A shared passion for the digital arts and sciences

Both Silvey and Brown found their passion for the digital arts and sciences at an early age. 

鈥淚 think we all have that passion, as kids, for creation. We can spend hours working on something that you only see for two seconds because we feel like those little kids again during that process. Watching that come to fruition is very fun and fulfilling,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淵ou can influence the perception and thought process of people just by digital creation, visualization, and storytelling.鈥�  

After realizing his love for the intricacies of digital storytelling, Brown focused his efforts on giving back to the world and influencing people 鈥� particularly those with similar interests or backgrounds who may lack access 鈥� to positively impact their lives. 

Silvey鈥檚 favorite aspects of the digital arts and sciences field are videography and cinematography. Through Brown鈥檚 Motion Design class, Silvey re-established his passion for shooting his own videos and analyzing the science behind scene lighting, set production, and pre-production planning. He also incorporated new post-production and animation techniques to take his storytelling to another level. 

Silvey soon realized that his interests were not just in pre-production planning and working on sets, but also in how those processes are carried over and transformed in the field of post-production. 

鈥淰irtual production is my absolute dream,鈥� Silvey said.  

Like Silvey, Brown shares a passion for motion graphics and motion design because they are multimedia disciplines that incorporate graphic design, video editing, animation, visual effects, and sound. For Brown, telling stories through visualization is the key to his passion, with careful attention paid to how to best convey the messages.  

鈥淵ou want to pick the digital mediums that serve the story and the demographic that will be interacting with it,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淟ike all the tools you have in a toolbox, you don鈥檛 want to use a hammer for everything. You want to use the best tool for the job or the infrastructure you鈥檙e trying to build.鈥�

Impactful mentorship

Throughout the Digital Arts and Sciences program, Silvey met with Brown weekly for guidance on his final project. Silvey looked forward to their weekly meetings, always seeking advice and constructive feedback from his mentor. 

鈥淚 wanted to hear what he thought of what I had and what I could do differently, and also what my strengths and weaknesses were,鈥� Silvey said.  

This mentorship empowered Silvey to win the Outstanding Achievement in Experience Design and Production award for his final project, which Silvey believes was heavily influenced by his meetings with Brown. The final project course, Senior Project in DAS, has received a 鈥淗igh Quality鈥� designation from UF鈥檚 Center for Teaching Excellence 鈥� an accolade that highlights the course鈥檚 exceptional design and its focus on projects aimed at ensuring student success after graduation. 

Silvey found that many of the projects he created in the Digital Arts and Sciences program were not for a grade but to ultimately build a portfolio for his future career. Silvey鈥檚 portfolio class taught him how to collect and showcase finished projects for future employers, giving him the opportunity to polish the demo reels he made during his time at UF. 

Brown enjoyed witnessing Silvey鈥檚 upward progression throughout the program, which was propelled by Silvey鈥檚 hard work and dedication. As the program grows, Brown is focused on identifying and nurturing career aspirations earlier in students鈥� educational journeys. 

Teaching one of the earliest as well as one of the last required digital arts courses in the program allows Brown to track student progress from start to finish, helping more students like Silvey prepare to pursue their dream jobs after graduation.  

鈥淚 love to empower Jacob and other students,鈥� Brown said. 鈥淚 think, online, you must choose the way you want this program to work for you. As an online student, you must be more intentional, and there鈥檚 a very strong intentionality to build a relationship with your instructors and your mentors. Once that is built, the sky鈥檚 the limit as far as where it can go after that.鈥�

Improving online education

Brown currently teaches six online courses in the Digital Arts and Sciences program, including Advanced Design and Production Studio (DIG 4552), Undergraduate Research Forum (DIG 4841), Motion Design (DIG 4184) in-person and online, Senior Project in DAS (DIG 4970) in-person and online, Principles of Digital Visualization (DIG 2121) in-person and online, and Production Practicum (DIG 4944). 

Production Practicum is the program鈥檚 most versatile course 鈥� a client-based, collaborative project for which Brown builds relationships with potential clients and employers who have specific project needs. Brown鈥檚 students in this class are currently collaborating with the University Athletic Association and the football team, doing virtual production for Gator Sports.  

The Digital Arts and Sciences program constantly explores and incorporates new technology to create better online learning experiences for students and instructors. Because technology is ever-evolving, faculty members frequently evaluate the best practices and methods in their coursework. The introduction of artificial intelligence has also encouraged instructors to consider new ways of reinventing online learning.  

