View source for DigiPen Institute of Technology

{{short description|University in the United States}}
{{Use American English|date=March 2025}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{third-party|date=October 2018}}
{{Infobox university
| name=DigiPen Institute of Technology
| image=DigiPen_web_logo.png
| established=1988
| type= [[Private university|Private]] [[For-profit higher education in the United States|for-profit university]]
| location = {{ubl|[[Redmond, Washington]]|{{coord|47|41|20|N|122|9|2|W|format=dms|display=inline, title|type:edu_region:US-WA}}|[[Singapore|Singapore, Singapore]]|{{coord|1|18|28|N|103|46|41|E|format=dms|display=inline}}|[[Greater Bilbao|Bilbao, Spain]]|{{coord|43|16|18|N|2|57|51|W|format=dms|display=inline}}}}
| undergrad=2500+
| postgrad=50+
| president=[[Claude Comair]]
| campus=Suburban
| sports_nickname = Dragons
|colors = {{color box|#000000}}&nbsp;{{color box|#800000}} Black & maroon
| website={{URL|https://www.digipen.edu}}
| logo = DigiPen Mascot.png
| accreditation = [[Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges|ACCSC]]
}}

'''DigiPen Institute of Technology''' is a [[private university|private]] [[For-profit higher education in the United States|for-profit university]] in [[Redmond, Washington]]. It also has campuses in [[Singapore]] and [[Bilbao]], Spain. DigiPen offers bachelors' and masters' degree programs in computer science, game design, digital art and animation, and audio programming and design.

==History==
In 1988, DigiPen was founded by Claude Comair in [[Vancouver]], British Columbia, Canada as a research and development institute for computer science and animation. Comair continues to be the President and CEO to the present day.

In 1990, DigiPen began offering its first dedicated educational program in the subject of 3D computer animation through the [[Vancouver Film School]].

In 1990, DigiPen began offering a 3D animation program and started a collaboration with [[Nintendo]] of America to create a post-secondary program for video game programming.<ref>{{cite web|title=Our History|url=https://www.digipen.edu/about/our-history|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref> Through this collaborative effort with Nintendo, the DigiPen Applied Computer Graphics School accepted its first class of video game programming students in 1994.<ref>{{cite journal|title=Who Said School Couldn't Be Fun? |journal=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|issue=76|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=November 1995|page=78}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Game Makers: Programming Schools|magazine=[[GamePro]]|issue=87|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|date=December 1995|pages=30–34}}</ref>

In 1996, the [[Washington State Higher Education Coordinating Board]] granted DigiPen the authorization to award degrees in the United States. DigiPen's first degree program, the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in [[Real-time simulation|Real-Time Interactive Simulation]], became the world's first bachelor's degree in video game development.

In 1998, DigiPen Institute of Technology opened its campus in [[Redmond, Washington]] as a joint campus between DigiPen and [[Nintendo Software Technology]].

In 2002, DigiPen received national accreditation from the [[Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges|ACCSC]]. DigiPen began offering its first Master's program, a Master of Science in Computer Science. DigiPen graduated the last cohorts in its associate programs, focusing instead on undergraduate and postgraduate programs.

In 2008, DigiPen Institute of Technology opened its campus in Singapore in conjunction with Singapore's [[Economic Development Board]].

In 2010, DigiPen relocated its main campus to an independent location, still in Redmond, Washington. DigiPen Institute of Technology Singapore joined the [[Singapore Institute of Technology]] (SIT).

In 2011, DigiPen Institute of Technology opened its campus in the [[Greater Bilbao]] area, in the municipality of [[Zierbena]].

