ah (Fall 2024 Undergraduate Town Hall)

SIAT Undergraduate Town Hall

This slide-deck summarizes what was covered in the SIAT Fall 2024 Undergraduate Town Hall. Any questions about the event or the contents of this slide deck can be directed to Andrew Hawryshkewich (UCC Chair) at andrew_h@sfu.ca.

Why a town hall?

SIAT recognizes a need to be more transparent and listen to our students more. This is part of our process in doing so.

What can you (a student) do?

Please share your thoughts. We are here to listen and gather your feedback or thoughts.

Questions? Please raise your hand. I will pause at times but am happy to take questions while we proceed.

Concentration definition

"A concentration is a group of related courses that approved IAT majors can pursue within their Bachelor's degree. The concentration has clearly defined learning outcomes that prepare students to address current and future market and societal needs. The concentration typically consists of 3-4 upper-division courses and should not exceed 16 credits of upper-division coursework. At least one course must be at 400-level. 200-level and 100-level courses may be listed as pre-requisites for the concentration but may not be included in the concentration itself."

Fall 2024 concentrations

Concentrations new to our curriculum as of Fall 2024:

Details for these concentrations available at siats.ca/changes

Fall 2025 concentration proposals

These proposals:

Critical Making

As an Interdisciplinary Thematic Concentration Critical Making focuses on practices of digital fabrication emphasizing hands-on exploration of materials, artefacts, contexts of use and situated meanings. Applying critical practices ranging from traditional craft knowledge to the integration of computational and physical materials, students create artefacts in the context of social and cultural themes including sustainability, health, social justice, and learning.

Science of Interaction

The Science of Interaction Concentration takes an evidence-based approach to designing interfaces that better support human performance and societal well-being. Its design methods are grounded in sensory-motor, behavioural, and social science theory, critical analysis, and scientific testing of interactive software systems using qualitative, quantitative and mixed methods.

Next steps

The school will be taking the following next steps:

Upcoming courses

New course offerings and changes to keep an eye out for:

IAT-198N course outline

Foundations for Designing Interactions

IAT-238

The course integrates visual communication and interaction design alongside developing skills in design process such as prototyping, ideation and iteration. Emphasis is placed on seeking the right solution for the right problem and receiving feedback effectively. The course culminates in an intermediate-level design project that connects interactions to foundational concepts in designing.

New course that will become the pre-requisite for IAT-333 starting in Summer 2025 and going forward. Complete course outline linked at siats.ca/changes

The Spring 2025 offering will be taught by Paul Brokenshire.

Character Design (special topics)

IAT-380

Offered in Spring 2025, for those:

  • With an intermediate drawing skill.
  • Highly motivated and interested in character design.
  • Prepared to draw digitally and on paper.

Course will cover core design concepts such as 1, 2, 3-shape characters, shape design, character and story, character turn arounds and more.

Sketch of character being filled out and rotated

Image by Larissa Marantz.

User Experience Design

IAT-438

The Spring 2025 offering of the course will be moved to Summer 2025. Should you have concerns with the change in offerings please reach out to advising to discuss options.

Senior Project in Creative Media

IAT-443

A 6-unit graduate level investigation of interactivity explored through creative media, in the context of current technologies relevant to the Interactive Arts. Examines recombinant, computational and compositional structures related to image, sound and video. Students explore media technologies ranging from mobile locative media, motion capture, 3D immersive virtual and/or networked environments, video art installations, and responsive spaces.

Pre-requisites are completion of 60 units including IAT-313, IAT-340 and IAT-344 (with a minimum grade of C-) or approval of instructor.

Indigenous Computing (special topics)

Unveiling Indigenous Wisdom in Computer Software, Hardware and Theory

A special topics (IAT-480) course running Spring 2025 this course will explore the intersection of computing technology, culture, and society. More specifically, students will critically analyze how computing technologies are shaped by cultural values and how they, in turn, computers and digital technologies shape culture. Topics in this course will include:

This course encourages the critical examination and role of computing technology in society through critical making and creative explorations. Students should have basic understanding of computer programming (in any language) and associated concepts, HCI, and digital media tools. Students from Indigenous, marginalized, or underrepresented backgrounds, as well as those passionate about cultural and social justice in computing, will find this course invaluable.

Semester in Production: Game Design

At the Vancouver Film School

Students must demonstrate skill — from coursework and/or portfolios — to be able to join semesters 3 and 4.

An overview of the VFS semester/term structure

Semester in Production: Game Design

At the Vancouver Film School

A pilot program we are running in Summer 2025:

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