Honours Bachelor of Design in Interactive Media (BDI)

This course introduces students to foundational concepts in design as applied to interactive media. Building on design thinking and problem-solving, students explore foundational design principles such as composition, typography, colour theory, grid systems, and layout. Through hands-on projects, critique, and reflection, they develop effective visual communication strategies that support inclusion and accessibility. Students also gain an understanding of design workflows and production pipelines as they engage with contemporary design processes throughout the course.

Students are introduced to design thinking as a collaborative, creative problem-solving process. Through hands-on exploration, they learn to observe, empathize, define problems, generate ideas, and test low-fidelity prototypes. The course builds divergent and convergent thinking skills using the Double Diamond and core design thinking frameworks. Students will engage with industry-relevant tools and collaborative design platforms, preparing them to approach interactive design challenges with curiosity and confidence.

In this hands-on course, students learn the fundamentals of video production through all stages of the process — from planning and shooting to editing and exporting for various platforms. They will build shot composition and pre-production planning skills, operate video equipment, and use industry-standard post-production software. Students will produce original video content and apply appropriate compression, codecs, and output settings for diverse audiences and formats.

In this practical course, students learn the fundamentals of audio production for interactive media. They will work through pre-production planning, recording, and editing workflows using professional audio equipment and software. Students explore techniques for capturing, shaping, and mixing sound, including dialogue, effects, and ambient audio. They will produce original audio content and apply industry standards for surround sound, spatial audio, and output formats across a range of media applications.

In this course, students explore how stories shape user experiences in interactive media. They learn to write and visualize narratives for business, service, and communication contexts. Using techniques like user personas, user storyboards, and writing in first, second, and third person, students create stories tailored to different audiences. Projects include both written research and visual storytelling components. Upon completion, students will be able to design audience-focused narratives for digital platforms and reflect on their creative decisions.

Students become familiar with the basic tools for creating AODA compliant website content and features. Students explore internet architecture and software development principles, using the web as the basic platform. Foundational web development languages; HTML5, CSS, JavaScript, and basic functionality programming concepts are introduced. Students learn how to develop responsive and accessible websites by following the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) regulations and best practices.

This course builds on foundational coding knowledge to explore more advanced techniques in developing interactive media experiences. Students will examine user interface behaviours, animation, dynamic interactions, generative design approaches, content management systems (CMS), and file management workflows such as hosting and version control. Learners will be introduced to visual CMS platforms to understand the process of integrating, managing, and publishing interactive content. This course emphasizes practical application, creative experimentation, and communication within collaborative development settings.

Students examine how to plan, create, and present integrated marketing strategies across multiple media channels. The course emphasizes media synergy, cross-channel coordination, and audience engagement. Students apply research methods, analyze user data, and develop campaign-ready prototypes using industry-standard software. Final projects reflect current industry practices in digital marketing and interactive media.

In this collaborative design studio course, students apply knowledge from previous design and business courses to solve complex, real-world problems. Working in teams, they simulate a professional studio environment to produce interactive media projects that demonstrate critical thinking, communication, and creativity. The course focuses on team roles, creative strategy, and delivering high-quality design assets suitable for portfolio development.

This course introduces students to the cognitive and emotional factors that influence design. Through the study of perception, attention, memory, and bias, students explore how internal experiences shape design decisions. Emphasis is placed on self-awareness and personal reflection, helping students uncover their own values, assumptions, and motivations as emerging designers. By engaging with foundational behavioural insights, students begin to define their own design approach and role within the field.

Students explore the principles of social media and how it shapes communication in personal, professional, and business settings. They learn to evaluate and critique popular platforms and tools, weighing their benefits, risks, and limitations. The course introduces content marketing with a focus on clear, engaging, and accessible communication through text, visuals, and audio. Students design a social media strategy that reflects current trends, emerging technologies, and ethical considerations, including privacy and security.

Students explore the emerging field of Intelligent Experience Design — the practice of combining human-centred design principles with intelligent systems to create adaptive, context-aware, and meaningful user experiences. Building on foundations in human behaviour and UX research, students investigate how design psychology, design systems, and AI can work together to enhance user interaction and decision-making. The course examines methods for planning and evaluating intelligent experiences across multi-platform environments, while considering ethics, accessibility, and the evolving role of AI and technology in design. Students will design and test interactive solutions that leverage both human insight and machine intelligence.

This course introduces essential project management methods for interactive media, including traditional waterfall and agile approaches. Students plan project scope, estimate time and budgets, manage teams, track progress, and adapt to changing needs. Through lectures, case studies, and collaborative work, students explore tools and techniques used across creative industries to deliver projects on time and within scope.

In this collaborative studio course, students design and develop interactive experiences with a focus on UX strategy, design writing, and interaction planning. Working in assigned professional roles, they simulate an experience design studio environment to conceive, plan, and refine projects that engage audiences and meet defined objectives. Teams integrate research, content strategy, accessibility considerations, and design systems while applying industry-standard software and tools. The course emphasizes iterative creation, collaborative problem-solving, and the production of professional-quality deliverables.

This mandatory course for degree WIL students prepares students to job search for their co-ops/work terms. Students will reflect on their skills, attitudes, and expectations and evaluate and interpret available opportunities in the workplace. Self-marketing techniques using resumes, cover letters, cold-calls, and interviewing will be learned and students will learn the expectations, rules, and regulations that apply in the workplace with regards to social, organizational, ethical, and safety issues while developing an awareness of self-reflective practice.

This course supports students in identifying and evaluating the technologies that will power their capstone projects. Through a flipped, guided format, students research and assess interactive tools, platforms, and workflows relevant to their project vision. They consider user needs, creative direction, and feasibility as they test options and refine their technical strategy. The course is designed to help students make informed, critical decisions about the technological foundation of their capstone before they enter production.

In this first phase of the capstone, students define and plan their final interactive media projects. Working independently with input from faculty and peers, they explore ideas, conduct applied research, and develop a creative strategy and documentation package to support the production phase. A flipped classroom model supports student initiative as they narrow their project scope, establish goals, and build a strong foundation for the next stage of their capstone journey.

In this hands-on course, students will learn to actively test and improve their planned project ideas using an iterative rapid prototyping process. They will plan and run usability tests by recruiting and managing testers, creating user scenarios, recording user feedback, and applying it meaningfully across multiple design iterations. Through workshops, peer critiques, and real-world practice, students will incorporate changes based on user feedback to develop a working prototype that reflects both user insights and personal creative direction. By the end of the course, students will have a thoroughly tested prototype ready for production, developed through a process of experimentation and critical reflection.

In this final capstone development course, students complete and publish their interactive media projects. With faculty guidance, they refine design and technical elements, resolve issues, and prepare their work for deployment in real-world contexts. Emphasis is placed on quality assurance, final deliverables, user readiness, and independent problem-solving to ensure the project is polished and publishable.

Students refine how they present and promote their work as emerging interactive media professionals. Through storytelling, pitching, and self-promotion, they develop the tools to share their work, values, and creative direction with public audiences and potential collaborators. They refine their digital presence, including social media and online platforms. This course also supports students in identifying and connecting with potential mentors and industry contacts as they prepare for public presentation and post-graduation opportunities.

This final capstone course prepares students to professionally present their completed interactive media projects through a physical installation at Coalesce, Seneca’s School of Creative Arts and Animation’s (SCAA) year-end exhibition. Students design and set up a display environment to showcase their physical or digital work. The course emphasizes production planning, presentation skills, and final execution of the capstone as a public-facing experience.