In 2015, DigiPen's Singapore campus moved to the [[Singapore Polytechnic]] campus, while [[Singapore Institute of Technology]]'s joint campus began development.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://mkpl.sg/singapore-institue-of-technology-masterplan/ |title=Master Plan for Singapore Institute of Technology |website=Mkpl.sg |access-date=2017-03-18 |archive-date=2017-02-26 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170226130827/https://mkpl.sg/singapore-institue-of-technology-masterplan/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2024, DigiPen's Singapore campus received approval from ACCSC on the change of location to the Singapore Institute of Technology Punggol Campus as part of the educational partnership with SIT.<ref>{{cite web|title=About the Campus|url=https://www.digipen.edu.sg/about/about-the-campus|website=DigiPen (Singapore)|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref>

In 2025, DigiPen introduced an institutional policy providing a process for transferring the intellectual property rights of student-created projects from DigiPen to students and alumni, allowing them to monetize their work both in and out of college.<ref>{{cite web|title=IP Policy|url=https://www.digipen.edu/student-portal/student-services/ip-policy|date=August 2025|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref>

==Campuses==
===Redmond, Washington, United States===
DigiPen's main campus is located in [[Redmond, Washington|Redmond]] on 9931 Willows Road.  It offers 8 undergraduate and 2 postgraduate degree programs.<ref>{{cite web|title=Academics|url=https://www.digipen.edu/academics|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref> It has approximately 1100 full-time students with a faculty-to-student ratio of 1:11 and an average class size of 19.<ref>{{cite web|title=DigiPen by the Numbers|url=https://www.digipen.edu/about/digipen-by-the-numbers|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref> There are approximately 60 student run organizations on campus.<ref>{{cite web|title=Clubs and Student Organizations|url=https://www.digipen.edu/student-portal/student-life/clubs-and-student-organizations|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref>

===Singapore===
DigiPen opened its Singapore campus in conjunction with Singapore's [[Economic Development Board]] in 2008. DigiPen's Singapore campus arranges courses for Singapore Institute of Technology students, and does not enroll students directly or issue undergraduate certificates independently. DigiPen's Singapore campus offers 4 undergraduate degree programs.

===Bilbao, Spain===
DigiPen's Europe campus is located in Ribera de Zorrotzaurre, 2 in the city of [[Bilbao]]. It offers 2 undergraduate degree programs, with approximately 200 full-time students.

===International university partnerships===
* [[Keimyung University]] in [[Daegu]], [[South Korea]] and DigiPen Institute of Technology have a collaboration where students local to South Korea have the option to spend a program's first 5 semesters in [[Daegu]], taught by DigiPen Faculty members, and the remaining semesters in Redmond.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.digipen.edu/about/educational-partnerships/ |title=DigiPen: Educational Partnerships |website=Digipen.edu |access-date=2017-03-18 |archive-date=2017-06-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170624002617/https://www.digipen.edu/about/educational-partnerships/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
* [[King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi]] in [[Bangkok]], [[Thailand]] and DigiPen Institute of Technology have a collaboration where students enter one of two programs with courses that map with DigiPen's BFA in Digital Art and Animation and BA in Game Design programs.<ref>{{cite web|title=International Partnerships|url=https://www.digipen.edu/about/international-partnerships|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 22, 2025}}</ref>
* Game Changers in [[Riyadh]], Kingdom of [[Saudi Arabia]] and DigiPen Institute of Technology have a collaboration through an apprenticeship program aimed at helping entrepreneurial individuals launch their own indie game start-up companies.
* [[Collège Notre-Dame de Jamhour]] in Jamhour, [[Lebanon]] and DigiPen Institute of Technology have a collaboration focused on creating computer science courses for students in grades 6 and 12.

== Accreditation ==
DigiPen is accredited by the [[Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges]] (ACCSC).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.accsc.org/directory/ |title=Directory &#124; Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges |website=Accsc.org |access-date=2017-03-18 |archive-date=2014-11-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141117140844/http://www.accsc.org/directory/ |url-status=live }}</ref> DigiPen's Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation is also accredited by [[ABET]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Accredited Programs|url=https://amspub.abet.org/aps/name-search?searchType=institution&keyword=digipen|website=ABET|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>

