DIGITAL DESIGN & EXPERIENCES
DESIGNED TO INSPIRE
From animation and game development to immersive environments and digital experiences, this is where creativity meets technology. Create worlds people explore, tell stories that move audiences and design the experiences that shape how we play, learn and connect.
At Purdue Polytechnic, we believe the best way to learn creative technology is by making it. No matter where your interests lie - whether that's designing interactive experiences, developing games, creating animation, building digital content or imagining the next generation of entertainment - you'll gain hands-on experience from day one. Through industry-inspired projects, collaborative studio environments and faculty with real-world experience, you'll develop both the creative and technical skills to bring ideas to life and turn your passion into a career.
POTENTIAL JOB TITLES
- Technical Director
- User Interface Designer
- Motion Graphics Artist
- Environment Artist
- Web developer
Creating Movie Magic: Tyler Kupferer’s Journey to Disney Animation
From independent filmmaking to helping shape one of Disney’s most anticipated animated releases, Purdue alumnus Tyler Kupferer has built a career at the intersection of storytelling and visual design. Now serving as director of cinematography and layout for Zootopia 2, Kupferer reflects on his creative journey, the experiences that prepared him for the industry and the collaborative process behind bringing animated worlds to life.
EXPLORE DIGITAL DESIGN & EXPERIENCES MAJORS
Enhance entertainment and film videos by combining real and virtual actors and settings.
Combine your appreciation for architectural design with communication skills to learn the process of constructing and managing the built environment.
Bring virtual worlds to life in industries that include education, health care, science, research, employee training and, of course, gaming!
Blend disciplines such as environmental design, architecture, technology, construction, art, and other trades to create indoor spaces that are both beautiful and functional.
Build a customizable degree that blends technology, leadership, and design—giving you the skills to solve problems, manage projects, and innovate across multiple industries.
Build the future of theme parks, museums and beyond with immersive experiences across digital, physical, and virtual worlds.
User experience (UX) designers incorporate customer feedback to research end users’ needs and brainstorm solutions that help them navigate products.
Use digital models to design the construction of buildings and infrastructure in the architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) industry.
A huge part of the Purdue Polytechnic is the heavy emphasis of practical knowledge and giving students the opportunities to apply what they have learned in real world situations. Through Purdue, I was able to acquire an internship in games/simulation that set me up for success my senior year!"
If it hadn't been for Purdue and the DCI major, I wouldn't have found a love and passion for 3D modeling and construction. My internship hours made me uniquely qualified; in all of my interviews, I have talked about my past internships, the software I’ve used, and how it made me prepared for the job."
The Polytechnic helped to make me uniquely qualified for my new job through the hands-on learning environment. I knew what I liked and what I did not like from the projects I did in the classroom. And, when I talked with my employer about my projects, it helped them to understand my capabilities."
I would like to thank Toni Munguia, Harley Barta and Clark Cory, who all served as incredible mentors to me. Professors Luciana Debs and Bryan Hubbard also brought in so many real-world design examples that pushed me to grow and enhanced my understanding."
Purdue Polytechnic provided me with numerous opportunities to hone my technical skills, from web development to video editing. My experiences in class and as an editor for the K-Pop club on campus (VariAsian) prepared me for my role. Professors like Esteban Garcia were also incredibly supportive, helping me balance my academic and personal responsibilities."
My UX Experience Studio courses did a phenomenal job of preparing me for the real world. Plus, Nancy Rasche and Anastasia Kouvaras Ostrowski both have served as incredible mentors for me and enabled me to achieve my goals through their continued support."
Purdue Polytechnic provided me with the experience I needed to succeed, and inspired me to pursue unorthodox opportunities. Harley Barta, my department’s student success coordinator, has been especially important to me. She is a mentor, a challenger, an advocate and a lifelong friend."
I was prepared for my career even before I graduated, because my courses were tailored to the methods and strategies used in my industry."
I was able to take classes within my major and outside of my major, making me very well-rounded and prepared in the field of technology. I was constantly challenged, but I learned something new every day."
The UX program helped me become a stronger communicator, and working with Paul Parsons taught me how to research effectively—skills that are key for managing projects and client relationships."
Purdue Polytechnic made me industry-ready from day one. From user research to UI design, every course gave me practical skills that translated directly to real-world product development—especially on projects like my senior Capstone, where I designed a portable DJing feature for Spotify."
The Experience Studio was the most impactful part of my Purdue journey. Working on five different real-world projects with company sponsors gave me the practical skills and confidence I needed to succeed. I brought up that class in every internship and job interview—it shaped how I work, lead, and collaborate."
Being able to lead industry-sponsored projects gave me the opportunity to build interpersonal skills, develop an agile mindset and gain confidence communicating professionally. Not to mention, the emphasis on developing a portfolio gave me an upper hand that landed me my internship-turned-full time position."
Purdue Polytechnic gave me real-world experience and the confidence to launch my career. Hands-on projects like designing a showroom for JSI and courses like Capstone INTR 42800 helped me apply my skills in professional settings. Mentors like Charles Anthony Elliot Sr. and Emily Allison McLaughlin provided the guidance and support that truly set me up for success."
The Department of Computer Graphics Technology prepared me by conducting hands-on courses where I would receive a key portfolio piece each semester. The department is also a major advocate for students to acquire jobs and internships – and an internship is what made me better qualified for my new position."
Purdue Polytechnic gave me strong real-world experience by having us work with real companies on real projects; I always went into internships feeling really well prepared, and honestly a step ahead. The UX Learning and Experience Studio courses really prepared me well, and lot of what I learned in there came up during interviews, because they gave me experience I could actually speak to and show."
UX degrees from Purdue give their students the necessary skills to be a well-rounded leader and peer by the time they walk across the graduation stage. UX is also very close-knit, meaning we have smaller class sizes, and I really enjoyed that because I got to know the people and professors in my classes. I got to see what other people were interested in and saw all that I could do with a UX degree."
