DigiPen was founded by Claude Comair in 1988 in Vancouver, British Columbia, as a computer simulation and animation company. As the demand for work increased, Mr. Comair faced difficulty in finding qualified personnel who not only had a fundamental understanding of computer science but were versed in the latest digital technology as well. As such, DigiPen began offering a dedicated training program in 3D computer animation. Soon after, DigiPen partnered with Nintendo of America to establish a certification program in video game programming.
As video games evolved from simple 2D graphics to sophisticated 3D worlds, the industry’s need for qualified employees with advanced education in digital art, design, and software engineering continued to expand. Anticipating this growing need, DigiPen devised and began offering the world’s first bachelor’s degree program in video game development (the Bachelor of Science in Computer Science in Real-Time Interactive Simulation) that would prepare students for the unique challenges of creating professional 3D game and simulation software. DigiPen relocated its campus to Redmond, Washington, in 1998 and opened its doors as DigiPen Institute of Technology.
What began as a groundbreaking approach to simulation and game development education has evolved to encompass new programs in digital art and animation, computer engineering, game design, music and sound design, and other computer science specializations. Today, DigiPen offers eight bachelor’s degree programs and two master’s programs at its Redmond campus. DigiPen also offers degree programs at two international campuses in Singapore and Bilbao, Spain, as well as through cooperative educational partnerships with schools in South Korea and Thailand.
Beyond The College
In addition to being a college, DigiPen is a global technology institution with multiple branching missions.
Summer Workshops
DigiPen is committed to fostering creativity and passion in our students well before the undergraduate level. Over a dozen hands-on courses spread across the summer introduce students to the world of technology, programming, the arts, and video games.
DigiPen R&D
DigiPen’s Research & Development team, comprising alumni and faculty, partners with global industry clients — from the world of aerospace to professional auto racing — to develop groundbreaking technology and innovative software solutions.
DigiPen Game Studios
DigiPen’s newest endeavor comes from the Singapore campus, which in 2015 launched DigiPen Game Studios, a publishing platform for independent game developers in Southeast Asia.
About Our Founder
Claude Comair, the founder and president of DigiPen Institute of Technology, began his career as an engineer. In 1984, Mr. Comair accepted an invitation from the Japanese Ministry of Education to research at Osaka University, where he went on to earn his master’s degree in environmental engineering. As part of his research, he began to develop 3D visualization software for the purpose of simulating large-scale events, such as earthquakes.
Spurred on by his passion for computer simulation, Mr. Comair founded DigiPen in 1988 in Vancouver, Canada, and quickly began developing the educational programs and philosophies that would lead to the establishment of DigiPen’s first four-year degree program less than a decade later. In 1998, upon moving to the United States, he also co-founded Nintendo Software Technology and led the company’s development efforts on multiple critically-acclaimed video game titles for the Nintendo 64, Game Boy Color, GameCube, and Nintendo DS. Mr. Comair also steered DigiPen’s Research and Development team in the development of new technologies for companies such as Boeing, and has been credited on 29 U.S. patents.
Mr. Comair taught computer science courses for more than two decades and continues to guide the expansion of DigiPen’s educational offerings.