Born 1989, Washington, DC
Lives and works in Washington, DC
www.ian-mcd.com
github.com/ianmcdermott
IAN MCDERMOTT
WORK EXPERIENCE
October 2023 - Present
October 2021 - Present
March 2021-
September 2022
July 2017 -
February 2021
Instructor, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
•Co-instructor for the Immersive Media Design 400-level capstone class
• Guide conceptual and technical direction of student thesis work
Immersive Media Technician, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
•Run workshops in immersive media technology and art
•Ran New Works Incubator summer program for UMD students working in digital art
•Manage event technology and setup for immersive media
•Designed and constructed labs and workspaces for the new Immersive Media Design major, including VR, AR, Motion Capture, Spatial Audio, 3D Design, Haptics, 3D Scanning, Physical Computing and Digital Fabrication
Lead Developer, Plantchoir - Contract through MindTrust
•Lead developer for the revamp of Limestone Technologies Plantchoir app. Plantchoir is a bluetooth device that converts the electrical activity of plants to music. I've reworked the existing app, creating new generative music algorithms, soundfonts and parameters to convert biometric data into music.
Creative Technologist & Educator, Smithsonian’s Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, DC
•Conceived, wrote and fulfilled 3 internal Smithsonian grant projects, bringing $181,000 of funding into the Hirshhorn Museum's Public Engagement department for FY 2019 & 2020
•Created an open-source hardware and software to give blind and low-vision museum visitors a self-guided augmented reality experience allowing them to hear image descriptions for details of artwork in galleries
•Animated and edited video content for the museum’s social media platforms and website
•Oversaw and developed multimedia content for the museum’s artificial intelligence-based app Hirshhorn Eye
•Develop technology-based applications, installations and devices to enhance the visitor experience, family programs and public engagement within the Hirshhorn Museum
•Developed programming and curriculum for teens in digital and media arts for the Hirshhorn museum’s education space, ARTLAB
•Mentored teens with techniques, concepts and professional development in new media art and design
•Assisted in 3D printing summer camp program for middle school students
Dec 2011 - Present
New Media Consultant, Washington, DC
•Produce and edit video for live comedy shows, online advertisements and commissioned artwork
•Develop After Effects Expressions, Python scripts and Processing sketches for special effects, CGI, and generative artwork
•Create posters, flyers, ads and illustrations for live shows, magazines and web content
•Design logos, identity, and motion graphics for individuals and small businesses
•Offer clients professional advice in regards to aesthetics and marketing tactics
Jan 2013 - Sep 2016
Expert Production Artist, CustomInk, Fairfax, VA
• Create and adjust custom artwork for screen and digital printing, embroidery, and sublimation.
• Determine most effective approach for designs in regards to aesthetics, print quality, color separation, typography, style matching, and customer feedback.
• Streamline the art team's productivity and accuracy by fine-tuning redraw methods and programming actions within Illustrator and Photoshop.
