Technology Pathways
Technology Pathways for Creative Futures equips emerging designers and new media artists at Emily Carr with the practical skills needed for the rapidly evolving ICT sector by embedding innovative micro work-integrated learning (WIL) opportunities strategically into relevant courses offered in the Ian Gillespie Faculty of Design + Dynamic Media (DDM) and the Audain Faculty of Art, and through a non-curricular engagement. This initiative addresses the growing need for highly qualified personnel (HQP) to bridge creative design and emerging technologies in XR, animation, interactive media, and machine learning applications.
Micro-WIL engagements include curriculum-embedded bootcamp modules in our New Media + Sound Art (NMSA) and Interaction Design (INTD) courses in Fall 2024, and a game jam and mini hackathon in our third year INTD courses along with a non-curricular hackathon open to DDM students in Spring 2025:
The Curricular Bootcamp module features faculty and technician-led workshops focusing on collaborative and cross-disciplinary approaches to digital interactivity through hands-on training in immersive media, digital prototyping, and speculative design. Using computational tools, sensors, and virtual environments, students develop a technical and conceptual foundation in interactive media–essential for emerging fields like new media art and technology-driven sectors like XR, animation, and interactive storytelling. This bootcamp, embedded in our Fall 2024 NMSA 300: New Media and Sound Art Practices and INTD 200: Core Studio Interaction Design courses, culminated in an industry showcase and networking event, ‘Sketching with Technology’. NMSA 300 was taught by Peter Bussigel and INTD 200 was taught by Haig Armen and Gil Barros with Ryan Smith (Product Lead, Stealth Startup) as an industry mentor.
The Game Jam and Hackathon module introduces upcoming interaction designers to gameful design and interactive media development through a team-based production process. Simulating pre-production workflows, this module equips students with skills in industry-standard tools like Unity, Blender, and Spline3D, shaping flexible and software agnostic creatives prepared to enter the rapidly evolving gaming industry. With hands-on mentorship from faculty and gaming industry experts, this module emphasizes collaborative workflows, a critical competency in today’s cross-functional landscape where adaptability is essential. The module was embedded in the Spring 2025 INTD 310: Core Studio Interaction Design course taught by Siddhant Singh, with Electronic Arts (EA) and Buffalo Buffalo as industry mentors.
The Hackathon module engages students in interactive data visualization and geospatial storytelling through hands-on exploration of industry-standard tools such as Excel, Python, GIS software, and TouchDesigner. Designed to build technical proficiency in data processing and visualization, this module prepares students for lucrative careers in data science, immersive multimedia, and interactive media design. Through faculty guidance and direct collaboration with industry experts, students develop essential skills in information design and audiovisual media, addressing the demand for HQP skilled in merging creativity with data science and technology. This module was embedded in the INTD 319: Making Data Interactive course taught by Haig Armen in Spring 2025 with entrepreneur and technologist, Ove Holmqvist as industry mentor and with TouchDesigner expertise from Jonny Ostrem and Alyssa Haas.
The Non-Curricular Hackathon is a fast-paced collaborative module designed to equip senior undergraduate DDM students with practical skills in augmented reality (AR) design for real-world applications. Students work in cross-functional teams to conceptualize and pre-visualize immersive digital experiences for physical locations–refining their technical, creative, and problem-solving abilities– aligning with industry demand for skilled creatives in immersive media design. In Spring 2025, this module took the form of a day-long intensive, ‘Reimagining Reality: Designing Interactive XR for Physical Spaces’ designed and facilitated by industry mentor, Edward Madojemu in collaboration with industry experts from YumeBau and Blackbird Interactive.
Technology Pathways is a collaboration with DigiBC, is funded in partnership with the Business + Higher Education Roundtable and with support from the Government of Canada.