Links to Assignment Criteria
Final Project
Schedule of Due Dates
02/04 – Project #1 Assigned
02/20 – Project #1 DUE (~2.5 weeks)
02/25 – Project #2 Assigned
03/18 – Project #2 DUE (3 weeks)
04/03 – Final Project Assigned
05/13 – Final Project DUE (6 weeks)
Course Assignments
This is a production-oriented course, grounded in rigorous design practice and technological framework. Students will be expected to deliver multiple group projects during the semester, following a clearly defined iterative design loop.
The first project will introduce students to both Unity and Virtual Reality, and will be developed with the Google VR SDK. This project will be the only solo project, allowing students to familiarize themselves with the development workflow.
The second project will be a group project developed on the HTC Vive, introducing students to the new hardware possibilities, including new means for interaction and spatial design.
The third project will be an individual or group project developed on the HTC Vive. Each group will create a space for a specific narrative, incorporating spatial design for visuals and sound, interaction and user interface.
All students will be expected to keep a development blog, documenting their successes and failures during the development of each of their projects, including technical difficulties, design iterations and user feedback.
Grading of Projects
Projects should be submitted via email. The submission for projects will be in a .zip file containing the source code of the project. When applicable, one submission per group is enough.
The development blog will be graded on (1) the regularity at which it is being updated (at least once a week, or every time a specific improvement is made), (2) the thoroughness of the post (showing the design thinking that led to this or that evolution, the taking into account of user feedback, etc.) and (3) the use of visual media (screenshots of code/editor, pictures of paper sketches, videos or gifs of interactions implemented).
Homework assignments will be given on a semi-regular basis to evaluate the knowledge acquired throughout the class and encourage research into current practices and opinions. Students are expected to complete them and share them in class.
The first project will be graded on (1) the development of a VR world which takes advantage of the malleability of the digital medium to showcase a strong identity (peaceful, stressful, grandiose, empty, etc.) – 15%
The second project will be graded on (1) the implementation of at least two interactions using the HTC Vive’s hand controllers (triggers and/or touchpad and/or gesture), (2) devising feedback for the user on their interactions and (3) an emotionally evocative virtual world that pushes on a particular feature of the medium’s language. – 20%
The third project will be graded on (1) the implementation of at least two interactions within the space (2) the development of some version of a UI system and (3) an emotionally evocative virtual world which offers some essence of narrative. – 30%
All projects will be graded on (1) functionality (is the application free of unintentional bugs? is it usable by someone else than the developers?), (2) on how well the interactions are implemented (are they surprising? can they be used in creative ways? what message do they convey?) and (3) how clear is the identity and atmosphere of the virtual world?
In addition, students participation during discussions in lectures will contribute to a higher final grade.