Fundamentals of Computational Media Design
MIT's course examines twentieth century art and design history through the lens of a technologist, pairing visual analysis with hands-on digital projects. Students learn methods for oral critique and digital expression while working on projects built with the OLPC XO laptop, Csound, and Python. The syllabus traces movements in modern art and design and asks how those ideas translate into computational tools and interfaces. Coursework blends design history readings with programming assignments, so students end up both analyzing historical works and building small computational media pieces themselves. Materials include the syllabus, project briefs, and reading lists as published by MIT OpenCourseWare, offered free with no certificate attached. The course suits anyone curious about where design history and computer science intersect, particularly through low-cost hardware and open-source audio and coding tools.