Interactive Media 1
Winter 2009
UCLA Department of Design | Media Arts

Professor C.E.B. Reas
TA Christo Allegra

Monday & Wednesday, MW 9:00 am - 11:50 am
Broad Art Center, 4220

Content

This course is a continued introduction to creating images and interactive experiences within the context of software. Each student's foundation in basic programming will serve as a platform for further exploration. Each student will work within an area of her/his own selection within the larger framework of the course. This course is designed for students with previous computer programming experience; the prerequisite for the class is DESMA 28 or equivalent experience. This is a collaborative studio class; we're embarking on a group exploration and the Professor and TA are your guides.


Assignments

Each student will develop a series of programs for the hypothetical series "Toys for Young Robots." These programs will introduce children to computer programming within the context of writing short software toys and games. Each group of programs will feature a series of related short, exciting, well-designed, clearly-documented programs. All programs will be written using Processing. More is explained in the project brief.


Evaluation

Grading is based on each step of the project. Feedback will be primarily qualitative but numeric scores will also be given. The breakdown follows:

Context Research (5%)
Visual Research (5%)
Ideas (10%)
Prototypes (30%)
Refinement & Final (40%)
Participation (10%)

More than two absences without the Professor or TA's prior permission will lower the participants final grade by one unit (e.g. an A will become an B). With each additional unexcused absence, the grade will drop an additional unit. All exercises must be completed to pass the course. In addition, participants must attend at least three DMA sponsored lectures during the quarter.


Required Reading

Casey Reas and Ben Fry. Processing: A Programming Handbook for Visual Designers and Artists. MIT Press, 2007