Langara’s Electronic Media Design program places a strong emphasis on creative sharing. Students and instructors are constantly engaging in discussion, process and critique of design. The learning environment is intense and evolves quickly as students learn about new technologies and ways to strategically implement creative problem solving. In 2006, Haig Armen, EMD’s Interface Design instructor, saw the opportunity to encourage more interaction and conversation between future and current students with a web project.
Haig’s idea was a site that would allow students to post work, engage in conversation and continue the creative dialogue outside of class time. He shared the concept with the community of EMD, and other facilitators saw the incredible possibility of the website. During EMD 12’s Interface Design class the idea was forming to the point of bringing it to the students and gauging the reaction. The class agreed to work on the site as an assignment. A place to find information and techniques, a place to post work, to have conversations, to gain input on projects, it was exactly what the community of EMD needed?a snap shot and time capsule that anyone could refer to. It became clear from all of the design mockups that the design and artwork needed to be the focal point, in tandem with discussion.
The visuals were presented by Haig to the coordinators of the program, who were enthusiastic with the results and keen on going forward with project. In the beginning of EMD 12’s last term, the class was propositioned by the faculty to build the website in a real world scenario with Haig as our creative leader. The process was immense and involved and undoubtedly the invaluable to our learning as individuals and as a group. The result was The EMD HUB, design and community together.
