One of David Carlson鈥檚 latest opportunities was to help launch the Creative Digital Media B.A. program, for which he serves as the program director. Getting the opportunity to work with other creatives in the cross-disciplinary program has fostered a great opportunity that will serve career creative students at 国产剧麻豆剧.
Carlson explains that what sets the Creative Digital Media (CDM) program apart from a degree in graphic design is 鈥渢he end product.鈥�
鈥淒esign itself is an integral part of all of the creative processes, but how we take that design and, and implement it into a product [is the difference],鈥� Carlson said.
According to Carlson, there is an overlap between graphic designers and the field of digital media, however, the content created by career creatives in digital media is experienced in the digital realm.
鈥淐reative digital media is really focusing on the content that鈥檚 being designed,鈥� Carlson explained. 鈥淒ealing with image, dealing with video, dealing with sound, photography are all outlets for storytelling.鈥�
鈥淪torytelling becomes the vehicle that these tools are being used to share with, so it鈥檚 a program that plays into some of these technologies and skills and then applies that to the end product, which is digitized.鈥�
A degree in creative digital media is learning how to use a variety of media to tell a story. These mediums can include:
- Images
- Motion graphics
- Typography
- Audio
- Projection mapping
- Web
- Social media to tell a story.
The CDM program takes the art of storytelling even further by including communication courses.
鈥淭here鈥檚 quite a few communication courses in this program as well, because that鈥檚 an integral part of this communication process which pulls on these visual graphic vessels that are helping tell the story,鈥� Carlson said.
As a graduate of the CDM program, Carlson foresees students stepping into the role of a content creator in some capacity. Even though content creators are often using their skills to sell a product in the digital realm, there鈥檚 still an opportunity to tell a story.
鈥淐reative digital media is really focusing on the content that鈥檚 being designed. Dealing with image, dealing with video, dealing with sound, photography are all outlets for storytelling.鈥�
鈥淲e鈥檙e totally saturated in the digital world,鈥� Carlson explains. 鈥淸We have to] think about what causes us to pause and look at something versus scrolling right on past it. Good content causes people to pause and realize there鈥檚 a story worth engaging with.鈥�
Brands and companies want people who can think beyond merely putting together a plan to promote a product. They鈥檙e looking for people to make their own fresh take on marketing 鈥� and that鈥檚 done by weaving a bit of your own brand of storytelling into the creative process.
Carlson encourages students in the Creative Digital Media program to ask themselves how they can bring their passions and stories into the creative process to inspire their work.
Aside from being prepared for a career in the digital marketing field, Carlson finds it rewarding 鈥渒nowing that they鈥檙e going to be out there making a difference.鈥�
鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to be impacting culture using these new methods of communicating,鈥� Carlson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 kind of like the wild west. It鈥檚 being invented.鈥�
鈥淪tudents that are in these programs are not only going to be participating in this field, but they have the potential to be the agents of change, and shift culture. I believe our students have the opportunity to do that for good.鈥�
鈥淪tudents that are in these programs are not only going to be participating in this field, but they have the potential to be the agents of change, and shift culture. I believe our students have the opportunity to do that for good.鈥�
Creative Digital Media hinges on the idea of using digital storytelling to make an impact. However, this idea of storytelling transcends curriculum in a bachelor鈥檚 program.
鈥淛ust like all students that are going through 国产剧麻豆剧 and thinking about our mission, I believe we all are a part of a bigger story that鈥檚 important to tell,鈥� Carlson said. 鈥淲e all have our own personal stories that are continuing to evolve, and when we have those opportunities to share those stories, I think it enriches all of our lives.鈥