Class 0: Syllabus
DM-GY 9973-A MS Thesis in Design Media - Course syllabus, schedule, and requirements.
January 20, 2026
Course Information
DM-GY 9973-A MS Thesis in Design Media Integrated Design & Media • Technology, Culture & Society Department
| Schedule | Monday, 6:30 - 9:20 pm |
| Dates | 1/20/2026 - 5/5/2026 |
| Location | 370 Jay Street, Room 311 |
| Credits | 3 |
Instructors
Camila A. Morales camila.morales@nyu.edu • Adjunct Office: 370 Jay St #344 Office hours by appointment.
Matthew Griffin matthew.griffin@nyu.edu • Adjunct Office: 370 Jay St #344 Office hours by appointment. (Preference: Mon 10am-6pm, Thu 10am-5:30pm)
Course Description
This is a project-based course where you undertake a substantial media or design project that demonstrates a high level of competency, creative action, and professionalism. You will spend your time working on a project of your own design, culminating in an artifact, experience, or intervention that is accompanied by a written document that describes and accompanies the work.
Key Principles:
- It is your project and you are in the driver’s seat
- Plan for a self-contained project that you can complete in a semester
- Start the semester knowing what your project will be
- Your project must have tangible outcomes and process documentation
Important Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 2/2 | Add/Drop period concludes |
| 2/17 (Tue) | Legislative Monday - Tuesday class! |
| 3/11 (Wed) | Demo Day (Midterm) |
| 3/16-3/20 | Spring Break |
| 4/13 | Final Papers due |
| 5/4 | Final Presentations + ProQuest submission |
| 5/6-5/7 | Final Crits / Showcase |
| 5/7 | IDM Thesis Showcase |
| 5/8 | IDM Navy Yard Showcase |
| 5/14 | Commencement |
Class Schedule
| Week | Date | Topic | Due |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | 1/26 | Introductions, Project scoping | 5-min presentation |
| #2 | 2/2 | Feedback & critique | First prototype, project journal |
| #3 | 2/9 | One-on-one meetings | Come with questions |
| #4 | 2/17 (Tue!) | Placing yourself in context | Demo prototypes |
| #5 | 2/23 | Paper outlines, Implementation | Annotated paper outline |
| #6 | 3/2 | Showing unshowable work | Prepare for Demo Day |
| #7 | 3/11 (Wed!) | Demo Day | Midterm demo |
| - | 3/16-20 | Spring Break | - |
| #8 | 3/23 | Post-demo feedback | One-on-one, 8-12 pages |
| #9 | 3/30 | Sharing feedback | Progress presentation |
| #10 | 4/6 | Storytelling & documentation | Peer review, finish paper |
| #11 | 4/13 | Production work | Papers due |
| #12 | 4/20 | Production & peer review | Documentation review |
| #13 | 4/27 | Thesis archive workshop | Archive submission |
| #14 | 5/4 | Final deliverables | 10-min presentation, ProQuest |
| #15 | 5/6-7 | Final Showcase | Be present! |
Grading
| Component | Weight |
|---|---|
| Thesis Paper | 25% |
| Final Project (includes showcase presentation) | 25% |
| Midterm Demo Day | 20% |
| Process Documentation Website | 15% |
| Class Participation | 15% |
Deliverables
Process Documentation Website
- Weekly online journal to track progress
- At least 200 words each week
- Must use: NYU WordPress, Medium, Notion, or self-hosted site
- Share with instructor (can be private)
Midterm Demo Day (3/11)
- Present work-in-progress to instructors, faculty, and peers
- Opportunity to receive feedback and ask questions
Final Project & Paper
- Public presentation at IDM showcase
- Paper: 15-20 pages (excluding front matter)
- Must demonstrate mastery and well-planned work
Communication Tools
| Platform | Purpose |
|---|---|
| NYU Brightspace | Archived announcements, assignments |
| Slack - IDM Thesis Spring 2026 | Real-time and in-class communications |
| Thesis Section A Google Drive | Slides, videos, assignments, resources |
| Miro Board | Collective brainstorming exercises |
Attendance Policy
- Attendance is mandatory
- One absence allowed
- Each additional undocumented absence: grade reduced by one point (A → A-)
- More than 3 unexcused absences: fail the course
- Be on time - consistent lateness = unexcused absence
- Contact professor in advance if you will miss class
AI Policy (Summary)
AI tools (ChatGPT, Claude, Copilot, etc.) are allowed with conditions:
Allowed:
- Idea generation, brainstorming
- Polishing/editing assistance
- Learning concepts, debugging help
Not Allowed:
- Representing AI output as your own work
- Using AI as a substitute for iterative, thoughtful process
- Wholesale translation or creation of content
- Using AI for user research or personas
Requirements:
- Document and cite all AI use
- Save all prompts and chats
- Be able to explain everything in your work
- AI may support your project, but cannot be the project