NSCM Showcases Student Innovation at Annual Digital Media Event

A white gaming PC with LED lights is on a desk next to a curved monitor displaying the game ALLELION, along with a keyboard, mouse, controller, and speakers.

A two-day showcase spotlighted student-created games, graduate projects and innovative digital media.

By: Majdulina Hamed | Published May 18, 2026

From playable games and interactive experiences to graduate research and community engagement, the Nicholson School of Communication and Media’s Games and Interactive Media program celebrated student innovation during its annual Digital Media End-of-Year Showcase. The two-day event highlighted the creativity and interdisciplinary work of digital media students.

The showcase welcomed nearly 800 students, faculty, industry guests and the public at UCF Downtown to experience hands-on projects spanning game design, web and interactive media and graduate creative work.

The first day focused on the web and interactive media track of the program, which showcased web, user experience (UX) and interactive media projects that gave students experience in presenting their work and provided valuable feedback from general audiences and members of the local user experience community, Downtown Orlando UX (DOUX).

The showcase featured 10 web and interactive media capstone teams comprised of graduating seniors that were developed across two semesters, and four immersive platform projects from seniors and juniors that were made in just one semester.

Associate Instructor Dan Novatnak was happy to see the soon-to-be graduates excel in presenting their work to such a large audience.

“I am proud of the students and how well they communicated and interacted with the attendees, and I look forward to their future success in their chosen fields,” Novatnak says.

A group of people sits in a modern classroom with blue chairs, facing a speaker at the front near a whiteboard and projection screens.
Associate Instructor Dan Novatnak giving opening statements at the beginning of the showcase.
Two open laptops sit on a table with books, a figurine, and a sign labeled "SABLE." Both laptops display book-related content on their screens.
Three women stand around a table at a booth with informational materials, a framed QR code, a computer monitor, and brochures in a conference room setting.

The day also included a keynote address from Lance Robinson, chief technology officer (CTO) and co-founder of PointeOS, a point-of-sale system and growth platform for local owned restaurants, retail, and services.

During his talk, Talent Will Open the Door. Character Will Keep You There, he encouraged students to focus on the personal values that sustain long-term success, including trust, discipline and humility.

DOUX recorded the keynote address and interviews with the students at the event, which you can view here.

A speaker stands at the front of a conference room addressing an audience seated at tables, with laptops open and American flags displayed on the walls.
Lance Robinson delivering his keynote address with the audience.
A person with red hair draws on a large sheet of paper beside two open laptops, while another person holds a water bottle and several markers are on the table.
People interact and smile at a busy indoor event with tables, balloons, and informational displays in the background.
Members of DOUX livestreaming the event and interviewing students about their capstones.

The second day featured the Game Design and Graduate Showcase, a hands-on experience which invited attendees to explore and engage directly with student-created work.

The showcase included 15 game design workshop projects and eight digital media master’s student projects, spanning a range of genres and formats from narrative-driven games to experimental and immersive experiences.

While hundreds of attendees explored classrooms, computer labs and Maker Space lab to play and experience the projects, they were immersed into the games by game design student Lucas Pereyra, who filled the halls with ambient music right from the soundtracks of the games in the showcase.

A group of people sit around a table with gaming computers and monitors at an indoor event, while others stand and watch in the background.
A group of people watch a large screen displaying a video game in a brightly lit room with white walls and ceiling-mounted projectors.
Audience members watching the trailers for each game during the opening remarks.
A group of people in a computer lab, some seated and working at monitors while others stand behind them observing or discussing.

To close out the night, game design Instructor Madeline Davis announced the winners of several faculty-voted awards for the games, including best audio design, most innovative and best gameplay mechanics.

“Following the showcase, the majority of participating teams have successfully published their games on itch.io and Steam, leading digital platforms for PC game distribution,” says Davis. “It’s a major step forward that highlights both the professionalism and potential of these student developers.”

A woman stands and speaks to a large group of people gathered in a modern classroom or meeting space, with an American flag visible on the left.
Instructor Madeline Davis announcing the winners of the faculty voted awards.
Project leads accepting awards from faculty.

Across both days, the showcase highlighted the wide-ranging scope of the School’s Digital Media programs, with projects spanning game design, UI/UX design, immersive media and interactive storytelling. Attendees had the opportunity to engage directly with the creators behind the work, reinforcing the collaborative and experiential nature of the program.

“The Digital Media Showcase has become one of the most exciting ways for us to celebrate the creativity, technical skill and innovation of our students while giving them a platform to present portfolio-ready professional work,” says Peter Smith, associate professor and associate director of games and interactive media.