The field of new media explores new and evolving digital technologies—the internet, social software, hand-held and wearable devices, touch and gestural interfaces, the Internet of Things, virtual reality, augmented reality, and more—to create interactive and engaging digital experiences.
In the new media interactive development major, you’ll learn the programming and computing skills for multiple interfaces, as well as the interactive design skills needed to create outstanding user interaction. You can focus your studies on a specific area of new media to truly explore your interests and adapt your skills to a range of emerging technologies.
The term new media was first coined in the mid-80s to refer to the impact computing was beginning to have on traditional forms of media, like newspapers, radio, and television. But as digital platforms began to evolve beyond the internet, new media came to encompass all types of information and entertainment accessed by our computers, phones, and tablets. New media now encompasses anything that integrates communication, computing, and technology – from social media networks (Facebook, Instagram) and music and television streaming services (Spotify, Hulu, Amazon Prime), to highly interactive digital technologies like wearables (Apple Watch, FitBit), virtual reality, augmented reality, and gaming.
Careers in Interactive Design
Interaction designers are in demand. All kinds of companies and organizations seek interaction designers for a range of positions in which an organization needs dynamic and innovative digital experiences and creative design solutions.
A sampling of companies that have hired graduates of RIT’s new media interactive development major includes American Greetings, Bottomline Technologies, Fidelity Investments, Forbes Media, GeekHive, IBM, JPMorgan Chase & Co, LenelS2, M&T Bank, MassMutual, Southwest Airlines, TD Bank, and Wegmans Food Markets.