dma35@sfu.ca       

dmilam@post.harvard.edu     

www.sfu.ca/~dma35/

www.3dmilam.com

EDUCATION:

2007-May 2011 (expected)      

PhD Student at the School of Interactive Arts and Technology (SIAT): Simon Fraser University, Surrey BC Canada

  Coursework: Qualitative & Quantitative Research Methods, New Media, Advanced Game Design, Directed Readings in Interactive Narrative, Computational Art and Design, Computational Poetics, and Theory and Design of Games

  Research interest in 3D virtual environments and interactive storytelling in video games

2003-2004    

Master in Design Studies; Digital Media and Production Environments, Harvard University Graduate School of Design (GSD). Cambridge, MA

  Academic investigation in digital culture, advanced computer modeling, product fabrication, real-time simulation, and interactive interfaces to enhance our relationship with the physical environment. 

1997-2002

Bachelors of Architecture; University of Southern California (USC) School of Architecture, Los Angeles

  Study abroad Studio in Italy, Classical and contemporary Architecture studied.

   Notable projects investigated virtual reality in architecture, civic spaces (including thesis), inhabiting infrastructure, and urban renovation

TEACHING  &  RESEARCH ASSISTANTSHIPS:

2009-summer

2009-spring

2008

2007-2008

Adventures Lead Instructor in Movie Making & Special Effects and Adventures 2D and 3D Game Creation, Digital Media Academy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver

Research Assistant, Cooperative Game Design and Play testing administrator, Bardel Entertainment, Vancouver

SIAT  Teaching Assistant for Interactive Video Course (Undergraduate)

Graduate Research Assistant at Simon Frasier University SIAT

  SIAT Engage Me in Interactive Experience (EMIIE) Lab:  Developing project repository for 3D content & animation for virtual environments & characters.

2004

Graduate Teaching Fellow at Harvard University GSD

  Course in CAD/CAM and 3D Applications

PROFESSIONAL  EXPERIENCE:

2009

2005-2007

Administrative Assistant and Coordinator, SIAT TechBytes (Technical Peer Educators) and Learning Commons Program

Lead Production and Accounts Manager at Supertour / Everyscape, Boston, MA

  Lead 3D modeler and projects manager for Royal Caribbean International/American Express, The Breakers, Pebble Beach,  CBS News, Pulte Homes, and vacation/resort hoteliers.

  Delivered to clients personalized “experiential virtual walkthroughs” of their property using applications for authoring and building photorealistic 3D content.

  Works closely with marketing/engineering teams to implement database-driven design for an information rich online travel booking experience

  Pipeline Developer: created mock-ups, visualization demos, communicated internal/external quality standards for approval, met production schedule, identified workflow and tool improvements, screened and trained production staff.

  Managerial: hiring qualified applicants and mentoring, setting weekly schedules and performance optimizations, quality control/setting standards for approval of media content, quality assurance testing of deliverables, external liaison for international vendors

2004

Contract at Oosterhuis_Lenard “a multidisciplinary design studio”, Netherlands

  Team member for international competitions & publications included 2D and 3D visualization prototypes

  Game-engines, parametric modeling aids, scripting, and rapid prototyping studies employed for an acclaimed digital architect.

2004

Freelance Computer Modeler, GSD Center for Design Informatics, Cambridge MA

     Realistic renderings generated to examine lighting performance and streamline equipment Integration Collaborated with research institute, architect, and furniture manufacturer for advanced learning classroom.

2002-2003

Computer Modeler (Programmer Analyst), USC Institute for Creative Technologies (ICT) Los Angeles, CA

     Developed efficient computer models for virtual reality evaluations and real-time game simulations. Project research investigated Augmented Reality learning, Emotionally Evocative Virtual Environments, and neurosurgical simulation.

     Authored a Training Environment Navigation Document to foster engagement & learning within the ICT audio and visual theater featuring dynamic 3D sound and stereographic panorama projection

     Participated in the Sensory Environments Evaluation (SEE) team, collaboration between digital artists, computer scientists, and audio programmers in a production environment

     Co-authored a SEE publication: Emotionally Evocative Environments for Training, Army Science Conference 2002.

