One of David Carlson’s latest opportunities was to help launch the Creative Digital Media B.A. program, for which he serves as the program director. Getting the opportunity to work with other creatives in the cross-disciplinary program has fostered a great opportunity that will serve career creative students at PLNU.
Carlson explains that what sets the Creative Digital Media (CDM) program apart from a degree in graphic design is “the end product.”
“Design itself is an integral part of all of the creative processes, but how we take that design and, and implement it into a product [is the difference],” Carlson said.
According to Carlson, there is an overlap between graphic designers and the field of digital media, however, the content created by career creatives in digital media is experienced in the digital realm.
“Creative digital media is really focusing on the content that’s being designed,” Carlson explained. “Dealing with image, dealing with video, dealing with sound, photography are all outlets for storytelling.”
“Storytelling becomes the vehicle that these tools are being used to share with, so it’s a program that plays into some of these technologies and skills and then applies that to the end product, which is digitized.”
A degree in creative digital media is learning how to use a variety of media to tell a story. These mediums can include:
- Images
- Motion graphics
- Typography
- Audio
- Projection mapping
- Web
- Social media to tell a story.
The CDM program takes the art of storytelling even further by including communication courses.
“There’s quite a few communication courses in this program as well, because that’s an integral part of this communication process which pulls on these visual graphic vessels that are helping tell the story,” Carlson said.
As a graduate of the CDM program, Carlson foresees students stepping into the role of a content creator in some capacity. Even though content creators are often using their skills to sell a product in the digital realm, there’s still an opportunity to tell a story.
“Creative digital media is really focusing on the content that’s being designed. Dealing with image, dealing with video, dealing with sound, photography are all outlets for storytelling.”
“We’re totally saturated in the digital world,” Carlson explains. “[We have to] think about what causes us to pause and look at something versus scrolling right on past it. Good content causes people to pause and realize there’s a story worth engaging with.”
Brands and companies want people who can think beyond merely putting together a plan to promote a product. They’re looking for people to make their own fresh take on marketing — and that’s done by weaving a bit of your own brand of storytelling into the creative process.
Carlson encourages students in the Creative Digital Media program to ask themselves how they can bring their passions and stories into the creative process to inspire their work.
Aside from being prepared for a career in the digital marketing field, Carlson finds it rewarding “knowing that they’re going to be out there making a difference.”
“They’re going to be impacting culture using these new methods of communicating,” Carlson said. “It’s kind of like the wild west. It’s being invented.”
“Students that are in these programs are not only going to be participating in this field, but they have the potential to be the agents of change, and shift culture. I believe our students have the opportunity to do that for good.”
“Students that are in these programs are not only going to be participating in this field, but they have the potential to be the agents of change, and shift culture. I believe our students have the opportunity to do that for good.”
Creative Digital Media hinges on the idea of using digital storytelling to make an impact. However, this idea of storytelling transcends curriculum in a bachelor’s program.
“Just like all students that are going through PLNU and thinking about our mission, I believe we all are a part of a bigger story that’s important to tell,” Carlson said. “We all have our own personal stories that are continuing to evolve, and when we have those opportunities to share those stories, I think it enriches all of our lives.”