About T.I.M.E. - Digital Arts
The Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in T.I.M.E.-Digital Arts emphasizes Studio Practice concerned with the development of creative, aesthetical, conceptual, critical, presentation and technical skills. It is particularly focused on the relationship between art, design and technology; critiques of new media practice and systems of identification; representation and production. The mission of the program is to prepare students for the immediate goal of entry into the digital art and design practice with the long-term goal of continuation of creative growth. Additionally, the program develops the student’s capacity for critical thinking, problem solving, and stimulates imagination and innovation.
The T.I.M.E.-Digital Arts program is an interdisciplinary program that allows students to be focused on the intersection of applied as well as fine arts. T.I.M.E. students harness digital technology to create animations, interactive media (web media, cd-roms, dvd roms), game design, interactive installations (performance, robotics, sound) and video/special effects.
The T.I.M.E.-Digital Arts major draws students in addition to the traditions of all media taught in 15 other majors offered at CIA. Students may enter T.I.M.E. after exploring other media such as digital arts courses in CIA’s Foundation program or students grounded in a medium from prior experiences may seek advance placement. Thus, informed and inspired students use the next three years to combine, expand, refine, and orchestrate projects and products in digital media.
Learn more about T.I.M.E. - Digital Arts Courses.
EMPHASIS AREAS IN ANIMATION, GAME DESIGN, INTERACTIVE MEDIA, AND VIDEO
Required studio courses in sound, video, multimedia production, performance or installation forms the core of the T.I.M.E. major. Within and beyond that core, each student grows through individual instruction and faculty advising.
Students must choose one of four emphasis areas:
* Animation
* Game Design
* Interactive Media:
- Interactive Media Production (Web media, cd-roms, dvd-roms, etc.)
- Interactive Installation (including performance, robotics, sound, etc.)
* Video
T.I.M.E. students explore conceptual, aesthetic, and communication issues, not software development. For the T.I.M.E. student, technology is the means, not the end. The focus is on the relationships between art, design, and technology and is never sidetracked by the mechanics of their tools. Students develop creative, practical, and critical skills, eventually forming their own approach to new media. For those students wanting to expand their knowledge of technology, there is various software support including online training, customized workshops led by professionals, and visiting artists. Students displaying exceptional skills in digital arts may accelerate in the T.I.M.E. major after faculty evaluation.
COLLABORATION AND LEARNING
T.I.M.E.-Digital Arts has continued to increase connections with other departments on collaborative courses to foster innovation and team-based learning in artistic process, practice and solutions. One such internal collaboration is working with the Biomedical Art department which offers courses such as 3D-Modeling for Illustration; Digital Lighting, Texturing, and Rendering; and Educational Media and Installation courses.
Working with the Design areas, Design Center courses have been developed as project-based learning with Communication Design and Industrial Design and have assisted students in completing project-based learning and working on cross-discipline team projects.
The Gaming Seminar course offered in fall semester has CIA students working with CASE (Case Western Reserve University) engineering students to create video games. This course has helped create strong connections with CASE, and with video game companies such as Electronic Arts and Midway Games.
Each semester, there are 6 to 8 international students who enroll in classes in the major, which provides an international dialogue and supports various approaches in the area. Each year, approximately 3-4 T.I.M.E.-Digital Arts students study abroad.
The strength of the BFA T.I.M.E.-Digital Arts program:
* a very engaged faculty body
* range of expertise amongst faculty
* ongoing program development
* dedicated studio space and dedicated computers for all students
* strong community
* great contacts to local and regional industry
* flexibility and individualized program
* visiting arts and professionals
* technical workshop
Graduating students will also have a clear emphasis in:
* Animation
* Game Design
* Interactive Media:
- Interactive Media Production (Web media, cd-roms, dvd-roms, etc.)
- Interactive Installation (including performance, robotics, sound, etc.)
* Video
These emphasis names will assist with job placement and professional opportunities - since it clarifies the students' expertise.
