What will the media of the future feel like? How will the variety of media platforms merge and develop together (the Internet, television, social media, and experiences in real and virtual spaces), to create new forms of play, learning and growth?

Our current way of consuming media is a lonely affair. When we watch films or series, we are essentially gone from the group, away from our friends and family.

But we are seeing something new happen – and we believe it’s important – that was first picked up by Henry Jenkins in his book „Participatory Culture“. People want to step inside the worlds of the stories – and take their friends with them. They want to enjoy media as a social experience.

Our Expanded Media programme is about this new, social and immersive dimension of media consumption. We prepare media professionals to design entertainment products that cater to this growing demand for immersion, interaction, and participation.

Specifically, we are preparing students for jobs in new media agencies that focus on immersive, spatial design with present-day applications for events, e.g. trade shows, festivals, theatre, or museums, with an eye towards augmented reality (AR) and the Metaverse (convergence in spatial interfaces).

Please note that if you are seeking a job in UX/UI design for traditional websites and apps, you may find better programmes elsewhere.

The emphasis of the programme lies on experience design, i.e. the conception of experiences in above the line positions (writer, director, lead designer, creative director). The technical skill to implement these concepts is considered a prerequisite to enter, although students will have a chance to complement their area of specialisation while working in interdisciplinary teams.

Within the three focus areas – Expanded Storyworlds, Expanded Sound & Music and Expanded Realities – students are given the opportunity to develop their individual strategies to offer their users a personal & impactful experience.

Rooted in h_da’s tradition of technology leadership, students create extraordinary pieces of media that would be impossible to conceive elsewhere, going well beyond the limits of traditional film & design schools. With access to cuttting-edge technology in over 30 different labs, students from all over the world collaborate on interdisciplinary projects.