The annual Digital Media Showcases at UCF’s Nicholson School of Communication and Media drew record attendance this year, as students from the Web Design and Game Design tracks displayed their capstone projects to an enthusiastic crowd of peers, faculty, industry guests, and local creatives. The two events were a celebration of creativity, problem-solving, and the wide-ranging talents of UCF’s Digital Media students.
During the Web Design and Interactive Media Capstone Showcase, senior-level students presented innovative, research-driven projects developed over the course of the academic year. According to instructor Dan Novatnak, “Each capstone group focused on an interface, product, or service they had encountered that needed investigation, improvement, or innovation. These aren’t simple redesigns; these are fully realized digital experiences that solve real-world problems.”
There were eight capstone projects and a research UX project from a member of the student organization Design&Code present, featuring websites, apps, and interactive systems. Each project was also accompanied by a physical component such as custom-built controllers or tactile interfaces.
A special guest at the showcase was DOUX (https://douxmeetup.com/), a local web and social development group, who connected with students and offered professional feedback on their projects. Their presence underscored the showcase’s value as not only a celebration of student work but also a genuine networking opportunity for emerging designers.
The following night featured the Game Design Showcase, where students presented interactive experiences ranging from puzzle-platformers to narrative-driven video games. The showcase included projects from both undergraduate and Digital Media MA (DMMA) students.
This year’s event featured over a dozen games, some of which pushed the boundaries of genre and format. One standout group even did a live performance of the music for their game, adding an extra level of celebration to the night’s events.
Digital Media MA capstone projects spanned a variety of formats; some used projection mapping, others explored digital sculpture, UI/UX design, and a number of narrative video games engaged deeply with player emotion and choice.
The evening concluded with a game design awards ceremony, honoring standout projects across several categories including Best UX Design, Most Innovative Concept, and Best Narrative Experience.
“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” said Instructor Madeline Davis. “It’s a major step forward that highlights both the professionalism and potential of these student developers.”
“I am so proud of the work our students have done and commend the faculty that mentored them” said Associate Professor Peter Smith. “It seems the quality of the projects improve significantly every year, and this is thanks to everyone involved being fully committed to the success of the students.”
Looking forward, faculty and organizers plan to expand future showcases by inviting more industry professionals, increasing community outreach, and integrating other areas of digital media such as AR/VR, data visualization, and immersive storytelling.
As students celebrated the culmination of a year’s worth of dedication, creativity, and collaboration, one thing was clear: the future of digital media is being shaped right here at UCF. Congratulations to all the students whose outstanding work made this year’s showcase an unforgettable success!
Written by Majdulina Hamed.
Published to Nicholson News on July 1, 2025.
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