interactive
media
faculty
meet the instructors and support staff working hard for your success
Frank Lu
Susanne Sampson
Megan Wilson
Ashley Blacquiere
Steve Mackey
Gordon Ross
Sid Parmar
Frank Lu
Faculty
Courses Taught:
Contact:
Favorite Reasons for Teaching
Many former students and graduates found that the courses they have taken in the program helped change or improve their careers, which is the biggest motivator to me. The ongoing change in the field certainly makes the subject interesting and challenging.
Suggestions for Student Success
To succeed in the program, in particular in the courses I teach such as HTML/CSS, Database Fundamentals, JavaScript, and iOS App Development, you need to be prepared to work hard, manage your time well, and pay attention to details. You also need to be patient and are motivated to learn. It would be certainly a good asset if you like step-by-step problem solving with an analytical approach.
Susanne Sampson
Faculty
Courses Taught:
Susanne Sampson is on leave for the Fall 2017 semester. In Susanne's absence, IMG 105 Communication Design 1 and IMG 208 Communication Design 2 will be taught by Cecily Moon: Cecily.Moon@nic.bc.ca
Contact:
Favorite Reasons for Teaching:
I totally enjoy seeing the unique vision of students. Never has a project turned out the same way twice. I’m constantly amazed at the responses that unfold on screen. I love it when I see passion for design, typography or coding start to move a student forward in a self-directed, take charge way. When that happens I can see their future light up.
Suggestions for Student Success:
Students need to actually be prepared to sacrifice their personal time for their studies and assignments, and that is very hard to do. Our program is designed to offer a broad spectrum of skill sets that will launch a student’s career, however it won’t amount to much if a student doesn't take personal responsibility for each subject they take. Everything is hard at the beginning, but it does improve with time.
Background:
I have been in the industry for a very long time (pre-Internet), working in Montreal and Vancouver as a designer/illustrator. When I began my career no one could have ever imagined how it would constantly change and evolve. It’s an amazing roller-coaster ride of new technologies, skills and innovation. I have found it to be as challenging as it is rewarding.
Megan Wilson
Faculty
Courses Taught:
Contact:
Favorite Reasons for Teaching
I enjoy seeing students acquire skills that open doors for creative work they wouldn't have imagined before and knowing that what we teach is directly applicable to their future success - that it gives students what they need to get the jobs they want / make the things they want to make. To see a student’s confidence and ability grow as they learn is very rewarding.
Suggestions for Student Success
It’s important to be proactive about your education - to make sure that you get what you want and that you're not relying on someone else to make things happen for you. That said, it’s also important to make the most of your peers to share knowledge and skills so that you have the resources to be consistently hard-working and engaged.
Background:
I am an educator, front-end developer and interdisciplinary media artist that has participated in numerous exhibitions across Canada, the USA and Europe. My research / interest areas include industry-based, human-centered design practice; collaborative methodologies; information visualization; the role of digital technology in disrupting practices of documentation, the transfer of knowledge and production; the effects of new technology on cinematic expressions; design history and practice; and the correspondence between digital work and traditional craft.
Ashley Blacquiere
Faculty
Contact:
Favorite Reasons for Teaching
Seeing the creativity of my students come to life in the projects they produce is definitely one of the most enjoyable parts of being an instructor.
Suggestions for Student Success
Time-management is critical to success. Self-motivation improves satisfaction and engagement. Always maintain an open dialogue with your instructors - they're there to help!
Background:
I'm a game designer and educator in the fields of digital media and interactive media design, analysis and development. I have a deep interest in mathematics, which tends to be a primary influence in my design and development practice. Outside of class I like to be active and to spend time with my wife and two kids.
Steve Mackey
Faculty
Courses Taught:
- IMG 209 User Interface / User Experience Design
Contact:
Favorite Reasons for Teaching
I enjoy helping students develop both their design and technical skills. Teaching what I know is satisfying and it pushes me to keep learning.
Suggestions for Student Success
The program is hard work. It has a strong technical focus and technology changes fast, so come prepared to learn a wide range of skills and be adaptive.
Background:
I have been teaching in the Interactive Media department at NIC since 2013. I graduated from York University in 1999 with a major in Visual Communication Design.
Over my career I have worked with large and small design agencies in Toronto and Vancouver, as well as with publicly funded corporations including the CBC and National Film Board of Canada. I am currently Partner, Design & Technology at Denman Digital Inc. specializing in interactive storytelling with a wide range of media brands including the CBC, NFB, Discovery, Knowledge Network, APTN and Post Media.
Outside of work, I love spending time with my family enjoying the outdoor amenities of Vancouver Island including hiking, biking, skiing and camping.
Gordon Ross
Support Staff
Assists with:
- Print Shop
- Equipment Rentals
- Technical Support
- Photography
- Assisting Instructors
Contact:
Sid Parmar
Support Staff / Faculty
Courses Taught:
- IMG 100 Introduction to PHP
Assists with:
- Print Shop
- Equipment Rentals
- Technical Support
- Windows / Mac Support
- Assisting Instructors