==Research and development==
DigiPen Research & Development is active in the research in [[Formula 1]] and [[INDYCAR]], and is technical sponsor of [[Renault]] F1 (2008–present) and [[Andretti Autosport]] (2015–present).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digipenresearch.com/clients/ |title=Clients - DigiPen Research & Development |publisher=Digipenresearch.com |access-date=2017-03-18 |archive-date=2017-03-07 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307071741/http://www.digipenresearch.com/clients |url-status=live }}</ref>

DigiPen's Research & Development arm created an [[Artificial Intelligence|artificial intelligence]] system regarding human behavioral modeling and simulation, titled B-HIVE, for [[The Boeing Company|Boeing]] and their [[Phantom Works]] division. B-HIVE and its associated patents were commended as Boeing's "Supplier Technology of the Year" in 2008.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digipenresearch.com/clients#boeing |title=Our History {{!}} DigiPen |access-date=2022-01-31 |archive-date=2020-09-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927012131/https://www.digipenresearch.com/clients#boeing |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Portal Connection==

DigiPen Institute of Technology played a key role in the development of [[Valve Corporation|Valve]]'s [[Portal (series)|Portal]] series through its student game team projects and alumni. In 2005, a team of DigiPen students created [[Narbacular Drop]], a 3D puzzle game featuring a portal-based mechanic. The project gained attention from representatives of Valve for its innovative gameplay at the school's annual reverse career fair. Valve recruited the student team members, including designer [[Kim Swift]], to develop [[Portal (video game)|Portal]] using Narbacular Drop's mechanics. Similarly in 2008, Valve representatives visited DigiPen's reverse career fair and played the student game [[Tag: The Power of Paint]]. Valve hired the team to implement many of the game's mechanics into [[Portal 2]].

== Criticism ==
*In a 2021 video entitled "DigiPen: The College That Teaches Crunch Culture", gaming journalist and YouTuber [[James Stephanie Sterling]], citing a series of anonymous interviews they had conducted with former DigiPen students, accused the school of conditioning students into the [[Crunch (video games)|crunch culture]] of the larger video game industry.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Sterling|first=Jim|author-link=Jim Sterling|date=Dec 13, 2021|title=DigiPen: The College That Teaches Crunch Culture|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vorBajs3-yE|url-status=live|access-date=2021-12-13|website=YouTube|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211214004624/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vorBajs3-yE |archive-date=2021-12-14 }}</ref>

==Notable faculty==
* [[Ellen Beeman]] – fantasy and science fiction author, television screenwriter, and computer game designer/producer<ref name="edge">{{cite web |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/features/game-industrys-100-most-influential-women |title=Game Industry's 100 Most Influential Women |access-date=2008-07-23 |work=[[Edge (magazine)|Edge Online]] |date=September 11, 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110625083858/http://www.next-gen.biz/features/game-industrys-100-most-influential-women |archive-date=June 25, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> Beeman is an Associate Professor of Game Software Design and Production at DigiPen.
* [[Steve Rabin]] – former software engineer at Nintendo and editor/author who specializes in the field of video game artificial intelligence. Rabin is an Adjunct University Lecturer of Computer Science at DigiPen.
* [[Jeremy Holcomb]] - game designer and writer. Holcomb is the Program Director of the BA in Game Design degree program.
* [[Brian L. Schmidt|Brian Schmidt]] - music composer for video games and pinball machines. Schmidt is an Adjunct Professor of Music at DigiPen.
* Mark Henne – artist and former technical director at Pixar working on animated films [[Toy Story (franchise)|Toy Story]] and [[The Incredibles (franchise)|The Incredibles]]. Henne is the Program Director of the MFA in Digital Arts degree program.<ref>{{cite web|title=Faculty XP: How Mark Henne Crafted Polar Bear Skin in Coca-Cola’s Classic Holiday TV Ads|url=https://www.digipen.edu/showcase/news/faculty-xp-how-mark-henne-crafted-polar-bear-coca-cola-ads|date=December 19, 2023|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>

