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 art, spatial design, virtual design, computer science, 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 spatial design. We recommend the following classes for first-year virtual technology and design majors:

• Visual Communications
• Design Processes
• Introductory Virtual Design
• Introduction 3D Modeling
• Introductory English
• Introductory Math
• Core Discovery I & II
• Animation
• General Physics

Current Students

Amanda Ligman
Received several university scholarships to help her continue her education

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
• Animator
• Game designer
• Game level designer
• Visualization specialist

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:

• Computer games
• Films
• Television
• Theater
• Architecture
• Real estate development
• Military
• Medical
• Forensics
• Education
• Training
• Visualization
• Serious games (non-entertainment)

Current Research

Faculty members in virtual technology and design expect to launch many interesting research 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:

• Understanding the potential uses and benefits of virtual design and technology in daily life.
• Defining the scientific language of virtual design.
• Exploring the use of virtual gaming tools for more serious “game” applications.

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.