Interactive Media students ‘show what they are capable of’ during international project in Barbados

Isabella Hilditch and her five fellow Interactive Media graduate students were deliberate and purposeful when they started their Interactive Project for the Public Good this past fall, which culminated with a weeklong trip during Winter Term to Bridgetown, Barbados, to gather multimedia content and assets.

The student cohort was tasked with overhauling Lifelong Skills Training Inc’s online presence, building a new website, creating video projects, and developing a media branding campaign that uniquely reflected the nonprofit organization that supports students with disabilities.

Above all, the materials needed to celebrate the organization’s vibrant and loving community.

“From the start, we identified that Lifelong Skills really didn’t have any kind of digital media resources, besides a Facebook page. So, we knew we were building from scratch,” said Hilditch, the group’s project manager during a Jan. 24 on-campus presentation. “So, our solution was to build an entire media campaign.

“It was very clear that their website needed to be accessible, clear, easy to navigate … and (their web presence) needed to be a space to celebrate their joy and celebrate their student work. It’s such a joyful space and we want the website to reflect that.”

Creating, compiling, and strategically placing content that authentically shares an organization’s mission is the overarching objective of the Interactive Media’s Winter Term study away experience.

This year, in addition to Hilditch’s group project, a second student cohort traveled to Barbados to support the Barbados Red Cross and its mission. In total, 13 Interactive Media students traveled in early January to the Caribbean island, contributing to the graduate program’s annual initiative to support international communities in need.

To celebrate the graduate students’ efforts, the School of Communications hosted a formal presentation of the students’ final projects on Jan. 24 in Schar Hall’s Turner Theatre. Click here for photos from the presentations.

Derek Lackaff, director of the Interactive Media program, kicked off the presentations with a welcome to audience members – both in person and streaming online.

The associate professor of communication design congratulated the students on a fall semester spent building a strong foundation in interactive design, visual production, media production, front-end development, and numerous other skills. These new skills were then put immediately into practice during Winter Term.

The students embraced the “one-of-a-kind opportunity to work on a cross-functional team, to stare down deadlines, and to learn how to communicate effectively with different stakeholders,” Lackaff said. “The international and intercultural aspects of the project push the students outside of their comfort zones, helping them to better understand what it’s like to work in an interconnected, intercultural complex world. A world they will work in – in just a few months.

“Most importantly, the project helps show the students themselves what they’re capable of under pressure and using the skills that they’re developing as Interactive Media students.”

During the presentations, several students took a moment to reflect on the personal connections they formed and appreciated with their respective organizations and their communities. As part of her group’s presentation about supporting Barbados Red Cross, Kaitlin McGoogan concluded with a powerful message.

“I just wanted to say that while we were there on site, I realized that this (project) is beyond coding. This is beyond photographing. This is beyond anything that we can create,” McGoogan said. “We have been blessed with the opportunity to step in and aid education. We’re working with the organization that not only affects those of Barbados, but it has affected us deeply, too.”

Below is a breakdown of the two student groups, their roles, and a recap of their projects.

Team Barbados Red Cross

Website
redcrossbarbados.org

Team Members
Kaitlin McGoogan – Project Manager
Morgan Stankiewicz – Social Media Manager
Jess Baker – UX/UI + Graphic Designer
Cameron Rosebud – Videographer
Raven Abbott – Photographer
Amaya Waddy – Content Strategist
Puxin “Robin” Zhao – Web Developer
Brandon Booker – Faculty Adviser
Maggie Mullikin – Staff Adviser

While visiting St. Michael, Barbados, a team of seven Interactive Media graduate students kept it – in their words – “H.O.T.” (honest, open and transparent), while supporting Barbados Red Cross and its efforts to assist the island’s communities. While in Barbados for six days, the team engaged in planning, designing, photographing and filming to capture the spirit of organization and its programs – First Aid, Disaster Training, and Meals on Wheels. The project’s overarching objectives included attracting global attention to the organization and its mission, encouraging individuals to financially support the organization, and educating community members in Barbados about the Red Cross and how they can contribute.

Team Lifelong Skills Training Inc

Website
www.llskillstraining.org

Team Members
Isabella Hilditch – Project Manager/Content Strategist
Gabriella Sable – Videographer
Abigail Sparkman – Photographer/UX Assistant
Denise Simmons – Head UX/Graphic Designer
Andrew Dryfoos – Programmer
Tishana Jackson – Social Media Strategist
Nicole Triche – Faculty Adviser
Maggie Mullikin: Staff Adviser

While in Bridgetown, Barbados, a group of six students curated content to support Lifelong Skills Training Inc, which bridges the educational gap that exists for students with disabilities looking for post-secondary schooling. Prior to the project, Lifelong had a minimal online presence, outside of a generic Facebook page. With a clean slate, the students worked closely with Lifelong community members, learning about their work and building a brand that best represented the organization. As part of the project, students captured photography and film, conducted interviews, and collaborated to build a website and social media presence. The objectives were clear: to encourage participation, volunteer efforts, and monetary contributions that will serve as a foundation for Lifelong’s future.