CBMC New Media Design for POD | RIT Dubai

Program Contact

Carlos Montana-Hoyos

Chair of Interdisciplinary Arts and Design Department, Associate Professor of New Media Design

Interdisciplinary Art and Design Department

Accredited by the
United Arab Emirates
Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

Overview

Every day, millions of people engage in interactive digital experiences, from smartphones and smart TVs, to tablets, wearables, gaming systems, and more. In the CBMC in New Media Design for People of Determination you’ll explore the fundamentals of visual communication, digital design, photography and videography, that give you the skills you need to communicate through captivating visual and interactive media.

New media is an ever-changing form of digital communication that engages, immerses, and entertains its users. The term new media was first coined in the mid-80s to refer to the impact computing was beginning to have on traditional forms of media, such as newspapers, radio, and television. But as digital platforms began to evolve beyond the internet, new media came to encompass all types of information and entertainment accessed by our computers, phones, and tablets.

New media now encompasses anything that integrates communication, computing, and technology – from social media (Facebook, Instagram) and streaming services (Spotify, Hulu, Amazon Prime), to highly interactive digital technologies like wearables (Apple Watch, FitBit), virtual reality, augmented reality, and gaming.

This highly selective program is available to a select group of students chosen from the applicant pool.

Mission Statement

The CMBC in New Media Design for people of determination is a subset of courses from the BFA at RIT Dubai. It empowers creative thinkers to become ethical, innovative, and globally minded interdisciplinary designers who use emerging technologies to tell stories, create meaningful experiences, solve real-world challenges, and shape the future. Through experiential learning and interdisciplinary collaborations, our graduates are prepared to combine art, design, technology, research and entrepreneurship to lead with creativity, integrity, and purpose.

Secure your spot today!

Fall 2026 Intake!

Applications are now open for the Fall 2026 intake of the Credit-bearing micro-credential programs.

Click here to apply

Program Goals

The CBMC in New Media Design for People of Determination is a subset of courses from the BFA at RIT Dubai. Program goals are broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within the program. The New Media Design faculty, in conjunction with its constituents, have established the following program goals:

Future-Oriented Skills: Aims to elevate the technological proficiency of students by refining specific technical competencies, digital media Design, and artificial intelligence utilization. These competencies are pivotal in preparing students for the ever-evolving demands of contemporary media landscapes.
Creativity and Productivity within the New Media Design Context: Equipping students with professional methodologies and enabling them to adeptly transform their written content into suitable formats for consumption within the new media Design environment.
Community activist: Through the practical application of new media Design tools and strategies, students will be motivated to interact with and contribute to discussions surrounding these multifaceted issues. This approach underscores the program's commitment to nurturing informed and socially-conscious individuals.

Program Learning Outcomes

PLO1: Apply visual design theories, methodologies, principles and practices through the examination and development of multidisciplinary new media design projects.

PLO2: Use design processes and methods to solve communication problems through the creation of digital visual products.

PLO3: Manage both individual and team-based multidisciplinary collaborations for new media design projects.

Curriculum

Course		Sem. Cr. Hrs.
NMDE-111	New Media Design Digital Survey I This project-based course is an investigation of the computer as an illustrative, imaging, and graphical generation tool. It develops foundational design skills in raster and vector image creation, editing, compositing, layout and visual design for online production. Emphasis will be on the application of visual design organization methods and principles for electronic media. Students will create and edit images, graphics, layouts and typography to form effective design solutions for online delivery.	3
PHAR-160	Intro to Digital Photography This course is an introduction to digital photography. Through assignments and projects, students will become familiar with the operation of a DSLR camera, while exploring the basic principles of lighting, depth of field, blur/stop motion, and accurate exposure. Lectures will address photographic aesthetics, contemporary and historical practices, and their applications. Students will learn to critique work through participation in discussions of photographic assignments. Students will have access to camera equipment through the Photo Cage and may also use their own digital SLR cameras.	3
FDTN-141	4D Design 4D Design introduces students to the basic concepts of art and design in time and space. The course explores elements of moving images such as continuity, still and moving image editing, transitions and syntax, sound and image relations, and principles of movement. Computers, video, photo, sound and lighting equipment are used to create short-form time-based work relevant to students in all majors and programs required to take this course. The course addresses the both historical conventions of time in art and recent technological advances, which are redefining the fields of Fine Art and Design. In focusing on the relations between students' spacing and timing skills, 4D Design extends and supplements the other Foundation courses, and prepares students for further work with time-based media.	3
	Elective Courses (Choose one of the following)
NMDE-112	New Media Design Digital Survey II	3
NMDE-112	New Media Design Digital Survey II Through formal studies and perceptual understanding, including aesthetics, graphic form, structure, concept development, visual organization methods and interaction principles, students will design graphical solutions to communication problems for static and interactive projects. Students will focus on creating appropriate and usable design systems through the successful application of design theory and best practices. Assignments exploring aspects of graphic imagery, typography, usability and production for multiple digital devices and formats will be included.
FDTN-111	Drawing I	3
FDTN-111	Drawing I This course is an introduction to the visualization of form, thought, and expression through the drawing process and is the first of two sequential courses that are the foundation of the drawing curriculum in the College of Art and Design. Concepts are introduced by lectures, discussions, and demonstrations which are designed to provide a broad introductory experience. Students will experiment with a wide variety of media, tools, techniques and subjects to develop drawing and problem-solving skills related to form and composition. The focus of the course is to provide awareness of the full range of ways in which drawing is used as a tool for both self-expression and communication.

Website last updated: August 20, 2026