34 Doing Business in Connecticut | 2016
Film, TV &
Digital Media
INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT
›
A
few years ago Tim Hunter and some
of his administrative colleagues at the
University of Connecticut had an idea:
e digital media landscape was undergoing
a transformative shi as new technologies
like three-dimensional art, mobile gaming
and animated movies were taking off. UConn
should be a part of that, they thought.
e university's Board of Trustees
whole-heartedly agreed, and in 2012
the school's Department of Digital Me-
dia was born.
In the coming years, the program would
grow from just offering courses to conferring
undergraduate and graduate degrees in six
concentrations: 2D animation; 3D visualiza-
tion; digital game design and development;
digital media strategies for businesses;
digital humanities; and web design and
development.
Program expansion
In the early days of the program there
was one question though, Hunter recalled.
Where in the university should the depart-
ment be housed?
ere is a technology component related
to how an app, website or digital media
system is designed through soware — so
should it be in the School of Engineering?
ere's a business component associated
with the social media and marketing aspects
of digital media. Perhaps the School of Busi-
ness would be the best fit? "ere is a strong
art component to what we do," explained
Hunter, who now directs the program.
UConn
Embraces
Connecticut's
Digital Media
Industry
New program of
study preps the next
generation of workers
By Brandon Butler
Dan Pejril, a member of the faculty for the UConn Department of Digital Media, teaches motion capture, which is
used in feature films for special effects.
PHOTO/UCONN
