JTED Students Benefit from State-of-the-Art Design Lab
Students at Pima JTED are now exploring their creativity with the aid of an upgraded 3D Animation, Virtual Reality and Game Design Laboratory. The facility, designed to prepare learners for careers in entertainment, gaming and related industries, has undergone significant improvements, offering an advanced environment for skill development.
The transformation was made possible through a $105,000 contribution from the Reinhaus Family Foundation. The funding has equipped the lab with more than 40 Apple computers and three high-performance laptops for competition purposes. The donation followed a visit to the campus in 2024 by the foundation’s vice president, who was impressed by the programme’s potential and sought to enhance it.
The new equipment has replaced outdated PCs that had previously slowed the creative process. Prior to the upgrade, students often faced technical difficulties, including frequent system freezes and poor handling of complex textures. Some resorted to using their own personal laptops to keep up with project demands, which involved the daily challenge of carrying and setting up their devices in class. The updated technology now allows them to work smoothly within industry-standard software such as Unity and Unreal Engine, enabling them to focus fully on their projects without hardware limitations.
For many students, this improvement represents more than just faster computers; it provides the tools necessary to pursue their career ambitions. One learner, now in her second year of the programme, has developed a deep interest in storytelling within game design. She aims to become a creative director, driven by a fascination with narrative connections between main quests and side stories in games. With the enhanced lab, she can now refine her craft without the frustration of technological setbacks.
The course itself was established about six years ago by instructor David Fuller, who has consistently worked to expand its scope and capabilities. The upgraded lab marks a pivotal step forward, allowing students to develop complex digital worlds with greater efficiency. Fuller sees the improvements as an opportunity for students to enhance their problem-solving abilities, particularly when tackling unfamiliar creative challenges that require both technical and imaginative solutions.
Fuller expressed appreciation for the foundation’s generosity, noting that the previous systems struggled to keep up with the demands of modern game development software. The donation, he believes, not only advances the programme’s capabilities but also reflects the commitment of external organisations to invest in the futures of young creators. The support has reinforced the notion that industry stakeholders value educational initiatives that prepare students for meaningful and fulfilling careers.
With the new lab fully operational, the Pima JTED 3D Animation, VR, and Game Design programme stands better equipped than ever to nurture the next generation of designers, animators and storytellers. The upgraded resources ensure that learners can experiment freely, create at a professional standard and develop the skills needed to excel in an increasingly competitive and technology-driven industry.