• Compile and archive art department's work in a cloud database for future reuse
May 2012 - Sep 2012
Public Commission, College Park, MD
• Helped design a digital gallery for the McKeldin Library at the University of Maryland
• Used Java and camera network technology to create an interactive digital art installation
Sep 2011 - May 2012
Woodshop Monitor, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
• Ran open studio hours, allowing students to safely work on sculpture projects after class
• Advised students on aesthetic, conceptual and technical decisions concerning their work
• Organized and maintained the tools and woodshop facilities
May - Aug 2010
May - Aug 2009
Graphic Design Intern, Prince George’s Arts Council, Hyattsville, MD
• Compiled and developed visual artist registry for Wordpress site
• Designed and lead art direction for flyers, advertisements, identity, and banners
• Sorted grant applications from local artists and arts organizations
EDUCATION
2012
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
BA, Studio Art, Cum Laude
Minor, Art History
AWARDS & GRANTS
2019
Smithsonian Accessibility Innovations Fund
2018
Smithsonian Youth Access Grant
Smithsonian Year of Music Grant x2
2014
Exercises for Emerging Artists Fellowship,
Transformer Gallery DC
2012
Colonel Wharton Award,
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
2011, 2010
Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship (CAPA),
University of Maryland, College Park, MD
SELECTED GROUP
EXHIBITIONS
2016
Art as Politics, Touchstone Gallery, Washington, DD
2015
Readymade@100, Katzen Arts Center, American University, Washington, DC
Fermata - Coda, Artisphere, Arlington, VA
2014
Complexities Nuvo-Avant-Garde, Hillyer Art Space, Washington, DC
framework #483, Framework Radio, London, United KingdoM
2013
Sweet Art, Area 405, Baltimore, MD
2012
(e)merge Art Fair, Capitol Skyline Hotel, Washington, DC
Against the Grain , The Artdc Gallery, Hyattsville, MD,
Threshold, Herman Maril Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
On Loan, Area 405, Baltimore, MD,
The Catbird Seat, Herman Maril Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Polymorphism, 39th Street Gallery Corridor, Brentwood, MD
2011
GMU Print Symposium, George Mason University Art Gallery, Fairfax, VA
Sadat Art for Peace, Herman Maril Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
2010
Expectations, Herman Maril Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
Sadat Art for Peace, Herman Maril Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
SELECTED PERFORMANCES
& TALKS
2021
MuseWeb’s WB21 Conference, Virtual Conference
2018
Church Night Holiday Spectacular, Black Cat, Washington, DC
2016
The Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival Presents: Bridget Everett – Pound It!, Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival
David Liebe Hart, Cartoon Weapons, Jack on Fire, MOTHERKNUCKLE, Songbyrd Music House, Washington, DC
2015
Church Night Holiday Spectacular, Black Cat, Washington, DC
The Show of No Return, Lincoln Theatre, With Tim Heidecker, Brett Gelman and Wham City Comedy, Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival
Church Night, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Surgeon's Hall, Edinburgh, UK
2014
The Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival Closing Ceremonies, Lincoln Theatre, With Reggie Watts, Tig Notaro and Wham City Comedy, Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival
2013
Brightest Young Things Bentzen Ball Comedy Festival Presents Wild Horses Improv Troupe, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, With Lauren Lapkus and Wild Horses Improv
Quiet Cabaret, Furthermore, Washington, DC,
Bentzen Ball: Theme Park Improv Show, U Street Music Hall, Washington, DC,
Crime Buster Blast-Off 3000 (Yeah!), Capital Fringe Festival, Washington, DC
SOAPBOX: The Comceptual Art Review 2013, Hillyer Art Space, Washington, DC,
Aftermath - Plot, Artisphere, Arlington, VA
2012
SOAPBOX: The Comceptual Art Review 2012, Hillyer Art Space, Washington, DC
Happening Hour: Comedy Conceptual, The Renaissance Hotel, Washington, DC
The DC Improv, Washington, DC, DC's Funniest College Competition Finals
Lumen8 Anacostia, The Lightbox, Washington, DC
PUBLIC ART COMMISSIONS
2012
McKeldin Library, University of Maryland, College Park, MD
PRESS & PUBLICATIONS
2012
Stylus: A Journal of Literature and Art, ed. Dylan Bargteil
SKILLS
DESIGN
Photoshop
Illustrator
Bridge
InDesign
LightRoom
Blender
SLA, PLA, ABS 3D Printing
CODING/HARDWARE
Java
Python
Unity
C#
Raspberry Pi
MIDI
Processing
openFrameworks
Arduino
HTML
CSS
JavaScript
MULTIMEDIA
After Effects
Premiere
Ableton
Reaper
Komplete Audio Suite
Modular Synthesis
Digital Synthesis
Generative Synthesis
Touchdesigner
EB Synth
Cinema4D
PHYSICAL
Woodworking
Welding
Screen Printing
Oil/Acrylic Painting
3D Printing
INSTRUMENTS
Guitar
Piano
Bass