DMC 3101: Business of Creativity
Approved to start in Fall 2024, DMC 3101 Business of Creativity offers an introduction to the structure and business of the entertainment and creative industry. It introduces basic business issues relevant for creatives in today’s competitive marketplace, including the development of strategic marketing skills for projects, basic finances and budgeting, working with producers, talent, and clients, and other practical management issues. Content is relevant for students in arts, design, entertainment, and media disciplines, as well as content creators in business marketing. This class, I feel, is incredibly important for students in creative fields to take, not just DMC. In my time at UC, there are a lot of people in my major that I’ve met, myself included, that don’t really have a great grasp on the economic or business side of being in an artistic profession. Therefore, I can’t really narrow down the most important thing I learned to just one topic because I think this has been the only class (at least that I’ve taken) that talks about the business side of “show business” in context of specific creative fields. The thing that was most helpful to me were the guest presentations. I have had a lot of uncertainty recently about finding jobs, what I want to do and what I want my career to look like. Seeing people who have stable jobs that were in my major or in similar fields gave me stepping stones to start looking for my own direction. Through working on our final presentations I got to apply a lot of what we had discussed to something that I am passionate about and have experience with. The conversations about each of our ideas opened up some really great trains of thought based on practical use for our lectures. I will definitely be making budgets, timelines and contracts for my future projects, and I will use what we learned about interviewing and networking to make sure I can develop the best possible professional relationships I can have. I was happy to be one of the first students to take this new class, excited to see it progress in the coming years. I think one of the most important things I took away from this class is the importance of continuing my education after I graduate. It’s essential to stay up to date on things happening in this industry, especially as it rapidly changes. I plan to apply a lot of the tips about networking as well as general professional etiquette to my career in the future. My favorite part of this class, as cliche as it is, was the people. This was a good class, thank you for the semester! The most important thing I learned was the strategy of mapping out a timeline. As a creative person I tend to leave things up to when inspiration strikes, but if I want to make a living off of creative endeavors, I’m going to have to have a more intentional schedule for executing my plans. I liked the final project as it helped me envision what I wanted my album to look like. I plan to use a similar process for future projects, as it is helpful to share these references with my producer, etc. My favorite part of the class was the interactive activities, such as drawing and building pasta towers. They were fun and aptly involved creativity. I appreciated how they were relevant to the course material while still breaking up the lectures and allowing room for play and imagination, which is less common in college courses. The most important thing I learned was how to treat creativity not just as a passion, but as a sustainable, strategic business. The idea that creative work holds both personal and commercial value really shifted my mindset. I plan to apply this knowledge to my startup and creative work by focusing on building a strong personal and brand identity, thinking strategically about partnerships, and making sure my projects have both artistic purpose and business viability. Whether it’s through media production or advocacy campaigns, I now have a clearer idea for balancing creativity with a professional career. My favorite part was being able to collaborate with my peers in class and get to know new people. I also really enjoyed learning about a variety of different creative avenues and how to navigate it. I feel more confident moving forwards in my ability creating a creative business plan and how to apply my new knowledge into my professional life. One of the most important things I have learned is taking note, take a screen shot, etc and build an album on the compliments and good quotes on my character and work. Also making sure you have your resume stacked up with other qualities and experiences. I know that is self-explanatory to most creatives but it was eye-opening to recognize how much doors opened for having more than just one skill and technique. To be honest, this course was very educational and easily applicable to every real life situation. This class was amazing because it really helps you look at your skill level and even work ethic and focus on that entirely. So I personally say do not change this class. I would use these skills in the real world such as the work/internship I am currently doing with, especially connecting with others building relationships and trust. My favorite part of the class to me was the interactive activities. I am a hands on learner and improver to be honest. So I love the presentations from speakers and the in class activities. Thank you so much for teaching me and guiding me! That I learned something new every class is my favorite thing I’ve experienced. There wasn’t any filler, I dunno how you’d add anything more. Honestly, maybe there be a second course! I believe the most important thing that I learned in Business of Creativity was what a business plan is and everything that goes into one. The reason why I wanted to take this class was because I wanted to see the behind the scenes of creativity. Getting to do that behind the scenes work was so fun and I think it is very important to know because when thinking about a project, you have to think about everything. When creating a team, knowing about each aspect of the team is important, but you don’t need to know everything. This is why the business plan assignment is important because it gives you a base knowledge. My favorite part of this course was our presentations. I really enjoy coming up with an idea and executing it. I also really like to see what others come up with too. I think it’s a great way to tie in everything we talk about in this class. I’ve had my project idea for a while and I loved getting to dive deeper into the idea. Doing the creative stuff is fun, but the back end business stuff is super fun too! The most important thing I learned in Business of Creativity was how impactful marketing can be. It can change the whole brand of a client and how they are viewed The guest speakers, as well as the process of creating media contracts were the most valuable aspects to me. The most valuable things in this course were the mock interview, learning to present myself, presentation practice, and reflections on in-class lectures, as well as communication with others. This was my first media class in a long time that I learned something new and valuable. The behind the scene stuff is so important because you get to know how to better position yourself in the future. Hearing from other professionals was also great. The people he brought in had great things to say and showed different perspectives of industry. The linkedin group is a great recourse too. I honestly cannot list a couple of things without mentioning everything. I’ve never had a better class, other than his other class. I felt like I learned many valuable lessons. The course applies to a wide variety of fields.Course Description
Course Learning Objectives
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Student Feedback
UC’s Digital Media Collaborative program offers today’s digital storytellers the opportunity to create a unique and interdisciplinary path to discover their voice, sharpen their skills, develop new talents, and build their portfolios.
In-class exercises provide hands-on experience, fostering collaboration, skill development, and a deeper understanding of practical applications.
Guest speakers bring real-world insights from industry experts, providing practical knowledge that students can directly apply to their careers.
Students identify job search strategies, gain interview skills and become familiar with the Bearcat Promise Career Studio.
