New Media Design
The New Media Design program provides students with the opportunity to learn the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to design, develop and produce interactive, user-friendly, digital media projects such as responsive websites and games. The courses are part of the Interactive Digital Media Technology framework developed by the Manitoba Technical Vocational Education branch to create programming that is accessible and responds to current labour market needs.
Courses
Part 1
IDM Intro
To start your journey, learn to conceptualize, plan, develop, and publish an interactive digital media project. Learning to code using the essential web languages that are the building blocks to any website starting with HTML for structure and CSS for presentation. Become efficient in creating hand coded websites as well as using industry standard programs like Adobe Dreamweaver. With teacher-led instruction, examples and the creation of your own web pages, you will learn to code to the W3C standards.
IDM Design
Awareness of the principles and elements of design is the first step in creating successful digital projects. Learn how to use graphic creation programs like Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator to create dynamic graphics for the web including logos, composite images and more! Integrate your artistic skills and technical theory to master the art of creating an intuitive website layout.
IDM Asset Creation
Create original assets to support your interactive digital media projects. Examples of assets include vector images, animations, and sound effects. Learn the basics of game design and take a more in-depth look at Game Creation software like Unity, as you create your own mini game to gain the hands-on experience you need to pursue further gaming interests.
IDM Futures
Start ‘collecting and connecting the dots’ of your life experience to support your career aspirations. Develop your portfolio to show off your new skills for either employment or post-secondary opportunities. Find your future place of employment as you explore and research the local industry in Winnipeg and Manitoba. Learn business skills essential to the IT field including business practices, culture, teamwork, communication, and employability skills.
Part 2
Coding for IDM
Take your web skills to the next level and add “programmer” to your resume. Learn the Web’s hottest programming language: JavaScript! Using practical examples and writing your own interactive web pages, you learn the basics of programming from variables to looping, and how to work with the Document Object Model.
Advanced Coding
Add complexity to your website. Learn prototyping all the way through to implementing a functioning WordPress site. Install, use, and learn the popular WordPress Content Management System. Use server-side technologies like PHP to transform static web pages into dynamic data-driven applications.
Advanced Asset Creation
Do you want to create a member directory or forum? Properly designed databases are the key to dynamically driven websites. Design a database and learn the SQL language needed to implement and manipulate your database system. Students will learn the skills related to creating advanced features of dynamic asset creation as well as applying code to assets.
Project Management
Learn and apply project management concepts while creating a web presence for a business client. This is your opportunity to apply your technical and business skills and gain real work experience. In this course, students will work in project teams as they apply the knowledge and skills learned in other courses to create, manage, and release an authentic interactive digital media project. Upload your final product for the world to see!
THE EDGE
At the Louis Riel Arts & Technology Centre, we want to help our students be work ready. We spent time consulting with employer advisors and workplace hosts and asked them how we could better prepare students. Their response was to focus on the ‘soft’ skills. While they could always supplement the technical skills themselves, they really needed employees who could display professionalism and responsibility as well as effective communication, problem-solving and teamwork skills. Based on their feedback, we developed The Edge program to help students build industry specific skills in the following six pillar areas:
Professionalism
It’s not what you do in the job, but how you do it. Professionalism consists of how you conduct yourself in the workplace including your appearance, attitude and the respect you demonstrate towards others and the environment. It’s also about looking after yourself so you can be your best. Forming good work habits, like being responsible, reliable, and staying up to date in your field will make you a valued employee and a dependable coworker.
Communication
Communication skills are important. You need to express ideas and information with clarity as well as listen attentively to ensure everyone has the same understanding. In the New Media Design industry, you need to give and receive constructive feedback in a positive way without taking things personally. You will collaborate as part of a team where everyone has a voice and will work respectfully and effectively with a wide range of people with various personalities and backgrounds. You will learn presentation skills and use communication tools like email, OneDrive, and Teams to collaborate with peers, teachers and clients.
Organization, Planning & Structuring
Being able to keep your folders and files organized and follow naming conventions is extremely important for new media designers. You will work on your file management, learning to organize, share and backup work using conventions everyone on a team can understand. You will learn to plan and manage projects, organize, and schedule meetings and use workflows that make the most efficient use of your time.
Reliability/Responsibility
Reliability is the attribute of being dependable and trustworthy. Responsibility means being accountable. This requires having good attendance, being punctual and being counted on to do what is expected. For example, a reliable employee is one who shows up for work on time and is prepared to complete their work in a timely manner. Reliability is essential to employee performance. When you are responsible at work, you establish yourself as a valuable employee and a dependable coworker.
Teamwork
Teamwork is crucial in the New Media Design industry. Most work is done in project teams where roles and responsibilities are assigned. You will have the opportunity to collaborate and manage relationships with your peers, teachers, and clients, developing the interpersonal skills required to get along with others. As part of the team, you will have the experience of sharing responsibility and communicating effectively to achieve common goals.
Job Search & Preparation
It’s important to become familiar with the various specialties within the New Media Design industry. Figure out what your strengths are and the direction you would like to pursue. Maybe you love design. Perhaps you want to pursue something in the game industry, or, maybe you love coding and want to be a developer. You will do some career exploration and reflect on your values, interests, and talents to help you determine a short-term, reachable career objective. Along the way, you will develop your own portfolio you can use for further employment or educational goals.