North Carolina State University (NC State) is home to the College of Design, which recently celebrated its 75th year in existence. Within the College are several labs including Experience Design (IX) and Mixed Reality (MxR). The IX Lab is a cross-disciplinary community of artists, designers, humanists, scientists, and engineers that focus on expanding worlds through AR/VR and other new and emerging technologies.
The MxR Lab consists of designers, engineers, and individuals interested in experimentation. The Lab focuses on AR/VR and MR technologies. Projects have included Axe One, Morphaces, and Pop’n’Play.
The College of Engineering at NC State is home to the Edward P. Fitts Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering, which houses an additional lab—the Virtual and Augmented Reality Lab (VR).
In the VR Lab researchers study the interaction between humans and AR/VR. Projects have included User Performance Training and Patient Motor Learning. Current projects include Scale Cognition through Advanced Learning Environments in Virtual Reality (SCALE-VR); Virtual Instructor Application using Augmented Reality for Worker Posture Training; and Investigation of Virtual Reality Guided Upper Limb Exercises.
Accessible equipment includes four-sided (C4) Cave Automatic Virtual Environment (CAVE) with full-body tracking capability, several head-mounted displays (HMDs), and a head-up display (HUD). In addition, a variety of peripheral devices that support movement tracking are available.
The College of Design at North Carolina State University has several programs for students interested in studying AR/VR. Options include BA and MA degrees in Art + Design (A + D) and a 16 credit hour A + D Minor with a customizable curriculum. All programs provide access to the schools AR/VR labs.
The interdisciplinary, studio-based A + D BA program provides the opportunity to learn about and develop creative portfolios in areas such as AR/VR, Interactive and Computational Media, Motion Graphics, Visual Effects (VFX), Graphic and Interactive Narratives, Game Design, 3D Modeling, and others. In addition, three Concentrations are available: Gaming + Interaction Design, Animation (2D + 3D), and Fibers + Soft Construction.
Students may also create a focus through required free electives totaling 12 credit hours. Elective examples include Advanced Digital Techniques, Digital Representation, and Art + Design Laboratory. Course examples for the program include Visualization, Art + Design Laboratory, Creative Technology, Digital Imaging, Advanced Digital Techniques, Digital Motion, and Animation. Studios include Creative technology, Art and Design International, and Design, Context, and Experience.
The A + D MA (M.A.D) focuses on Experimental Media Arts. Depending on the student’s academic background and experience, they may enroll in the 30-, 48- or 72-credit Track. Course examples include Sequential Imaging, Visualizing Narratives, Graduate Studio: Immersive and Experimental narratives, Digital Motion, Special Effects, Animation, Dynamic Data, Digital Modeling, and Coding for Designers. Final projects for the M.A.D. Program may explore AR/VR, VFX, Interactive and Computational Media, Graphic and Interactive Narratives, Visual Composition, and Motion Graphics, among others.
Graduates of the A + D programs at North Carolina State University work in fields such as Software Design, Multimedia, Illustration, Textile Design, Fashion Design, Art and Design Education, Photography, Filmmaking, SFX and VFX, Set Design, Exhibition Design, Museum Education, and Public Art. Some graduates have launched their own businesses and studios.
North Carolina State University employs 9,000+ faculty and staff that serve more than 36,000 students, making it the largest university in the University of North Carolina System. Established in 1887 as a land-grant institution focusing in agriculture and engineering, NC State offers more than 300 degree programs across 11 colleges, 68 departments, and The Graduate School. North Carolina State University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).