Course content.
The “Digital Play” minor focuses on the immediate quality of experience provided by innovative and experimental forms of play that use cutting-edge game technologies, but consciously transcend the media and aesthetic boundaries of computer games.

Play is a driving force in innovation and creativity that taps into new perspectives and renders them tangible in the form of experiences. Nowadays, playfulness permeates all cultural areas and technologies, and has long since become an important requirement for designers.

The “Digital Play” minor is suitable for you if you would like to bring your design work to life interactively. The minor is also aimed at you if you already have interactive media skills, and helps you to visually enrich the player/user experience in a playful way to make it more emotionally fulfilling and expressive. The “Digital Play” minor is offered by the Game Design subject area. It is hands-on and enables you to implement your own projects in collaboration with others. The minor is taught in German and English and is aimed at Bachelor’s and Master’s students. Moreover, it is open to all departments.

Skills acquired in the course.
You will acquire conceptual, design and technological skills that are essential for the development of vibrant, rich and captivating experiences in the digital realm. This will include skills in the areas of procedural animation and visuals, experience design, generative design, ideation and real-time engine technologies.

Admissions requirements.
The “Digital Play” minor is open to all students at ZHdK. You should be creative, adventurous and technophiles at heart. You should also have skills in visual design or a basic knowledge of programming, be willing to try out new technologies, and be open to working with others in interdisciplinary teams. Specific admission requirements for the minor are checked by means of a self-declaration.

Language skills required.
You need the following languages to take this minor:
–   German and English: to be able to follow a discussion
–   German and English: to actively participate in a verbal exchange
–   German and English: to understand a text
–   German or English: to write a text

Benefits of studying this minor.
Real-time development environments such as Unity are rapidly entering new industries and design fields, and are already being used in a wide range of commercial and artistic contexts. «Digital Play» opens up this vital field to designers – while offering experienced participants the opportunity for in-depth experimental and transdisciplinary exploration.

Time structure.
Autumn Semester:
From calendar week 38, Friday afternoons between 1pm and 5pm until calendar week 51
Minor block during calendar weeks 02–04, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm

Spring Semester:
Minor block during calendar weeks 08–10, Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm
From calendar week 11, Friday afternoons between 1pm and 5pm until calendar week 20 (not consecutive)

→ More information about this minor (PDF download)

Minor Coordination

Lecturers

At ZHdK, students choose a Major. In addition to this core subject, they can choose one or two Minors to deepen or expand their major skills and knowledge across various disciplines. This wide choice of courses is unique in Europe and enables students to develop and sharpen their individual profile.