SFSU Public Affairs Press Release Published by the Public Affairs Office at San Francisco State University, Diag Center.

#008-- September 3, 1998; For immediate release
Contact: Wallace Ravven
Phone: 415/338-1665
e-mail: pubcom@sfsu.edu

SAN FRANCISCO, CA-- September 3, 1998--A web site for learning the guitar, and an on-line tutorial to master the versatile Photoshop program are two standouts among more than a dozen practical projects developed this year by graduates of the largest class yet in San Francisco State’s Multimedia Studies certificate program.

The 22 graduates this year are in strong demand. Moving from the program into industry can be swift for those well trained in web design, digital design and production, and 3-D arts, such as animation and virtual reality. In fact, recalls Multimedia Studies Program (MSP) acting director Chris Marler, "We actually had students recruited for jobs right out of the graduation ceremony in June!"

Many MSP graduates are hired by companies in San Francisco’s intensely active south-of-Market district known in the industry as Multimedia Gulch. The program, run by SF State’s College of Extended Learning, seems to be in the right place at the right time. Strong links with the neighboring industry allows MSP to draw most of its faculty from those active in the rapidly evolving multimedia trade. A very active intern program helps students find productive learn-work positions at such companies as Autodesk, Macromedia, New Media Magazine, Pixar, Vivid Studios, and Wells Fargo. A third of them have been hired by the companies they interned for.

Among the road-ready new graduates is Ivan Nobrega, a Brazilian student who developed a web site for learning to play guitar on line. The site includes tutorials on chord positions and progressions, and a tune to play along with. Graduate Kim Munson created an informative portfolio and resume site, and a week after she graduated, was hired as a full time web engineer by a South Bay multimedia company called Digital IQ.

Valerie Casey, who now works for the innovative web design company, Vivid Studios, will also be joining the Multimedia Studies faculty this fall, where she will teach a Photoshop course. As an MSP student this past year, Casey designed an elegant on-line Photoshop workshop, providing hands-on tutorials and resource guides to people wanting to learn the fundamentals of graphic design and production.

Among the other graduates there is an educator, a web designer for Quokka Sports, Inc., as well as a student who is putting together a multimedia training conference in Italy. A French student, Jerome Allien, recently completed an internship at SFMOMA, which is an industry internship partner with the Multimedia Studies Program.

MSP is six years old, and its certificate program has been in place for four years. Nearly 900 people have taken courses in the program, and 105 have graduated. Many students discontinue the program when they find work in the industry. The most recent class, and the largest class to date, celebrated graduation June 26.

San Francisco State University is a highly diverse community of 27,000 students and 3,500 faculty and staff. It is one of the largest of the nationally recognized 23-campus California State University System. Founded in 1899, the University is approaching its 100th year of service to San Francisco, the Bay Area, and beyond.

Editors: For more information, contact MSP acting director Chris Marler, 904-6961.

This release was co-written by student writer Edward Wilkinson

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