Seminar on Deep Engagement
MIT's Program in Media Arts and Sciences offers this graduate seminar on what makes creative works, whether media, objects, performances or environments, hold an audience's attention over the long term. Sessions examine the underlying principles behind memorable experiences, drawing on personal accounts of engagement to build a working theory of what separates a forgettable artifact from one people return to and recommend to others. Students read case studies across design disciplines and develop their own frameworks for evaluating and creating high-engagement work. Materials on MIT OpenCourseWare include the syllabus, readings, and assignment descriptions used in the actual MIT course, free to access with no certificate offered. Best suited to those already working in design, media, or the arts who want a structured way to think about audience engagement rather than a beginner introduction.