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Careers in Media Informatics

Media Informatics offers students the unique opportunity to work in almost any field. The skills taught are the ones many companies are searching for these days. After completing a four-year degree, our students will have learned how to:

• build their own websites using existing software tools
• record and edit audio for the Web
• tell interactive and fiction and non-fiction stories design websites in HTML, Flash and 3d
• create flash and 3d animation stories
• create interactive and usable sites for any type of screen
• use action scripting to bring their designs to life
• work with programmers to create dynamic and interactive websites
• work with journalists, public relations specialists and marketers

The career potential is only limited by the students' desire. However, here is a sample of what you might do when you graduate:

Journalism/Media:

Our students can choose to study interactive design and animation with the intent of working for a newspaper, magazine, television station or film studio.

Modern journalism has been forever altered by the Web, and companies are searching for people with a foundation in journalism and technology. Our students presented a project to the Cincinnati Enquirer, which is part of the largest newspaper chain in the United States.

Even local television and radio stations are building rich sites that can deliver news and information in more efficient ways.

However, Media Informatics skills aren't limited to work in traditional fields. Movie studios are reaching fans through rich, dynamic sites. Check out Disney's award-winning site for Cars.

Web Development:

For many companies, Web development is a forgotten component of their strategy even though every company has a website. Yet everyone from start-ups to Google are looking for skilled interactive designers who understand that functionality trumps form, who can architect information and test designs with users and who can use a variety of technology to create the best site.

Some of the program's most successful collaborations have been with the Computer Science department, working side-by-side with programmers and network engineers to build working and usable systems.

Media Informatics students have also worked on two design projects: The Northern Kentucky Pathways to Tomorrow, a collaborative project with the NKY Chamber of Commerce presented on Capitol Hill, and the Union Terminal Diamond Jubilee, a Flash-based website illustrating the history of the terminal.

Our students will leave with a basic knowledge of HTML and CSS code along with a working knowledge of software tools that enable them to work in flat, 2d and 3d environments, all while understanding the basic rule of design is simple: make it work.

Marketing and Public Relations:

Some of the most innovative interactive design and creation is happening in the marketing and public relations sector. Emerging tools such as Alternate Reality Games

For those who are a bit more serious, social media networks are emerging as a force that is changing how marketing and public relations is done. It's not enough to be a part of a social network, companies need to understand how to build and participate in those networks as well. Media Informatics majors will leave with the skill and knowledge to work in those environments.

Business:

Americans spent $160 billion on e-commerce last year. That's quite a chunk of digital business. If companies aren't online, they aren't anywhere. Media Informatics majors will leave with a skill set that will allow them to work in business environments that both need external sites to reach their customers and internal sites for their employees.