==Notable alumni==
* [[Kim Swift]] – designer on the ''[[Portal (video game)|Portal]]'' team
* [[Nate Martin]] – "Founding Father of Escape Rooms",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mag.jewishinseattle.org/articles/2017/8/10/nate-martin-broke-out-by-locking-people-in-rooms|title=Nate Martin Broke Out By Locking People in Rooms|work=Jewish in Seattle Magazine|access-date=2018-04-03|archive-date=2018-06-25|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180625075512/https://mag.jewishinseattle.org/articles/2017/8/10/nate-martin-broke-out-by-locking-people-in-rooms|url-status=live}}</ref> co-founder and CEO of [[Puzzle Break]]
* [[Aubrey Edwards]] – video game developer and [[professional wrestling referee]]
* [[Howard Wang]] – voice actor
* Nick Kondo – Lead animator on [[Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse]], [[Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse]], and [[The Mitchells Vs. The Machines]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Nick Kondo Swings From Games to the Big Screen With Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse|url=https://www.digipen.edu/showcase/news/nick-kondo-swings-from-games-to-the-big-screen-with-spider-man-into-the-spider-verse|date=August 6, 2018|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>
* Alex Williams – CTO of [[Ark: Survival Evolved|ARK]] franchise developer [[Studio Wildcard]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Alex Williams Takes the Reins as Studio Wildcard CTO|url=https://www.digipen.edu/showcase/news/alex-williams-takes-the-reins-as-studio-wildcard-cto|date=August 27, 2024|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>
* Satomi Asakawa – Nintendo NPC designer and animator on [[The Legend of Zelda series]] (1998 – 2011), [[Pikmin]], [[Super Mario Sunshine]] and [[Animal Crossing: New Leaf]]<ref>{{cite web|title=How Satomi Asakawa Brought Nintendo's Beloved NPCs To Life (Part 1)|url=https://www.digipen.edu/showcase/news/how-digipen-alumni-satomi-asakawa-brought-beloved-nintendo-npcs-to-life-part-1|date=May 21, 2019|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>
* Evan Alderete – Composer for [[The Amazing Digital Circus]] and [[Hazbin Hotel]]<ref>{{cite web|title=The Viral Victory of Hazbin Hotel and Amazing Digital Circus Composer Evan Alderete|url=https://www.digipen.edu/showcase/news/alumni-scores-hazbin-hotel-and-amazing-digital-circus|date=March 5, 2025|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>
* Logan Fieth – Designer on indie puzzle game [[Superliminal]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Logan Fieth Continues to Bend Minds With the Viral First-Person Puzzler Superliminal|url=https://www.digipen.edu/showcase/news/digipen-alumni-logan-fieth-bends-minds-with-viral-puzzler-superliminal|date=December 3, 2019|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>
* Adam Brennecke – [[Grounded (video game)|Grounded]] game director at [[Obsidian Entertainment]]<ref>{{cite web|title=DigiPen Graduate Adam Brennecke Aims High with Grounded|url=https://www.digipen.edu/showcase/news/digipen-graduate-adam-brennecke-aims-high-with-grounded|date=May 19, 2020|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>
* Stephen "Mortdog" Mortimer - Lead Designer for ''[[Teamfight Tactics]]''

==Notable student games==
*[[Narbacular Drop]]
*[[Tag: The Power of Paint]]
*[[Perspective (video game)|Perspective]]
*FPS Chess<ref>{{cite web|title=Wreckmate! Student Game FPS Chess Finds Wild Success Adding Combat to a Classic|url=https://www.digipen.edu/showcase/news/student-game-fps-chess-finds-wild-success|date=August 30, 2022|website=DigiPen|access-date=October 23, 2025}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.digipen.edu/ Official website]

{{Redmond, Washington}}
{{Colleges and universities in Washington (state)}}
{{Universities in Singapore}}

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[[Category:Engineering universities and colleges in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Private universities and colleges in Washington (state)]]
[[Category:Video game universities]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1988]]
[[Category:For-profit universities and colleges in the United States]]
[[Category:Universities and colleges in King County, Washington]]
[[Category:Education in Redmond, Washington]]
[[Category:1988 establishments in Washington (state)]]