Master of Digital Media candidates showcase their groundbreaking digital solutions at Industry Day
This year’s Master of Digital Media industry day featured digital designs, solutions and deep dives across various mediums addressing questions about cryptocurrencies and Non-fungible tokens (NFTs), immersive digital experiences, digital marketing and business, gaming and game development and more. The 2021/2022 cohort MDM 9.0 hosted their industry day, “Digital Summit” on August 10th at the TMU Student Learning Centre.
MDM: A pathway to the world of media innovation
The Master of Digital Media Program (MDM) is a one-year graduate program that launches graduates into the world of digital media innovation. Candidates from different disciplines are challenged to come up with innovative digital media solutions to everyday problems while exploring new skillsets and innovative technologies from investigating immersive media and mixed realities to human-robot interactions.
Chris Ambedkar, MDM Academic and Industry Coordinator, says the students he works with bring a wide variety of skills and experiences from all over the globe and the MDM program is where they are able to apply these skills to their full potential.
“The MDM program is where students use technology, innovation, and creativity to make this a better world,'' says Ambedkar. “It has been amazing to witness the growth in these students and their ideas. They use digital media to solve complex problems and address important issues through research.”
Clare Feng, MDM candidate, is particularly excited about the program because of The Creative School’s global perspective and scope. “The opportunities to go on international trips and internships with industry companies and professionals was something only available at MDM," Feng explains.
Shaping the future of digital media
MDM student Julia Le Clair is researching the relationship dynamic between art and technologies. Le Clair says she looked forward to sharing her work with her peers and professors at Industry Day.
“Industry day is our first step into our respective industries,” says Le Clair. “It is a monumental moment for us as not only do we get to showcase our work and be able to interact with the TMU community and our respective communities, but it is also a day to acknowledge and celebrate all the challenges we overcame and get excited about all that is yet to come.”
Le Clair’s project explored real-time 3D scanning enabling physical objects to be uploaded onto digital environments.
MDM candidate Camilo Saenz researched the application of video games to physical playgrounds, describing it as an exploration of how physical, digital tools and gamification could enhance primary school children's playground experience.
“By creating a physical video game level in a kid's playground, the project's objective is to demonstrate that technology can contribute to the youth's wellbeing while helping them see the world more equitably by immersing them in a game narrative about culture and diversity," Saenz explained.
From creators, and innovators to entrepreneurs, MDM candidates always thrive to explore and bring forward new findings to their respective industries
“It’s incredibly important for the students to showcase and show off the digital fruits of their labour to the TMU community and industry at large! There are folks in this group that are going to make some significant, positive changes in the world of digital media, and their major research projects set them up and act as a catalyst for that,” says Ambedkar.
MDM candidate Madi Scarcello, researching authenticity in influencer culture mentions, “Within each category are niche findings and creations that made industry day groundbreaking. With so many topics and projects to explore, everyone is sure to find something interesting.”