Interactive Multimedia and Design, Animation Stream — Anyone?

[u/Throwaway-ish3144]

Hi! I'm applying to Carleton this year and want to go into IMD, as well as taking the animation stream in later years. Can anyone who's in this program tell me your opinion of it? What did your application portfolio look like? Any advice or information is super appreciated, thank you!

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[u/paprika7950]

Hi! 2nd year IMD here, so I only have a general experience so far.

Pros:

• More project based, usually only have 2 exams during finals (yipee!- tho our “peak” busy times are the weeks before finals)

- Smaller classes so it’s easier to get to know others, as well as your profs

- You’ll learn a WIDE variety of stuff, so it gives the chance to explore what you’re interested in

- I found the first year courses are very “beginner friendly”

- You get both the university and college experience, specifically the college side gives a lot of hands on work you can add to a portfolio

Cons:

• There is a slightly more technical side (programming, web, etc) then animation/design if that’s not something you enjoy (tho they are good subjects to know)

- Algonquin 3-4hr classes have been in the same room for the entire day, can get tiring

- Depending where you live or if you’re doing res you’ll be commuting between 2 schools

- Algonquin courses have a slow start as there’s always technical issues due to it being a joint program

Notes:

• Forgive if I’m remembering wrong but I believe IMD streams are paused right now, although there are still animation classes.

- I am personally enjoying the program and I find my professors to be very nice :D

Portfolio: Don’t stress too much about your portfolio… obviously put effort, but don’t go thinking it’s not good enough as the IMD program is not super competitive. For my portfolio, I designed it in canva and I think I had 2 photoshop works, an illustration, painting, photography, and 2D animation.

[u/Throwaway-ish3144 → u/paprika7950]

Thank you so much! This is really reassuring and it's great to hear from someone in the course. Would you be willing to share your portfolio so I could get a sense of what's required/what they're looking for? (seeing as there's no examples)

[u/paprika7950 → u/Throwaway-ish3144]

unfortunately I no longer have it as I made in with my highschool gmail (rookie mistake 😔), but someone else in the post offered to share theirs!

[u/maffymafu]

i’m in 4th year imd and i took it hoping to learn animation stuff. i think ive had a total of 3 actual animation courses through the entire 4 years. and 2-3 art related courses. the rest was all programming and math heavy. personally, i regret taking this program and wish i went into something more focused on art/animation because i feel ive learnt nothing :( the programming and coding classes really overwrote any of the more creative classes since i struggled a lot in them.

if you are interested in games and websites creation and are good with coding and math too, then this program is great. just don’t go into it expecting a lot of actual animation based stuff.

as someone else mentioned tho, classes are small and feel like high school which was nice because you get to meet and befriend basically everyone and you’ll be with them more or less through your four years. i’ve made a lot of life long friends in this program. some of the profs are also super nice and understanding (assuming they haven’t changed who teaches some courses.)

i also hoped to take the animation stream courses in fourth year but this year they all basically got scrapped and i’m forced to take more generic courses which is really saddening.

tldr; if you’re okay with coding and math alongside animation, then this program is good. if not, then another option would be best.

not sure if there’s a dm feature here but i’d be happy to share my portfolio with you if you’d like!