RIT new media designers continue success in 'MODE Fest'
Shannon Lesch '26
"Overboard" is an interactive experience produced by RIT designers and programmers that was showcased during Imagine RIT: Creativity and Innovation Festival in April 2025. Users play a shipwrecked pirate in this "floor-is-lava" type game that was recognized in the biennial motion design competition, "Mode Fest."
RIT new media design students are known for being adaptive to the constantly evolving technologies related to the field.
Their recent recognition in MODE Fest 2025 exemplifies the program’s focus on innovative design solutions. MODE Fest (standing for Motion Design Education) is a biennial celebration of student and emerging motion designers making imaginative work, as reviewed by a panel of renowned industry professionals and respected academics. Hye-Jin Nae, associate professor in the new media design program, has served as one of the judges since 2021.
Four projects out of RIT’s new media design program received honors in the international competition’s Interactive and Experiential category (one winner and three finalists). Each was screened at the MODE Summit in Prague, Czech Republic, over the summer.
This was the fourth consecutive MODE Fest that student work from RIT’s School of Design was acknowledged. The 2025 honored works were:
‘Overboard’
Winner, Interactive and Experiential category
Collaboration between new media design and new media interactive development students.
New media design: Sydney Lewkowicz, Braelyn McFarland, Allison Regnante, Heather Shields, Caitlin Tak-Nguyen, Annelise Wall, and Gwen Williams
New media interactive development: Andrew Black, Elia Cohen, and Colby Heaton
Class: New Media Capstone II, in collaboration with The Strong National Museum of Play, taught by Associate Professor Jason Arena, Lecturer Travis Stodter, and Adjunct Faculty Alances Vargas
‘Sensation in the Brain’
Finalist, Interactive and Experiential category
By Jessica Hall ’26 (new media design)
Class: New Media Design Elements III, taught by Associate Professor Hye-Jin Nae
‘Wax Wisdom’
Finalist, Interactive and Experiential category
By Brandon Riley ’25 (new media design)
Class: New Media Design Elements III, taught by Associate Professor Hye-Jin Nae
‘Mimic Monster’
Finalist, Interactive and Experiential category
By Brandon Riley ’25 (new media design)
Class: New Media Design Interactive IV, taught by Visiting Lecturer Mike Minerva