Like what you see? Want to see more? Check out more artwork in the virtual gallery!
You will study in a state-of-the-art media lab with a fiber-optic backbone, an up-to-date array of professional software and a dedicated workstation for each student. CIA's new sound studio and shooting room are augmented by similar facilities at the nearby Cleveland Institute of Music and Case Western Reserve University, respectively.
T.I.M.E. graduates typically find fulfillment as multimedia producers, digital filmmakers, special effects designers, animators, web designers, game designers and as digital and performance artists.
T.I.M.E.-Digital Arts graduates have worked in the following areas:
-motion graphics
-web design
-media production
-animation
-photo/media design
-game design
-freelance media production companies
-arts management
-educational media
Our graduates are working in a variety of places including:
-Food Network
-Rolling Stone Magazine Interactive
-EA
-Midway Games
-Abercrombie & Fitch (web design)
-American Greetings (AG interactive)
-Transistor Studios
-EDR/ Beachwood Studios
-Flipline
-FORM Group
Some students have gone on to graduate school including:
- Carnegie Mellon University
- The Ohio State University
- CalArts
Digital media is an intense field, characterized by rapid change, so we stress teaching our students how to learn and how to keep pace with the evolution and demands of the media. For starters, you’ll need to gain proficiency in many software packages in order to produce interactive or linear digital media. In addition, you will learn to manage working in teams and to contribute to creative projects that are beyond the capability of any one student.
We allow—even encourage—our students to create individualized curricula, taking classes from various disciplines at the Institute. You’ll be introduced to visual communication, communication theories and their applications. Assignments are structured around the media-production pipeline, which includes the use of flow charts, storyboards, style and designing, electronic and time-based production and postproduction techniques. We also include a critical component dedicated to evaluating and improving public speaking skills in both large and small groups.
Learning how to construct a good story is vital to this art form and you’ll learn how to produce linear and nonlinear narratives. Your projects will bring it all together, with focus on time, rhythm and integration of various sound and text channels.
In your final year, you will begin to explore a personal track. You start with an idea/concept. Then select the media to express it best. Finally, your project must integrate at least two forms of media/technology. The last piece most of our students produce is a demo reel that focuses on linear or non-linear narrative.
T.I.M.E. - Digital Arts Program of Study
Courses Offered During Fall Semester
Media Integration & Production (TIM201)
This course focuses on media integration, innovation, and developing strategies of doing production. Projects will focus on narrative storytelling with media exploring the use of both interactive and linear mediums. The use of motion, time, interface, and sound are also core topics explored in this course.
Advanced Tech 3D Animation (TIM307B)
This is the third in a series of courses which explores the possibilities of computer-generated three-dimensional graphics and animation. Where the first two courses focus on the fundamentals, this course will explore advanced techniques. From a technical stand point, issues covered will include procedural animation, advanced texturing techniques, dynamics, advanced modeling techniques, compositing, and post-production. Conceptually, this course will address the untapped potential of this media, the possibilities in working with narrative and non-narrative structures on a timeline, and ability to integrate 3D graphics with other media.
Pre-requisites: Digital Art & Design I & II, Intro to 3D Modeling, Textures, Lighting, Intro 3D Modeling: Maya, Form Z
Animation (TIM309)
The goal of this class is to gain a basic understanding of the fundamentals of movement, timing and rhythm and how they convey mood and character, even in the most abstract sense. Animation is the artificial movement of an otherwise static object. By moving that object incrementally - whether by position, color, shape, size, etc., we can create movement. By synching that movement to sound, we emphasize the movement and create further depth and meaning.
Required materials: A 7200 rpm hard drive.
Sound Design (TIM311)
The goal of this course is to gain an understanding of the nature of sound, rhythm, gesture, and the concept of theme and variation as it applies to sound design. The emphasis will be on the relationship between image and sound. We will discuss the concept of sound as a material with basic structural properties that may be manipulated, layered and edited. Students will explore methods of composition using various sound materials in assigned projects.
