Study overview BSc Creative Technology

Overview modules

• Year 1EC

  • Module 1 | We create Identity15

    The first module is an introduction to Creative Technology as a discipline and as a subject. You will learn: to describe various aspects typical of the field of Creative Technology (example products, societal context, processes and issues in the field, techniques for creative thinking), to a certain extent, to describe your own position in this field (“Me as a Creative Technologist”),  to work in a project (first encounter with planning, collaboration, communication and organisation), to describe, and apply to yourself, possible roles that one can take in a project or creative development process, and to apply a first set of skills and insights in the various thematic subfields underlying the curriculum (Smart Technology, Interactive Media, Computer Science and Engineering, (Visual) Storytelling, Programming)

    Modules 1-8 have time dedicated to professional development which you will use to broaden and deepen your knowledge and skills in the field of Creative Technology, and develop yourself as a professional.

  • Module 2 | Smart Environments15

    In the Smart Environments module students learn various techniques from different disciplines that are needed to invent, design and realize a (prototype of) a smart environment. It consists out of the following courses: 

    Smart Environments Core consisting of:
    - Smart Environment Project: in this project you get to design and create a prototype for a smart product. This means a product that can solve a problem by adapting in smart ways.
    - Smart Environment lectures and Programming & Physical Computing: this course teaches you about interactive systems and how to work with an arduino.  

    Introduction to Engineering consists of Sounds and Circuits (in which you will learn about basics of electrical circuits and sound waves in lab sessions), and Mathematics 2.

    Interactive Visualisation: this part of the module focuses on basic techniques like some elementary 3D modeling, and scripting for interaction using Unity3D.  

    Professional Development: the course in which you are free to pick a direction for your own personal development. You can choose a training, a course or workshops that will help you develop futher as a Creative Technologist.

  • Module 3 | Living & Working tomorrow15

    As an independent creative professional, it is necessary that you develop skills to generate ideas (ideation), explore and tinker. It is also necessary that you can imagine, realize, present and evaluate ideas in the context of an external assignment.

    One of the main attributes of a creative engineer is visualising and concretising ideas, both as an independent professional or by external assignment. These ideas need to be presented in a way that allows for tinkering, tweaking, playing and testing - before they are ready for market or production. There are many ways for visualising or realising ideas in such a way that they can be presented to and discussed with others. This process of choosing a representation, tinkering and explorative research is the bottom-line of this module.

    Central topic in the module is assignments by external clients. The assignments deal with both technology (smart products, electronics, new media) and design aspects. Students have to make a well-balanced choice in the tools they use for visualising and discussing their solutions (mock-ups, prototypes, simulation, 3D visualisation, movie) and evaluate the work that has been realised (discuss evaluation criteria, produce and evaluate measurement results, discuss their choices in shape and design and used methodology).

  • Module 4 | Art, Impact & Technology15

    Module 4 will close off year 1 but will be a lot of fun as it is focussed on human interaction and art. The primary objective is to develop an installation that has an emotional impact on the spectator / participant by way of making an artistic statement. Practical application or utility is not of primary concern unless it is part of the statement. Further, the students tell the story, both visually and textually, behind the (creation) of their installation and place it in its context, both for the user interaction, and also for the artistic tradition. 

    Art [&&] Impact Project: this is the project in which you will create an interactive art installation for the Gogbot festival. After the summer holiday you will even have a chance to present your installation at the festival in September. 

    Design for Experience: in this course you will learn how to design a product or interaction in such a way that you convey the experience that you want to create. 

    Algorithms for Creative Technology: this course tackles the programming part of  designing an interactive installation experience. You'll get a series of assignments on algorithms that form a solid basis on algorithmic knowledge and that are relevant in the context of Creative Technology.

    Statistics: this course teaches you the foundations of statistics and probabilities. The knowledge learned in this course can be used for predicting and calculate the impact of a product or installation. 

    Professional Development: the course in which you are free to pick a direction for your own personal development. You can choose a training, a course or workshops that will help you develop further as a Creative Technologist.
• Year 2EC

  • Module 5 | Specialisation15

    This module is an elective module. The subjects in these three sub-modules vary, but both will offer you the fundamental knowledge of tools you will frequently use when you carry out your profession. 

    Smart Technology (systems, signals, smart environments)
    In the Smart Technology specialisation, you will learn about systems, signals and smart environments. You will be thought the processes behind filters, amplifiers, step responses, sensors, and control systems. This theory will then be applied in lab sessions where you will be able to work  with these concepts. Additionally, you will receive the mathematics which is necessary to understand systems and signals. A Smart Tech Hackathon will mark the end of the specialisation. In this hackathon you will build installations in small groups with the knowledge you have acquired during the specialisation.

    Interactive Media (internet, games, visualisation)
    In the Interactive Media specialisation you will learn what is needed to animate movies and games. You will work with concepts such as the analysis and synthesis of sound, game theory, and 3D visualisations and animations. Additionally, you will learn to use virtual reality and augmented reality. All the acquired knowledge in this specialisation will be combined into a final project. In this project you will create an interactive experience or 3D game in pairs.

    Humane by design
    Humane by design is offered by VU Amsterdam. This specialisation focuses on raising awareness of the consequences of technology for people and society as a whole.

  • Module 6 | Interaction Design15

    Which factors should you consider in the interaction between people and technical systems? In this module, you will learn designing for User Experience through Human Computer Interaction, realising, and evaluating low-fidelity and high-fidelity prototypes of an interactive system.

  • Module 7 | Hands-on AI15

    Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are very present in our daily and professional lives. Understanding them and being able to use them in your designs, prototypes and installations is what we aim at with this module.
    We choose a hands-on approach, you will learn by doing, for example programming with Python on a dedicated hardware (touch-sensitive patch).

  • Module 8 | Data: from the Sources to the Senses15

    Module 8 centres around the Hybrid Worlds project, in which you will build an installation that showcases the interplay between the physical world and the digital world using an interactive data physicalisation. You will, for example, might come up with an interactive installation, such as a table-top screen that can display a three-dimensional, colour-lit bar chart presenting the migration flows in a given country. 

    You will draw on all the knowledge and skills you acquired in previous modules. The goal is to use and process data from various sources, and to present them in a physical, interactive installation.
• Year 3EC

  • Modules 9&10 | Electives30

    Modules 9 & 10 are electives, these are your options:

    - Do a pre-master’s course to prepare for a master’s programme.
    - Spend half a year (a semester) studying at a university abroad.
    - Do an internship at a company, and discover your added value as a Creative Engineer.
    - Is your ambition to teach? Choose the Education minor and get a second-degree teaching qualification, which will allow you to work as a teacher at high-school level.

    Or choose another module at UT (view all minors).

  • Modules 11 & 12 | Bachelor's Assignment30

    In the second half of your third year, you get to choose from a number of electives in the fields of human technology interaction, ethics and professional conduct. You will also take (compulsory) subjects, including Academic Writing and Reflection. These are designed to help you to successfully complete your graduation assignment. Throughout these last six months, you will be busy with your graduation assignment, solving a current issue in a scientific way.

    Before you start, we will discuss with you the research question you want to focus on. You can carry out your project at UT, in the business world or, for example, at a government organisation. Upon completion of your graduation thesis, you will receive your bachelor’s diploma and you can officially call yourself Bachelor of Science (BSc).