In the rapidly evolving landscape of virtual and augmented reality, technology companies are constantly seeking innovative ways to get ahead, stay ahead and future-proof their workforces.
One company that recognizes the pivotal role community college education plays in this tripartite mission is CraneMorley, a dynamic player in the industrial metaverse, with collaborators that include Microsoft, Meta and Porsche. By recruiting student employees from the Interactive Media Arts program at Irvine Valley College (IVC), CraneMorley not only provides valuable job experience to IVC students, but reaps the economic benefits of bringing academia and industry closer together.
Thomas Pratt, who leads the instructional design, media and programming team at CraneMorley, sheds light on the origin of this collaboration, revealing a personal connection to IVC.
"My daughter attended IVC, and it was through her experience in IVC's program that we discovered the exceptional talent and professional orientation of the students,” he says. He adds that the Interactive Media Arts program, which is led by faculty member Patricia Beckman-Wells, is uniquely designed to mold students into not just employees but valuable assets in the professional world.
Pratt underscores the program's emphasis on discipline, meeting deadlines, and delivering high-quality work—attributes that are indispensable in a competitive and fast-paced industry. He compares the program's training to that of renowned institutions like the University of Southern California or UCLA.
"It's as good a training as you'd get at those bigger schools,” he added. “There's enough discipline in the program to produce students who are highly employable. Not only that, the students benefit because they are building their portfolios with professional products.”
What sets IVC apart, according to Pratt, is the program's commitment to keeping students abreast of the latest tools and technologies. He says he was drawn to the program because it gives students access to tools with which even seasoned professionals may lack familiarity. In an industry where staying ahead of the curve is essential, hiring young creators with exposure to new augmented reality tools becomes crucial for companies like CraneMorley.
One standout example of the program's success is a student, Alexander Puh, who worked with CraneMorley on a project involving Unreal, a popular game development tool for 3D asset design. The student's 3D development skills proved instrumental in a project utilizing SIM Insights, a tool for building simulations. The outcome? A groundbreaking training curriculum developed by CraneMorley for Porsche and its after-market automotive repair shops, using a digital twin of a car to train technicians efficiently.
Pratt explains the impact of this curriculum: "Technicians can now learn in one day what they used to do in four because you don't have to take a car apart – plus, nobody is making money with their employees stuck in a training center."
Pratt adds that this approach not only enhances the learning experience but also addresses real-world challenges, such as the safety concerns associated with working on electric vehicles.
“A lot of these types of visualizations in the past were very expensive,” adds Pratt. “Now you don’t even have to know how to code to create these types of simulations. We had this student learn the platform first, and now we’re having him teach our experience development team.”
For businesses like CraneMorley, partnering with IVC means gaining access to a pipeline of talent that is not only technically proficient but also attuned to the demands of the professional world. For IVC and its students, it means exposure to the latest tools and technologies, real-world projects, and the invaluable mentorship of industry leaders.
It’s a partnership that stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in shaping the workforce of tomorrow—a win-win-win for educators, students and employers.