Partnership with the Ontario Science Centre allows students to develop in-person interactive exhibits
RTA New Media students are currently developing projects that will be displayed for Ontario Science Centre (OSC) visitors in the RTA Media course RTA830 Co-Lab (opens in new window) . In collaboration with the OSC, this course aims to encourage students to create innovative exhibits and provides the opportunity to interact with real-world clients and audiences.
Mark Argo, Professor, RTA School of Media, New Media Program
The end goal is to make something that satisfies all the stakeholders in an exhibit - the funders, the institution, and of course the most important folks - the visitors who will play with it!
According to New Media faculty member and RTA830 Co-Lab professor Mark Argo, this course presents an exciting opportunity for young innovators who are eager to not only create, but intimately experience the industry through an environment that simulates the professional world.
“Students will get a great insight into how projects come together in a more professional context. Since they are working in groups for the majority of the semester, they also learn how to take on a variety of roles based on their project needs,” says Mark Argo. “Lots of times, a project requires you to step out of your comfort zone and this class lets students do this in a friendly environment. The end goal is to make something that satisfies all the stakeholders in an exhibit - the funders, the institution, and of course the most important folks - the visitors who will play with it!”
In addition to this unique course format, students will also be able to experience studying in an exciting setting. With Covid regulations beginning to lift, students enrolled in RTA830 have the opportunity to study in-person both on Ryerson’s campus and inside the OSC itself.
The Ontario Science Centre
At the start of the semester, students are given a design challenge tasking them to work in small groups to fully realise an exhibit for the OSC, from conceptualization to prototyping. Throughout the semester, they will learn the ins and outs of exhibit design from those who work directly with the OSC, as well as have the opportunity to be mentored by OSC’s communication and design team to streamline projects. After a term of hard work and innovation, the course will end with a public presentation of their newly designed exhibits for OSC visitors who will interact with the student projects.
“I have over 15 years experience making interactive exhibits in a variety of venues, from commercial spaces to museums and science centres, and personally I’ve found it to be one of the most satisfying creative outputs for someone who loves design, technology, education, and making a spectacle,” shares Mark Argo. “I think courses that encourage you to combine skills and disciplines are quite challenging, but it’s the challenge that is fun.”
From industry collaboration to audience interaction, this course offers a unique opportunity for students in the New Media program to showcase their creativity and practise real-world exhibit design. RTA830 Co-Lab is open to all students in the RTA School of Media, with priority given to those enrolled in New Media. For more information on the course and how to enrol, click here (opens in new window) .
The Creative School at Ryerson University
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