Expanded Media

Expanded Media is a master's programme at Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences dedicated to the social dimension of media consumption and the design of participatory, immersive media experiences. The programme centres on experience design — the conception of interactive and spatial entertainment — with applications in events such as trade shows, festivals, theatre, and museums, as well as in augmented reality and the Metaverse. The teaching emphasis is on above-the-line creative roles including writer, director, lead designer, and creative director. Students apply to one of three specialisation tracks: Expanded Storyworlds, Expanded Sound and Music, or Expanded Realities. In the first semester students build a foundational understanding of experience design across all tracks; in the second semester and during the final project, they work in depth within their chosen area. The programme structure depends on prior study: applicants holding a seven-semester undergraduate degree or a graduate degree study three semesters, while those with a six-semester Bachelor's complete an additional internship before the master's project. Interdisciplinary collaboration between students from different specialisations is built into the production processes. Applicants with backgrounds in digital media design, media computer science, media management, or media studies are considered. The programme is not suited to students seeking UX/UI design roles in conventional web and app contexts. The programme is based at the Mediencampus of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences in Dieburg, Germany.