Virtual Technology and Design

From entertainment to education, virtual technology is rapidly transforming the way people live and work around the globe. You can prepare for a career in this ever-evolving field and help pioneer the next generation of this important technology with a Bachelor of Science in Virtual Technology and Design from the University of Idaho. The challenging program provides you with a distinctive skill set and an industry-driven education that integrates technology with the art and science of design.

As a student of virtual technology and design, you will learn to combine design with the latest virtual technologies to build the next generation of entertainment, educational and business applications that promise to change the way people throughout the world live. You will study 3D modeling, animation, world building, storytelling, character design, spatial design and design in at least four dimensions (x,y, z, and time).

The program draws from many disciplines, including virtual design, spatial design, art, computer science, engineering, humanities and social sciences. Design studios and community outreach activities provide excellent opportunities for you to collaborate with other students and professionals to address real design issues. You will graduate with valuable practical experience and an established portfolio of your personal design work.

Prepare for Success

Students and professionals in virtual technology and design are drawn to the power of technology, and want to use their creativity to unlock its potential and to discover the possibilities of merging technology and design. Our students have diverse skills and career goals. Some are skilled at fine art, computer science, storytelling or composing. Others are passionate about video games and want to develop animation and electronic entertainment. To prepare while still in high school, take courses in art, design, computer science and math.

Your First Year

The four-year degree program offers a unique multidisciplinary curriculum that integrates course work in both technology and virtual design. We recommend the following classes for first-year virtual technology and design majors:

• Introductory Virtual Design
• Introduction 3D Modeling
• Animation
• Integrated Art & Design Communications
• Integrated Design Process
• Drawing as Integrated Design Thinking
• Introductory English
• Introductory Math
• Integrated Seminar
• Introductory Psychology
• General Physics

What You Can Do

From video game creation and film animation, to forensic analysis and architectural designs, the career options are endless for graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Virtual Technology and Design. You may become a:

• World builder (entertainment, non-entertainment, education, simulation)
• Animator
• Game designer
• Game level designer
• Visualization specialist
• Augmented reality designer

Opportunities

There is a high demand for trained virtual design professionals across many industries, with several major employers located right here in Idaho and throughout the Pacific Northwest. A virtual technology and design degree from the University of Idaho positions you as a desirable candidate for exciting virtual design careers with starting salaries in the $45,000 range. Graduates are prepared for professional careers in the following industries:

• Entertainment
• Computer Games
• Films
• Television
• Theater
• Serious games / Simulations (non-entertainment)
• Education
• Military
• Medical
• Forensics
• Training
• Visualization
• Real Estate Development
• Architecture
• Engineering
• Science
• Medical

Current Research

Faculty members in virtual technology and design are currently working on many interesting research projects, and expect to launch many diverse projects in coming years, potentially giving students a unique opportunity to be on the forefront of virtual design research at the University of Idaho. Faculty research interests include:

• Animation and storytelling projects, including two National Science Foundation award winning projects for animation and interactive simulation for the visualization of the parasite Toxoplasma Gondii.
• Animation studies of a conceptual design for the “Mars Hopper” project at the Idaho National Laboratories.
• Second Life® virtual environments in support of a Financial Literacy Simulator and Nutritional Simulator for use by the University of Idaho’s Extension Agents and by the K-12 school systems.
• Development of edu-tainment concepts to teach natural science to elementary school classes and history to middle school, high school, and college students.
• Collaboration with Traffic Engineering to visualize traffic flow information to assist professionals and students in understanding and designing complex systems.
• Research into the effectiveness of using the Second Life® virtual environment in connecting health care providers with people who are managing their diabetes (type 1 and type 2).
• Working with the University of Idaho Department of Theatre and Spokane Falls Community College Theater Group we have engaged in development of animations such as Wil to Fly, an animated story of a flightless bird’s unceasing desire to fly; Liquid Scenery, scenery that responds to the emotions of the play, and designing and delivering virtual actors during a live performance.
• Serious gaming, developing immersive virtual environment simulators in support of training risk management and first responder personnel.
• Developing “time machine” virtual environments that allows users to explore and experience historical events or places in context.
• Development of Augmented reality application to assist users in navigating and way-finding.

Hands-On Experience

You will have many opportunities to gain valuable hands-on experience in virtual technology and design. Studios focusing on both tangible (physical space) and virtual design allow you to collaborate with other design students to address real design issues. You will also partner with other university departments and with professionals from non-university businesses and organizations to provide virtual design outreach services. Client-based projects help you learn to manage client relationships and to use your problem-solving and design skills to address the diverse needs of your clients. Examples of recent student projects include:

• Wil to Fly, an animated story of a flightless bird’s unceasing desire to fly told in a series of segasodes and presented at a festival hosted by the University of Idaho Theater and Film Department.
• Liquid scenery for five plays at the University of Idaho Theater and Film Department New Works Festival.
• Second life virtual environments to support Idaho toxicology professor Greg Moller’s research into developing a virtual immersion environment for the express purpose of learning. Virtual technology and design students are also working on a second-life project to be used in the orientation of new Idaho students.
• Animation and storytelling projects, including two National Science Foundation award winning projects for animation and interactive simulation for the visualization of the parasite Toxoplasma Gondii.
• Interactive virtual realities, including a training simulator for a local law enforcement agency and a “time machine” that allows users, with a helmet and haptic glove, to explore historical events or places in context.
• Animation studies of a conceptual design for the “Mars Hopper” project at the Idaho National Laboratories.
• Mapping the Jazz Archives in a way that allowed users to search, explore, and experience the archives in a new way.
• Creating role playing environments that would enhance ongoing teach efforts at all levels of education.