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The purpose of developing a digital media product is not to create a digital media product. It鈥檚 to solve a problem. Whether this is framed as a challenge or an opportunity, the goal is to close a gap between where you want to be in the future and where you are today. In addition, the digital media product is often only one component of a complete solution and thus, you want to be grounded in the larger context of the problem you are solving. 

This microcredential is designed to help students explore that problem and define a digital media product opportunity with confidence. As students produce a document called a Development Brief, they will:

• Use storytelling techniques to imagine what success looks like and how it feels;
• Explore the world of the problem with AI supported discovery work;
• Use strategic foresight tools and systems thinking to create critical insights into what is needed for success; and
• Build a solution framework, including multiple development options to consider before choosing what type of digital media product to develop. 

By the end of this course, students will learn how to guide, participate and sponsor the development of digital media products that solve problems. This course can also be used as an opportunity for students to explore the problem behind the digital media product they want to develop in their Capstone Project (for the last course in this program).

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, you鈥檒l be able to:

• Produce a Development Brief to guide digital media projects.
• Apply storytelling techniques to define success.
• Use AI and strategic foresight tools for problem analysis.
• Develop multiple solution frameworks before selecting the best one.
• Make data-driven decisions in digital media development.

Course offering information

September 22-November 21, 2025
9 weeks / Online
1.5hr weekly Zoom session / Wednesdays 6-7:30pm

Digital media products are all around us. We depend on them to keep us organized, entertained, informed, and healthy. But how do digital products鈥攖he software in our airports, hospitals, banks, stores, on the web and in our pockets鈥攁ctually work? 

This course is for people who see themselves as 鈥渘on-technical鈥� project stakeholders who want to be more familiar with the basic building blocks that are needed to design, build, ship, and maintain digital media products. The goal of this course is not to turn students into software developers. Instead, this course will provide a comfortable understanding of the technologies, constraints, and trade-offs required to ship a digital product, and help them prepare to work effectively with technical professionals in industry.

Learning outcomes

• Identify the technical components of modern digital media products and how they work together.
• Understand the typical phases and roles involved in the software development process.
• Plan for what happens after a digital product has been built.
• Understand the trade-offs associated with different approaches to building digital products.
• Contribute to technical conversations at a high level.

Course offering information

January 12 - March 13, 2026
9 weeks / Online
1-hr weekly Zoom session / Thursdays, 4-5pm

It seems that every day, a new AI product emerges. The rapid pace of development is staggering, and it doesn鈥檛 seem to stop. But are any of these products actually helping today鈥檚 professionals? And how can you keep track of the latest developments if you鈥檙e busy working? 

If you鈥檙e facing these challenges, this course is for you. It鈥檚 a great way to dive deeply into AI while cutting out the irrelevant technical details. Instead, we zero in on practical applications that can help you catch up at work and not get left behind. 

This course will teach an overview of how LLMs (Large Language Models) and generative media are designed to work, and how they can help you better communicate your ideas or brainstorm creative solutions. You will come out of this course with more skills and expertise, more informed knowledge around the strengths and limitations of AI tools, and the ability to advocate for their appropriate and ethical use in the workplace.

Learning outcomes

• Identify the strengths and limitations of AI technology
• Prepare for adapting to a changing workforce
• Leverage AI for communication, brainstorming, and synthesizing data
• Advocate for the ethical and responsible use of AI products in the workplace

Course offering information

March 23 - May 22, 2026
9 weeks / Online
1.5hr weekly Zoom session, Wednesdays from 6-7:30pm

Iterative development is now standard in many software and digital media environments. One of the biggest challenges to its success is understanding how leadership and management shape adaptive pipelines. To succeed as a project manager, scrum master, producer, coordinator, or team lead, professionals must be able to guide teams toward both efficiency and effectiveness.

This course provides a broad foundation in management and leadership through established methodologies. Students will gain essential skills鈥攊ncluding key principles, frameworks, tools, and techniques鈥攆or people and project management. The course also explores leadership approaches tailored to creative and technical teams, with special attention to the realities of remote and hybrid work.

Learning outcomes

• Understand the foundations of project management in digital media and apply them confidently in remote and hybrid environments.
• Identify personal leadership styles and demonstrate professional communication and collaboration practices.
• Critically assess what makes leadership and project management effective in digital media contexts.
• Build, align, and lead high-performing creative and technical teams through motivation, coaching, and mentorship.
• Evaluate and select appropriate digital tools for project tracking, communication, and collaboration.
• Apply agile and other project management frameworks to real-world digital media production scenarios.

Course offering information

March 30 - May 29, 2026
9 weeks / Online
1.5hr weekly Zoom session / Wednesdays, 4:30-6pm

Apply what you've learned from the previous courses by planning and executing a digital media project. In this course you will learn and use the essentials of project management. You will have the opportunity to build your own product or idea, turning theoretical knowledge into a practical solution for your context.

Learning outcomes

• Create a project plan for your idea
• Develop a project timeline
• Conduct a risk assessment and draft communication to intended partners
• Prepare a retrospective template
• Explore technical tools in order to build a practical solution

Course offering information

June 1 - August 22, 2026
12 weeks / Online (90mins)
1.5hrs weekly Zoom session for the first 5 weeks

• Tuesdays from 7pm - 8:30pm 
• Learners can book time with course facilitator during 鈥渙ffice hours鈥� TBD (non-mandatory) *for the rest of the weeks
• Final synchronous session for final presentations