     Mentor for 3D modeling assistants

Related Internships:

2001

Integrated Media Systems Center, USC School of Engineering, Student assistant

2001

Undergraduate Research Award, USC Sustainable Cities Program

2000

Design Office: USC School of Architecture, Graphic design apprentice

2000

Ryan McGuinness, New York City, Graphic design apprentice

1999

Grant Kirkpatrick Architects, Los Angeles, Architectural apprentice

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Written

     D. Milam, M. Seif El-Nasr, and R. Wakkary, "A Study of Interactive Narrative from User’s perspective," in Handbook of Digital Media in Entertainment and Arts, D. B. Furht, Ed.: Springer, forthcoming

     abstract presented, Assassin’s Creed: A Multicultural Read, Magy Seif El-Nasr, Maha Al-Saati, Simon Niedenthal, & David Milam, 2nd Annual Canadian Game Studies Association Conference, Vancouver, Canada, May 2008

     abstract presented, A Phenomenological Study on User Affect for Façade, David Milam, Ron Wakary, Magy Seif El Nasr, 2nd Annual Canadian Game Studies Association Conference, Vancouver, Canada, May 2008

     Boidz: An ALife Augmented Reality Ambient Visualization, David Milam, Philippe Pasquier, Young Investigator’s Forum on Culture Technology (YCT), KAIST University, Daejeon, Korea, August 2008

     Looking at the Interactive Narrative Experience through the Eyes of the Participants, David Milam, Magy Seif El Nasr, Ron Wakkay, 1st Joint International Conference on Interactive Digital Storytelling, Erfurt, Germany, November 2008

     Morie J. F.  Iyer K., Valanejad K., Sadek R., Miraglia D., and Milam, D.C. (2002) Emotionally Evocative Environments for Training.  Presented at Army Science Conference.

     Williams J, Morie JF, Valanejad K, Sadek R, Miraglia D, Milam D., Williams J, Luigi DP, Leshin J. (2003) Sensory Design for Virtual Environments.  Presented at Siggraph, Section on Interaction; Skeches and Applications

Visual

     Publication Cover Design (2005), George P. Sutton, History of Liquid Propellant Rocket Engines.  American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Reston, VA

     ONL [Oosterhuis_Lenard]. (2004) Acoustic Barrier Renderings SPACE Magazine 445, Korea. Pgs. 52-105

     Milam, David. (2002) Section in “Liberation of Form and Space” chapter in Developing Digital Architecture.  Birkhauser, Boston.  Pgs. 87-89

     Publication Cover Design (2004), Andrew Gordon, Strategy Representation, An Analysis of Planning Knowledge. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, London

AWARDS  &  HONORS:

     “Best Completion” Award: 2007 Participant in the International Digital Context Innovation Design Workshop, Conference & Joint Exhibition (Taiwan)

     Recipient of the Harvard GSD 2004 Digital Design Prize for interactive Carpenter Center for the Visual Arts

     Semifinalist for the 2002 FEIDAD (Far Eastern International Digital Architectural Design) Award titled 3D Extrusion, and published in Developing Digital Architecture, an international design competition

     Collaborative work displayed at the Museum of Contemporary Art and the Southern California Institute of Architecture. Selected team member for “Projects and Scenarios for the Los Angeles River". 2002

COMPUTING / RELATED SKILLS:

     Computer Modeling/Visualization: XNA C#,  Torque, Viewpoint, Virtools, AutoCAD, MAYA + MEL script, XML editing, Unreal editor, 3DStudio Max, Form Z, Rhino, and Proprietary Mok3 3D tools. Five years experience in 3D model manipulation & creation for rendering, animation, and dynamic effects

     Internet and Animation: Processing, Flash + actionscript,  and HTML, Max/MSP/Jitter, Adobe Premiere and Adobe After Effects

     Printing: Expert at Adobe InDesign, Quark XPress, Adobe Illustrator, & Adobe Photoshop, for professional presentations.

     Administrative: Microsoft Office, Excel, Access Database development.

MEMBERSHIPS:

  DIGRA: Digital Games Research Association

  IDGA: International Game Developers Association

  ACM Siggraph (conference attendee 01,02,03,06,07)

  ACADIA: Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture

VOLUNTEERING:

2009

2009

  Web Developer and Publicity for Vancouver Global Game Jam Event

  2009 Conference Associate, Game Developers Conference Canada