Interactive Development
Overview
Interactive Developers are part scientist and part inventor. Mathematicians and magicians. They take ideas and bring them to life. Developers have a passion for technology, coding, organization, communication and creativity. They can take a PhotoShop document and make it move, sing, bounce and play. Developers are comfortable with foreign languages like those spoken in Flash, Flex, Air, and Android. But they don’t keep all the fun to themselves. At The Creative Circus, like in the working world, Interactive Developers work closely with art directors, designers and copywriters (the creative team) to bring ideas to life.
The Creative Circus Interactive Development Program is unlike anything of its kind. Imagine spending a year learning how to code in ActionScript 3.0 for Flash, and then taking your expertise to a creative team whom you’ll help bring real-world projects to life. Year one is dedicated to aggressively expanding the students’ skills in all areas of coding and development. Students also participate in competitions. “Hacking” contests are a fun way to test students’ skill levels in problem solving.
A presentation layer developer must understand the constraints of digital media. You don’t have to be completely versed in design, copywriting or art direction, but when you walk in the door, we expect that you know how to use a computer and that you have the drive to learn. Bring your curiosity and willingness to participate in a rigorous program, and we’ll take care of the rest.
The Curriculum
In the first year you’ll learn all the critical scripting and programming languages in use today, along with up-and-coming applications. You’ll develop an understanding of the most cutting-edge programs that turn designs into reality. Expect to be versatile in all the engaging applications that cross the relevant mediums.
Year two is unlike any we know. You’ll hone your skills in communication and become integral to the industry by working on projects developed in conjunction with copywriters, art directors, designers and photographers. Picture making the web site for an electric car by Duracell, coding a new interface for Facebook, or creating a working smartphone app for Urban Outfitters. Sure, the work is spec, but you’re collaborating with the next movers and shakers of the industry to show real-world stuff. Pieces that feature marketing intelligence and gorgeous design.
Competencies
- Ability to create engaging applications across all relevant mediums.
- Problem-solving skills
- Version control
- Unit-testing
- Reverse engineering
- Platform agnostic development on OSX, Windows, and Linux
- Quality execution of code
- Communication skills
- De-coupled and agile coding techniques
- Patterns based development
- Creative collaboration
- Invention and creation
- Ability to code by deadline
- Spirit of competition
- Ability to turn designs into reality
- Ability to work on projects in the discovery phase and become a true part of the team and the concept, rather than simply a production person.
The Creative Circus Development Program is agile and future-proof, in that we’re constantly validating technologies as they come down the pipeline to determine if they’re relevant for our students. If it’s something you need to know, it will be in our curriculum. We’re also working with leading professionals in the field and have established partnerships with software vendors, mobile software representatives, and other emerging technology experts.
Graduation Requirements
To graduate as a presentation layer developer, you must have a full grasp of object-oriented programming. You should be able to leverage streaming technologies to develop applications across multiple mediums. We also expect you to be able to communicate fluently and productively with the creative team. Your portfolio will feature real-world working samples geared toward the advertising and design industry. You will have a site that is database-driven and shows advanced use of the technology. Your site will showcase projects developed throughout the program. Finally, code will be assessed to make sure it is properly executed, continuous, and standards-compliant.
Career Services
While presentation layer development is an emerging area and career prospects are quite good, it’s incumbent upon the student to do due diligence in seeking out job opportunities. The staying power of a developer in the industry is directly proportionate to his ability to understand, respect and participate in what the creative team is doing. These are the skills we teach here at The Creative Circus and the very values that set us apart from any other school .