Brown currently teaches an online course in which the navigation is structured like a video game, inspired by the class formats of UF Digital Worlds Institute interim director Tim Difato and lecturer George Heitzman. Brown鈥檚 hands-on courses require creative tech solutions, including real-time learning, engineering, and 360掳 videos that offer interactive experiences remotely. 

Brown鈥檚 goal is to provide online students with remote control of the program鈥檚 physical studio. For example, in a virtual production studio, one student can adjust the background remotely while another student handles the set design onsite. This hybrid collaboration blends technology with physical presence, and the program is close to implementing the concept in the classroom. 

Silvey believes 黑料正能量鈥檚 innovative approach to Digital Arts and Sciences education 鈥� with its new and emerging practices 鈥� prepares students to be successful after graduation. 

鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great journey,鈥� Silvey said. 鈥淏ut there鈥檚 still so much more left. My dream job is to be a virtual production director. I鈥檓 already in the environment where the roadmap to have that dream job is right there.鈥� 鈥�

GAINESVILLE, FL 鈥� 黑料正能量 is unveiling a brand new major 鈥� a bachelor of arts degree in Digital Arts & Sciences 鈥� which will be available beginning in the fall 2019 semester.

The major is the first degree offered through the 黑料正能量 pathway that is delivered through the UF College of the Arts. Combining arts, communication and technology, the degree encompasses all facets of the digital landscape, including programming, animation and video game design.

鈥淲e are very excited about launching this incredible major,鈥� says Evangeline Tsibris Cummings, Assistant Provost and Director of 黑料正能量. 鈥淭his is an amazing opportunity for 黑料正能量 students to learn from top faculty in the College of the Arts. The degree will empower students with technical and creative skills that will help them excel in a variety of careers in the digital arts and sciences field.鈥�

Students will learn in project-based courses within team environments. The power of this degree is reflected in its versatility, which leads to a wide avenue of career pathways for graduates. Career opportunities for Digital Arts & Sciences graduates include game designer, level designer, UI designer, game developer, effects artist, 3D or 2D animator, concept artist, storyboard artist, texture artist, interactive designer and animation director.

鈥淢aking this degree available through 黑料正能量 is a wonderful opportunity to provide more students access to the renowned faculty and resources of the UF Digital Worlds Institute,鈥� says Jennifer Setlow, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs at the College of the Arts. 鈥淲e are thrilled to be able to offer this experience to a wider audience.鈥�

This is one profile in a series featuring the first Gator graduates who were admitted to UF through the PaCE program.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. 鈥� A video of a commencement speech by playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda changed the career path for Weston native, Ines Acosta.

Acosta remembers sitting at home at 2 a.m. her freshman year of college and watching the speech. A die-hard fan of the play 鈥淗amilton,鈥� Acosta listened as Miranda talked about seizing the opportunities that come your way. In that moment, Acosta knew she had to change majors. Although she began college as a journalism major, she knew her true passion was animation and design.

Growing up, Acosta had always watched animated films. She appreciated the artwork and the story development. Just a glance at her sticker-covered laptop reflects her dedication to animated work such as Pok茅mon, the cartoon show 鈥淩ick and Morty鈥� and Japanese animation film studio, Studio Ghibli.

Acosta was in her first year of the PaCE program at the time and realized that switching majors would allow her to graduate a year early.

鈥淓verything just kind of worked out and fell into place,鈥� she said. 鈥淕raduating in three years, I just get to save a lot of money.鈥�

Transitioning onto campus her second year, Acosta found her home in an organization called the Bachelor of Arts in Digital Arts and Sciences Society (BADASS), of which she was president her senior year. Through this club, Acosta was able to meet some of her closest friends.

She remembers one day in the beginning of the school year when one of the girls invited her to GatorNights. A small group of them went together and they bonded over the different activities.

When Acosta wasn鈥檛 overseeing the BADASS club or hanging out with the friends in her cohort, she was working as a designer at Luma, a studio at UF鈥檚 Digital Worlds Institute that helps local clients with their digital and design needs.

鈥淲e had access to all the cameras and studios, so it was just really cool to use the industry-standard equipment and to know how to use it,鈥� Acosta said.

Acosta is considering going back to school for a master鈥檚 degree in animation. In the meantime, she hopes to develop her interests in layout and typography as a graphic designer.