Creative Possibilities Become Reality at Cleveland Institute of Art

Cleveland Institute of Art has been a leader in creativity and innovation for more than a century. The latest example? CIA’s state-of-the-art Interactive Media Lab (IML) — one of only a few virtual production spaces of its kind in the country.

Entertainment design is a growing field with innovative, high-paying jobs. The IML — coupled with CIA’s Virtual and Augmented Reality minor — is preparing students across every major for those jobs and giving them the skills to be pioneers in a rapidly expanding industry. Simply put, the hands-on experience they gain at CIA puts them at a huge advantage.

What are virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR)?

• VR immerses users in a completely digital world by creating computer-generated environments that are accessed through VR headsets. Think games like Beat Saber or other applications, such as training simulations for flying a plane.

• AR is based on real-world images and content and superimposes digital images in the real world. Think apps that allow you to try on an outfit before you buy it or your favorite Snapchat filter.

So, ask yourself:

Are you a visual storyteller? Envision your stories unfolding in imaginary worlds using AR or VR. The IML features the same tech used to film The Mandalorian.

Do you want to create video games? Picture yourself learning how to build the next hit video game hit and testing it in an in-house arcade with fellow gamers.

Interested in design? Imagine slipping on a headset and designing products, automobiles or imaginary worlds in virtual reality.

Are you a visual artist? Digitize your paintings, drawings, sculpture, ceramics or jewelry using high-tech equipment to more easily share and sell your work.

All of this — and more — is possible at CIA’s IML, where students can push their imaginations further than they ever thought possible.

What does a current CIA student say?

Tim Wise is a third-year Animation student at CIA. He likes telling stories and showing emotion in ways words can’t perfectly describe, he says. When he graduates, he hopes to be a 3D animator for a large video game company or handling CGI assets for film crews.

“The IML’s technology is relatively new, and as more studios begin to adopt it, it becomes increasingly important to know how to use it effectively,” he says. “Jobs will open up using that equipment and being able to navigate it effectively is extremely helpful toward getting a job.”

Wise interned at the IML last summer. He gained firsthand knowledge of the creative tools available to him and other students.

“Working at the IML was a once-in-a-lifetime experience!” he says. “I got to work with and learn about extremely high-end emerging technologies that show great potential for allowing students to produce high-end films for much less than it would cost normally.”

How can you use CIA’s IML?

What are some of those high-end technologies and spaces at the IML? Let’s explore:

• The XR Studio features a 36-foot LED wall and inlaid LED floor that seamlessly integrate to help students build immersive visuals. It invites students to create Hollywood-caliber productions.

“Imagine a movie studio, and you can bring in props or vehicles or whatever is in the content you want to create, but the studio has a digital backdrop and a digital floor,” explains Industrial Design faculty Jason Tilk.

• The Arcade features two side-by-side 98-inch TV screens for shared gaming experiences using PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Switch consoles — perfect for community gaming experiences with classmates.

“One of these rooms has a high-end VR headset called Varjo. It’s so crisp that it looks like you’re looking at the real world,” says Rachel Yurkovich, CIA’s associate director of technology.

• The Digital Capture Studio is equipped with 3D scanners and photogrammetry gear that allow students to turn real-world objects — think paintings or other fine art — and people into digital models.

• The Rapid Prototyping Lab includes 3D printers and laser cutters. Students can produce set designs for film productions, or if they design products, they can make physical models before moving to final production.

• Equipment Checkout provides students with free access to high-end tech and equipment. In other words, all the tools needed to create something in the IML are at your fingertips.

Are you ready to bring your creative visions to life and pursue an education — and career — in art and design? Schedule a visit to CIA and the IML at cia.edu/visit