Course overview
Users’ needs and behavior with media content are continuously evolving in the era of new media technologies. New storytelling platforms, such as augmented reality (AR), introduce novel opportunities and challenges for informing and engaging the users. In this semester-long class (COMM494), we will develop innovative AR solutions for civic engagement by using human-centered design methodology (design thinking). Each student team will propose a semester-long project, choosing one target domain area from the following options: engagement and information delivery in journalistic storytelling, storytelling in democratic decision-making and storytelling in informational campus tours.
Teams will spend the rest of the semester applying human-centered design methods to rapidly iterate through designing, prototyping, and testing of their solutions. Students will learn about AR as a storytelling medium and applying human-centered design methods to rapidly iterate through designing, prototyping, and testing of their AR solutions. This course interweaves a weekly lecture with a weekly studio session where students apply the techniques hands-on in a small, supportive environment.