This workshop will act as a primer for the university researcher or instructor wishing to expand or refine their work utilizing digital media.
In the digital realm, where rapid change and constant iteration serves as much as a reality as a set of defining characteristics, this workshop will discuss and review current best practices in visual design thinking, rapid iteration, user-interface design and interactive narrative design. With practical hands-on demonstrations and engaging examples; working with various 3D virtual visualization tools such as Sketch-up and the Unity Game engine, participants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of the many digital tools and methodologies at their disposal.
This workshop will also provide insightful advice for those wishing to collaborate with various professional digital media practitioners on digital media projects in the humanities, helping the university researcher or instructor collaborate in the most productive ways possible and achieve the most beneficial outcomes for all concerned with any digital endeavor. Issues arising from the effective use of social media, crowdsourcing, cross-disciplinary co-creation and transmedia strategy will also be discussed.
Most importantly, participants will learn how to make visual and technological decisions in service of their vision in digital media rather than be constrained by it.
Recommended background:
It is highly suggested that participants bring to each workshop a laptop running either Windows 7 or higher (Windows 7 recommended) or Mac OS X (Version 10.6.8 [Snow Leopard] or higher)
Prior to the workshops, please download, install and review the educational digital application, Colonizing Modernism, available as a free download at colonizingmodernism.wordpress.com
Suggested Reading to be completed prior to the Workshops:
Walter J Ong, Orality and Literacy: The Technologizing of the Word.
Umberto Eco, The Open Work
About the Speaker:
A long-time artist, educator and advocate of the arts and arts in education, since earning his Master’s degree in Digital Media, Ian McDonald has been engaged in the design and production of meaningful digital experiences.