Required materials: A 7200 rpm hard drive and a set of headphones
Computer Logic & Programming for Digital Artists (TIM413)
In this course, students will learn the fundamentals of programming, as they apply to digital artists. This course will also look at how to define your own algorithms and create the flowcharts necessary for projects that require advanced programming. This will be achieved through a foundation of mathematical and logic skills and through programming exercises.
This course will also look at examples of work by artists which are either influenced by ideas related to programming, or in which programming plays a vital role in the execution of the project. This course is broken into five sections. The basics of programming are covered through Processing, a programming environment created by artists for artists. Next this course will introduce Actions Script, an object oriented language native to Macromedia Flash. The semester then looks at PHP a scripting language created specifically for the web. MySQL is used to address databases and SQL (Standard Query Language). Finally, students will learn the basics of image manipulation.
Courses Offered During Spring Semester
T.I.M.E. Intro Elective (TIM212.00)
The T.I.M.E. Intro Elective is shaped as a common platform to create understanding, tolerance and a language for students who come from Fine Arts, Crafts, and Design before they start working together in the new major in a cross discipline environment. Work based on digital technology requires certain skills, general understanding of time-based thinking and conceptual strength. The design classes in foundation and computer basics touches these issues but not in the depth which is needed.
To prepare students for the T.I.M.E. program, we will address the following qualities in such an elective course: conceptual skills, technical skills, creative skills, critique, and performance. For a sequence of 16 weeks we implement the different aspects of a multimedia project based on digital technology: 1) the concept and the storyboard for a project; 2.) animation; 3.) video; 4.) sound; 5.) CD-ROM production.
As part of the course, an overview of current and historic artists who have used digital technology and multimedia in their work will be presented and discussed.
T.I.M.E. Seminar (TIM202.00-302.00-402.00-502.00)
This course provides a platform for T.I.M.E. majors to work on integration of new and digital media in a rich and strong art, design, and craft environment. The platform is structured to support the individual in shaping her/his own program and in choosing the right courses in the broad range of T.I.M.E. and studio electives in art, craft and design. Strong conceptual skills, developed through a professional planning and a true storyboarding, are the success of a time-based product, whether digital or analog. The course is structured with a focus on concepts and is based on practical projects of increasing complexity. Research focus on the aesthetic quality and the sources of such products complete a holistic approach and prepare the student with the necessary skills. Students will discuss and produce aesthetic aspects based on technology in various fields.
Digital Web-Media Production (TIM303.00-403.00-503.00)
This course is designed to give students experience authoring, designing and building interactive projects for delivery on the World Wide Web. Developments in media culture are examined through online research, texts, discussions, and critique. The students will explore the experience of interactivity, via non-linear structures. The World Wide Web has provided individuals with a relatively inexpensive means for the distribution and exchange of work to a mass audience. This class will offer students the opportunity to critically examine issues of content and functionality as related to this relatively new, exploding cultural context. Students are expected to work in an organized and structured manner that supports the development of independent projects. Students will likely utilize digital photography, digital video, animation, sound, and other technologies as media to facilitate the input and output of their ideas. We will focus primarily on Macromedia Flash and/or Macromedia Dreamweaver as the software for developing, compiling and producing projects for output online.
Animation II: Motion Graphics II (TIM304.00-404.00-504.00)
A continuation of Motion Graphics I. Priority enrollment to T.I.M.E. and Communication Design majors. This course covers contemporary issues in Motion Graphics and Broadcast Design. In this class, students will visualize, develop, and realize various creative solutions for tasks in 2D animation projects. Concept development, visual story telling, montage theory, typography, sound design, and principles and meanings of movement will be explored. The final project would be a broadcast quality title sequence for a fictitious film or television show.
Intro 3D Animation (TIM307A-407A-507A)
This course explores the possibilities of computer-generated three-dimensional graphics and animation. Focus is on the fundamentals of animation using 3D computer graphics. It also focuses on building a critical theory of the medium and teaching skills in the creation of narratives and other timeline-based formats.
