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Digital Media & Design: Interactive Design

Interdisciplinary Program

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Baldwin Wallace University has discontinued the digital media & design: interactive design major and is no longer accepting applications as of spring 2024. View majors.

Undergraduate Admission

(440) 826-2222, admission@bw.edu 

OVERVIEW

A creative and analytical major that builds competencies in technical knowledge and effective visual communication, interactive design prepares you for diverse career opportunities.

The major, which is part of the digital media and design program, will help you develop the technical skills and creative vision for addressing communication needs.

The program focuses on the strategic use of web and graphic design techniques, computer programming and database technology to create functional and engaging web and mobile user experiences.

Through comprehensive coursework, you'll learn interface design, information architecture, programming, database integration, page layout, content development and more.

You'll become proficient with systems that bring interactive content to life. You'll learn to apply creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to creating innovative solutions for today's changing technology needs.

Real-world focused, the major offers diverse hands-on learning and portfolio-building opportunities that showcase your work. A senior internship or project enables you to apply classroom concepts to practical situations.

BW's proximity to Cleveland puts you within easy access to technology firms, corporations, government agencies and nonprofit organizations.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES

  • Web developer
  • Web programmer
  • App developer
  • Interactive media development
  • Online marketing
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  • Image of Knowlton Center

    State-of-the-Art STEM Center

    BW's Knowlton Center provides students with innovative learning experiences in engineering, mathematics, computer science and physics that will enable them to explore cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, mathematical modeling and simulation, robotics and optics while connecting with industry leaders.

CURRICULUM

Offered as a major, interactive design teaches you techniques and strategies for creating effective digital communication.

Integrative coursework includes computing, communication and art. You'll gain competencies in critical thinking, creative and technical design, writing, effective uses of digital media and production techniques.

A related major to this program is the graphic design major. It focuses on visual communication and artistic design through photography, videography, typography, messaging and other components.

The digital media & design: interactive design major prepares students to:

  • Define, recall, and demonstrate design fundamentals
  • Design, implement, test and improve an algorithmic solution to a multi-media problem
  • Use the creative process to solve visual and/or conceptual problems
  • Elicit project requirements from a client, write requirements specifications and develop and/or design an application that meets those requirements
  • Effectively communicate with a range of audiences
  • Defend and critique personal work as well as the work of others
  • Demonstrate an understanding of professional, ethical, legal and social issues and responsibilities
  • Store and retrieve data from local and remote multi-user databases, understanding the security and contention issues involved
  • Utilize the appropriate techniques, skills and tools for the creation and control of interactive digital media

STUDENT EXPERIENCES

Small class sizes, individual attention and faculty mentoring are at the core of BW's digital media and design program.

Experiential learning bridges classroom study with real-world opportunities. You can enhance your studies through internships, co-curricular activities and other learning opportunities that include:

INTERNSHIPS

BW's proximity to Cleveland puts you within a 20-minute drive to outstanding opportunities. Most students have multiple internships prior to graduation.

INDEPENDENT STUDY

Independent study offers students enrichment opportunities beyond the classroom for individualized and advanced study. Students work one-on-one with a faculty member.

FAWICK GALLERY

The gallery holds six exhibitions each year that feature student work and Ohio artists.

STUDENT CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS

Personally and professionally rewarding, student organizations and activities foster skills in leadership and teamwork. Opportunities include:

ACM Student Chapter
This computer club sponsors the Annual Baldwin Wallace High School Programming Competition each April, hosts speakers and organizes several social events, including LAN parties and more.

Digital Marketing Center
A hybrid between a class and an internship, BW's Digital Marketing Center is a student-run, experience-driven agency offering digital marketing expertise to local businesses. In addition to gaining portfolio-building, real-world experience and networking opportunities, students can earn certifications from digital marketing applications like Hubspot and Hootsuite.

Digital media and design students are regularly recognized for their achievements.

The UPE National Computer Science Honorary is a national organization for juniors and seniors who have excelled in their computer studies.

At the annual Honors Ceremony in the spring, recognitions include:

The Anthony and Patricia Lauria Scholarship in Computer Science and Information Systems (in honor of Dr. Anthony Lauria, a professor of mathematics and computer science 1984-2002, and Patricia Kirby Lauria '91).

The Charles and Elsie Little Scholarship (honoring the parents of Dr. Richard Little, professor of mathematics 1975-2013).

The Lubrizol Computing Award (funded by the Lubrizol Foundation).

Outstanding Computing Student Award (in honor of Kenneth Weiss Jr. who taught at BW 1972-2010).

Outstanding Senior Awards, which recognize a student in each of the computing majors.

The Sullivan/Schmidt Prize for Computing (in honor of Chris Sullivan, who was an administrator/adjunct faculty member, and his grandparents).

STUDY ABROAD BOOSTS CAREER MARKETABILITY

The opportunity to experience another culture and gain an international perspective is invaluable to your professional development and will add to your career options. Benefits include:

  • Understanding computing issues from an international perspective
  • Expanding cross-cultural communication and problem-solving skills
  • Preparing for an increasingly diverse and international workplace
  • Broadening academic horizons
  • Improving language skills (although most classes are taught in English)
  • Experiencing a different culture
  • Building an international network of contacts

Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program

The BW Choose Ohio First STEM Scholars Program is open to Ohio residents who are entering Baldwin Wallace in the fall as a first-year student or transfer student and are interested in digital media and design. Students are eligible to apply to the program which also offers the Choose Ohio First scholarship, awarding annual, renewable scholarships of up to $5,000.

ALUMNI SUCCESS

Baldwin Wallace has long championed the success of its students. Evidence of this can be seen in the extraordinary achievements of its alumni spread throughout the United States and the world.

Nine out of 10 BW graduates who completed a bachelor's degree in the 2016-17 academic year reported that they were employed or pursuing graduate and/or professional studies within six months of graduation.

FACULTY

Art Faculty

Erica L.E. Lull
Coordinator, Digital Media and Design
Associate Professor
M.F.A., Kent State University

Computer Science Faculty

Kenneth Atchinson
Associate Professor
M.S., Kent State University

Navneet Grant
Assistant Professor
DBA, Cleveland State University

Communication Arts & Sciences Faculty

Molly Swiger
Professor
Ph.D., Bowling Green State University

Judi Lakner
Associate Professor
M.A., University of Akron