Digital Cultural Product Design
The specialization in “Digital Cultural Product Design” focuses on potential scenarios for each “cultural projection”, combined with cutting-edge technologies such as two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphics (2D and 3D Graphics), mobile technologies, virtual and mixed reality (Virtual and Mixed Reality). Emphasis is placed on synthesizing theoretical frameworks related to cultural representation, along with practical recording, management, and presentation of cultural data in the form of digital applications. In this context, the courses combine acquiring knowledge about methods and techniques for creating “digital narratives” with cultural content, along with familiarization with technologies used in various fields for creating web-based and standalone multimedia applications.
Winter Semester
7 ECTS
COURSE CODE POL102
Angeliki Chrysanthi, Yiannis Iliadis
The concept and content of “cultural storytelling” are defined by the practices of cultural representation involving the discovery (and/or creation), transmission, and projection of a corpus of data. These data, originating from a specific historical, economic, social, and cultural context, are articulated, interpreted, and acquire meaning in a different framework and environment through the creation of a narrative. The course initially examines the basic theoretical principles of cultural representation and connects them with practices such as interpretation, organization, management, and presentation of cultural heritage for the needs of contemporary cultural production. Consequently, it explores and processes the concept of storytelling in the light of modern digital forms of cultural information representation and interactive scenario design. Students are encouraged to examine interactive narrative works both theoretically and practically while being equipped with appropriate methodological and digital tools to compose complex and engaging scenarios for various applications encountered in the contemporary landscape of digital culture.
7 ECTS
COURSE CODE 3GR300
Vlasis Kasapakis, Alexandros Spathis, Georgios Rizopoulos
The course “3D Graphics” initially focuses on learning the basic design and theoretical principles of the field. Specifically, the course introduces students to the field of 3D graphic design through a practical approach that allows them to study and apply the basic principles of 3D graphics modeling. Additionally, students have the opportunity to learn about lighting placement, materials, and textures in 3D graphics, while both theoretical and practical techniques of 3D animation and introduction of 3D graphics to game engines and applications are approached.
10 ECTS
COURSE CODE EIP100
Instructors: Vlasis Kasapakis, Elena Tzardanova
The course “Game and Application Development in Augmented Reality Environments with C# I” initially focuses on learning the basic principles of programming with the C# language. Subsequently, the course introduces students to the Unity game and application development engine, aiming to teach its basic functionalities, the creation of virtual worlds using three-dimensional graphics, and programming behaviors for the development of interactive applications and games.
6 ECTS
COURSE CODE SXP100
Instructor: Elena Tzardanova
The course “Game Design” initially focuses on learning the basic design and theoretical principles of interactive game and application development. Specifically, the course introduces students to the field of game and application design through a fragmented approach to the basic elements involved in this process. Students are equipped with the theoretical knowledge required for conceiving and designing digital interactive games and applications, while being guided through the process of capturing the design for future development using application and game development engines.
Summer Semester
7 ECTS
Course Code: POL203
Instructor: Nikos Boubaris
The course “Studies in Culture and Media (Cultural – Media Studies) to Shape Principles and Practices in Content Design in Various Multimedia Applications such as Desktop Computing, Virtual, and Mixed Reality” focuses on the dynamic production of meanings, emotions, and experiences during the evolution of a communicative process. Content creation shapes and is shaped by the capabilities offered by digital media and user interfaces.
Specifically, content creation involves:
Application of traditional and experimental research methods to create primary data that compose the semantic and informational description of the application.
Development of narrative structures that combine alternative information flows with the dynamics of user emotional involvement.
Transformation of informational data into images, sounds, and texts that carry and reshape various socio-cultural communication patterns.
Interaction between humans and computers through which conditions are shaped to develop specific positions and communication practices between the user and the technical system.
Within the framework of the course, the above are approached and critically applied through the implementation of an interactive multimedia application.
6 ECTS
Course Code: GSD100
Instructor: Sofia Mytilinaiou
In this particular course, our initial effort is to familiarize ourselves with the new way of thinking and strategizing in the field of digital design, through the study of User Experience (UX) Design. We provide the working team with methods and tools to delve into, understand deeply, empathize, and provide the best possible outcome, not only for the client but also for the users encountered on a global scale. Following this, the result of this analytical research will bring forth information and knowledge to enrich and guide, the purely design aspect, through the User Interface (UI) Design.
In this segment of the course, we acquaint ourselves with and study the principles of composition, typography, color theory, and all the tools that a designer can utilize, customized to suit the needs of the digital realm. Additionally, we observe the disparities with print design. These design tools are aimed not only at a visually appealing outcome but also at creating the conditions (i.e., visualizing and organizing functions and content) so that users can have the most gratifying experience in various digital environments.
10 ECTS
Course Code: PEP200
Instructor: Vlasios Kasapakis
The course “Game and Application Development in Augmented Reality Environments with C# II” involves the application and extension of the principles presented in the first semester within the course “Game and Application Development in Augmented Reality Environments with C# I”, within application development environments aiming at the complete familiarization of the participants. This course presents in detail and practically the process of developing and programming applications and games in virtual and mixed reality environments using widely used development tools. Specifically, students of the MSc program are introduced to advanced game development tools and applications on the Unity platform, while implementing games and applications using a variety of techniques, employing both three-dimensional and two-dimensional graphics, on computer, virtual reality headset, as well as on mobile devices.
7 ECTS
COURSE CODE PEP300
Instructors: Vlasis Kasapakis, Elena Tzardanova
The course “Issues in Research and Experimental Design in Augmented Reality Environments” provides a comprehensive overview of Virtual and Mixed Reality (VR, MR) technologies, delving deeply into how the historical context, cultural narratives, and technological landscape of each era have contributed to the gradual development of contemporary immersive media over more than two centuries. A particular focus is placed on exploring the relationship between the vision of Virtual Reality, as articulated by various prophets, inventors, and historical artifacts, and the practical challenges involved in developing the individual technological components and integrating them into various architectural systems.
Starting from the 1990s, Virtual Reality has emerged as a recognized scientific discipline, accompanied by initial attempts to interpret the immersive experience, efforts to systematically identify and control the potential parameters influencing it, and the gradual modeling of these parameters. This period has seen an increase not only in experimentation within the field but also in the widespread adoption of the technology as a tool across a multitude of scientific domains.
κών πεδίων.