May 28, 2015

Visitors to the Fort Donelson National Battlefield will soon have an interactive video experience, thanks to the work of Logical Innovations Inc. and two College of the Mainland interns.

Logical Innovations won a National Parks Service contract to create a touch-screen program to recreate one of the first Union victories of the Civil War.

“We are creating an interactive program to show troop progression during the battles of Forts Donelson, Henry and Heiman,” said Michael Navarro, COM graduate and Logical Innovations director of business operations. “Viewers will be presented with a narrative account of the battles while our artwork and animation illustrating the campaign is overlaid on top of a historic map drawn by Union general James McPherson.”

COM students Ismael Vargas and Zach Rowden assist with creating graphics and user interface icons of soldiers and forts. 

“I’m using Illustrator, Photoshop, Dreamweaver. It’s really fun being able to work on all these programs at once,” said Vargas, of Dickinson. “Every time I add something to it, I’m able to see what it looks like. It’s really fun being able to see it changing.”

The COM Graphic/Web Design Program trains students in digital photo manipulation, computer illustration, typography, color theory Web design and print design.

“We did a lot of projects. It prepared me for (the internship),” said Vargas.

Internships form an integral part of the COM Graphic Design Program’s efforts to ensure students are ready for the workforce.

“Our students have been successful in internships at places from University of Texas-Medical Branch to Moody Gardens,” said COM graphic design instructor Coleena Jackson. “They also complete projects in the program tailored to local businesses and organizations.”

At Logical Innovations students assist with other projects in addition to the Fort Donelson National Battlefield program.

“They’re helping with different projects in the office like our newsletter, website and logo development,” said Navarro, whose company also funds a scholarship for COM students. “My goal is to prepare them for a full-time job, to give back to the program that gave a lot to me.”

For more information on the COM Graphic/Web Design Program, visit www.com.edu/graphicdesign.