Advanced Experimental Video (TIM31X.00-41X.00-51X.00)
This course is for students who have a sustained interest in using video technology as part of their art-making. Participants work on a project-oriented basis that includes individual critiques, special class meetings, practicums and equipment workshops. Students should be both self-directed and interested in developing a support system for producing each other’s work.
As expressions of art, video has special qualities that music, painting, sculpture, poetry, and literature don’t share; it incorporates these other art forms into itself. With advanced video, the artist take the conventional form and tries to bend it into a new shape by re-manipulating any and all of the various sub-disciplines. This course is, thus, as important to T.I.M.E. majors as it is for those in other majors who wish to further explore time-based media in their work not simply as techniques, but, more broadly, as the defining elements of our culture and society.
Pre-requisite: Video Basic Tools I
Interactive Robotics in Art and Design (TIM314.00-414.00-514.00)
In this course, students learn the fundamentals of using electronics in creating art work and/or building prototypes of design projects. For this course, a robot is defined as any device which uses sensors to get information from its environment and then reacts to this input. Students in this course will study a balance of technique and theory. Technical skills include wiring electronic components, soldering, flow charting, and programming. The theoretical aspects of this course include a look at how robotics is used by artists and designers, an exploration of the meaning of interactivity, and a look at technology as a tool in art making and design.
Animation Installation - Physical Computing 101 (TIM39X.00/VAT49X.00)
Interactivity Without the Mouse - The Room is the Interface
Whether you’re a sculptor who’d like sounds or videos to play based on how and when someone touches your sculpture; an animator who wants to explore weird new ways to make a videogame character move; or a photographer or video-maker who’d like sounds/images/lights to change based on how viewers move about inside a gallery space… then we’ve got the class for you.
The class is designed to help students make a personal connection between the physical world (movement, hearing, seeing, touch) and the world of the computer. The course books we’ll be using are Physical Computing: Sensing and Controlling the Physical World, by Dan O’Sullivan, and Digital Art, by Christine Paul.
There are no programming or digital software pre-requisites for this 2-teacher grant-funded class. The class is open to anyone interested, regardless of background, major, or lack of technical experience. (But if know that you hate software and computers, this may not be the class for you) Note: This is not a robotics class. Those interested in controlling robots should take Yianni’s robotics class.
Instructor and audio engineer Chris Yewell will handle the programming expertise, and together, he and Dave Fleischer (Digital Media) will provide students with little or no programming skills a series of pre-made “interactivity templates”, as well as a historical overview of advancements in interactive control from the past 20 years.
Students with strong or pre-existing programming skills will be encouraged to push ahead with projects that match control devices – to their personal and artistic goals.
Question: Who should take this class?
Answer: Anyone who wants to try to come up with new ways of interacting with media in a gallery space.
Baumlier, Kristen - Environment Chair
View profile
Economos, Nicholas - Associate Professor
View profile
Ehrhart, Megan - Assistant Professor
View profile
Gerst, Ashley - Technical Assistant
View profile
Hybinette, Knut - Assistant Professor
View profile
Minkin, Kasumi - Professor
View profile
Paul, Sarah - Assistant Professor
View profile
Tomko, Marc - Technical Assistant / Digital Arts Equipment Coordinator
View profile
Visual Evidence Scholarships for Excellence in the Biomedical Art and the Digital Arts
Awarded to a student from Cuyahoga County (not temporary residence) that shows excellence in T.I.M.E.-Digital Arts or Biomedical Art
Total Amount of Award in 2008: $2,000, shared by 1 or 2 winner(s)
Listed in both departments, but total award cannot exceed $2,000.
Award is based on Merit. Merit is criteria in all awards. Need-based awards are based on FAFSA form and the federal methodology.
Download Institute Wide (Open) Awards
Download Award Recipient Information Sheet