actions. Hence, digital design shapes and impacts the physical and virtual spaces people inhabit. Over the course of this program, you will produce projects that stimulate sound habits of mind, develop proficiencies of practice, and foster critical sensibilities for addressing issues.
DMD Core
The program is comprised of three program-exclusive spine courses and six prescribed (required) "core" courses – two from each contributing college: Arts & Architecture, Communications, and Information Sciences & Technology. The core courses will provide skills and context pertinent to the disciplines from which they reside. The spine courses provide opportunities to frame and combine experiences from these disciplines.
Pathways
Though design is part of the core identity of the program, each student will develop their own pathway. A pathway is literally a sequence of courses. However, you have great control over choosing which courses to combine into your sequence. To help you get started, there are pre-made course sequences available on the DMD Program Hub (dmd.psu.edu).
Projects
You will develop capabilities necessary to use digital technologies in multimedia projects in prescribed, supporting, and additional courses. DMD 100 projects are designed for students with limited knowledge of digital production technology, but introduces foundational design knowledge that can be applied to all future DMD coursework. Final projects in the capstone course will be made available as part of portfolios and an online exhibition.
Portfolios
Developing a creative digital portfolio of work that showcases your interest areas and capabilities will become an essential component for professional development. More information on portfolios will become available on the DMD Program Hub website.