Lower-Division

Survey of the basics of visual communication and interaction design, focusing on communicating designs of interactive systems. Covers techniques from a breadth of visual communication traditions; how to choose, use, and innovate; and how to structure dialogue around them.

Surveys the history of digital games from open university games through the home console, PC, and contemporary platforms, and on to indie and art games. Throughout, the course locates connections between technology, marketing, and play culture. (Formerly History of Digital Games.)

Understanding the foundations of play through reading influential texts; in-class lectures and activities; designing and playtesting games; and the ethnographies of players in the physical world.

Project-centered studio-lecture hybrid course that introduces the process of world-building and interaction design from the standpoint of the art director. Each project addresses a milestone in the art direction development pipeline, and demonstrates corresponding entry-level technical and conceptual skills and strategies. Utilizing this split methodology, the big-picture game development process is presented in tandem with related fundamental digital art and design skills at an achievable scale for an introductory course.