About the ETC
A Mission Built on Making
Our program centers on hands-on, collaborative, design-driven research because we believe the best learning happens through doing.
Students from a wide range of backgrounds work in teams to:
- Prototype bold ideas
- Combine art and technology
- Solve real-world problems
- Lead with creativity and empathy
We’re all about preparing the next generation of creators to lead in industries that are constantly evolving.
A Launch Pad for Real Impact
Real Projects
Students work on semester-long projects for three out of the four semesters they spend at the ETC. Each project course challenges a team of students (in CMU tradition) to make something that works. A typical project covers an entire semester and is built around a student team, a faculty supervisor and, often, an external partner.
By the end of each 14-week project, teams deliver a working experience, product, or prototype.
Real Clients
Many ETC projects are client-based, giving students a chance to collaborate with actual companies or institutions on a strategic problem that needs an innovative solution. For 14 weeks, teams work closely with their clients to explore ideas, iterate designs, and deliver something meaningful and functional.
Clients walk away with demos, prototypes, or new directions, and students walk away with industry-tested experience.
Real Opportunities
The ETC connects students with the industries shaping the future, industries they’re ready to help lead. Employers visit the ETC year round, and students are encouraged to participate in co-ops where they receive academic credit for working at a company. ETC students also go on annual West Coast Trip, where they meet with industry leaders at companies like Disney Animation, Electronic Arts and Industrial Light and Magic, many of whom are ETC alums themselves.
Bringing Play Into Classrooms
Some ETC projects grow far beyond the classroom through ongoing partnerships with schools, museums and nonprofits.
250 +
Pre-K Educators
ETC students and faculty have worked alongside early childhood educators to co-design playful learning experiences rooted in storytelling, technology, and exploration. These partnerships help bring ETC thinking into the earliest stages of education.
18,000 +
Students Impacted
Through classroom collaborations, outreach programs, and interactive tools, ETC initiatives have reached thousands of students. Our work sparks curiosity, encourages creativity, and makes learning more engaging and hands-on.
90
Schools Involved
From urban districts to rural classrooms across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and West Virginia, ETC projects have supported a wide range of learning environments while building long-term relationships with educators, administrators, and communities.
Meet Our Director
Derek Ham is the Director of Carnegie Mellon University’s Entertainment Technology Center, where he leads innovative research and collaborative projects at the intersection of technology, design and storytelling.
We created what I would call the dream fulfillment factory.
Randy Pausch
"The Last Lecture"
Ready to build what's next?
The ETC is the place to be for technologists, storytellers, designers and makers who want to create experiences that move people. We challenge old ideas of what entertainment is and that redefine what’s possible.