University of Houston Digital Media Program

Students from the AR/VR Class went on a site visit to Captiv Creative Studios, home of the largest XR stage in Houston. Students got to see their huge LED screen/green screens where they shoot XR videos, the robotic video camera rigs, and really get behind the scenes. Our hope is that students can start working with these tools to create content and really take advantage of the technology. A big thanks to Khary Alexcee and Justin Bowers for inviting us and hosting the group, they showed us some really great examples of how they use the stage to shoot Star Wars films and other commercial content, see an example here: https://lnkd.in/gp5skB9Q Anyone who is interested in making great video content should check them out! https://lnkd.in/gMCMT_ea #uhdigm #arvr #motionmedia

Join us on Monday, November 18th at 5:30 PM for a DigiMarketer’s guest speaker event with Kunal Thakkar! Kunal Thakkar is a UH Alum and Digital Marketing Leader who specializes in strategic planning, innovative marketing, and effective team leadership. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear from an industry expert! Earn extra credit for one of your classes (list to be provided soon)! RSVP HERE: https://lnkd.in/gVMeE5GK

Yesterday, our digital media students in the Senior Project class had an incredible opportunity to present their marketing projects to real-world clients. This semester, they worked with VPosts and the Houston Women's Soccer Association, applying their skills to develop tailored branding and/or marketing strategies and solutions. Thank you Salim Gheewalla and Jonathan A. Madrigal for partnering with our students. These presentations not only showcased the hard work and creativity our students have put into their projects but also provided invaluable experience in professional client interaction and feedback. Engaging directly with clients, along with presenting to peers and instructors, prepares them for future roles in the dynamic field of digital marketing. A huge shout-out to our students (Abigail Gonzalez , Itsemhe Dan Aliu, Joshua Rajan, Yusef Abbasi, Tate Mendenhall, Julieta Jimenez, Jacob Demaree, and others) for their dedication and the clients for collaborating and supporting this educational journey. Real-world experiences like these are what make our program truly impactful! #uhdigm #studentwork

DIGITAL MEDIA STUDENTS: Join us for an inspiring session in the Digital Media Development Workshop series: "BRANDING STRATEGY WORKSHOP" led by none other than Sarah Sharif Iqbal, President of AIGA, a leading voice in the design community! ?? Date: November 12, 2024 ?? Time: 6:00 - 8:00 PM ?? Location: UH Sugar Land, AMG 104 In this workshop, Sara Sharif Iqbal will guide participants through the essentials of building a strong brand, covering practical strategies and design insights that can transform your branding efforts from good to exceptional. Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, this event is designed to elevate your approach to brand development. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from a leader in the field and connect with fellow creatives. Come ready to engage, learn, and be inspired! #uhdigm #brandingworkshop

?? Exciting moments for our digital media students! Yesterday evening, we hosted an engaging Portfolio Review, where our talented students had the opportunity to showcase their hard work and receive constructive feedback from industry professionals, esteemed alumni, and dedicated faculty. The event kicked off with an inspiring talk from guest speaker, ShaJra Austin, who shared invaluable career advice and insights to guide our students on their professional journeys. Her words set the perfect tone for a day filled with learning, growth, and networking. A huge thank you to all the professionals and alumni who dedicated their time to mentor and uplift our students. Your feedback and encouragement are instrumental in shaping the next generation of digital media experts! To our students: your hard work and creativity continue to inspire. Keep pushing boundaries and building portfolios that reflect your passion and skill. The future is bright! ?? #uhdigm #DigitalMedia #PortfolioReview #CareerGrowth #StudentSuccess

?? Publication Announcement! Dr. Tony Liao, Dr. Elizabeth Rodwell, Ph.D., and UH DIGM Graduate Debriunna P. have published their latest article in the journal Information, Communication, and Society. Their article is about how news media covers stories about people engaged in AI relationships and comparing that to how people experience embodied conversational agents. ICS is one of the top outlets in the field of Information Science, Internet Studies, and Communication/Sociology, and is part of a special issue collection of the top papers presented at the ASSOCIATION OF INTERNET RESEARCHERS Conference. We're especially proud of this piece because a DIGM undergraduate is on it as a published author, and she was able to do this work through the support of the UH Provost Undergraduate Research Scholarship. You can read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/gp_5Zw4D

?? And the Winner Is… ?? We’re thrilled to announce the 1st Place Winner of the DigiMarketers poster competition: Jimena Canel Congratulations on an amazing design! Your creativity truly shined through, and we’re excited to celebrate your work. Huge thanks to everyone who participated! ??

For the first time, we held DIGM3358 AR/VR class in full Mixed Reality. We were meeting face to face and in VR at the same time in ENGAGE XR. You can see how students were sitting in the physical classroom and could see it in passthrough and switch to the VR classroom. They were also able to move into different environments like the Globe Theatre, draw things on the VR chalkboard, and chat with their classmates as they moved through those spaces. This could be the future of education, and we're experimenting with it here in Digital Media, with dozens of students wearing headsets and Dr. Tony Liao lecturing as a virtual avatar and in real life. Credit to Jose Antonio Maglaqui for taking and editing the video of himself in class with a Meta Quest 3. #uhdigm #gocoogs

This summer, I had the opportunity to join Global Liver Institute as a graphic design intern. Initially, it was a summer role, but I was thrilled to be offered an extension through December. It’s been an amazing journey filled with growth, learning, and tackling new challenges. I’ve enjoyed every moment and look forward to continuing this exciting experience!

The Digital Media Program was out in force at Constellation Field, and was recently highlighted by UH News! Story link here: https://lnkd.in/gyB_cZPY