Autodesk and Electronic Arts today introduced a new project design workshop for Canada's first Masters for Digital Media (MDM) Program at Great Northern Way Campus in Vancouver, British Columbia. As part of the 20-month MDM Program, the workshop will equip students with techniques to plan and manage digital media projects in their academic and professional careers. Glenn Entis, senior vice president at Electronic Arts, and Autodesk Fellow Tom Wujec developed the curriculum and will be teaching the workshop. Following the workshop, student teams will be equipped to work on industry funded digital media projects that include multi-player online game development; the creation of next-generation digital social networks; the 3D graphical visualization of a sustainable ocean ecosystem; and a 3D virtual ride on the Canada Line -- the expanded rapid transit system which will be in place for the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

During the two-day workshop, students will map out the stages of their semester-long digital media projects. The workshop's collaborative framework will provide more than 20 techniques to design and plan digital media projects, understand client and end user requirements, and generate a comprehensive production plan. Encouraging teamwork and critical thinking, students will use visual communication tools and techniques to explore topics and present key learnings.

Launched in September 2007, the Masters for Digital Media Program is a full-time professional Masters Degree Program. It offers students team-based experiences focused on project learning in close collaboration with the international digital media industry. Housed in the Centre for Digital Media at Great Northern Way Campus, the MDM is a 20-month program, and includes a paid summer internship.