Course Description
Students will explore concepts of time, sequence, performance and interactivity, expressed through traditional and time-based media. As the symbiotic relationship between sound and image is investigated, students interact with the temporal nature of visualization, and storytelling in multiple genres. In doing so, students will accurately describe, analyze and interpret solutions to visual problems with the appropriate combined media to address our digital culture.
Course Goals
- Understand the temporal nature of visualization and storytelling
- Understand basic concepts of time-based work using a variety of processes and media
- Explore concepts of human interaction and human experience to develop and modify solutions
- Become familiar with the roles of digital culture producers and consumers
- Begin to critically analyze, use and manage digital culture products and tools with a focus on 4D work
- Use research tools to understand how to design for a specific audience and to present in the appropriate time-based media and genres
- Recognize the role of rules and/or parameters and how they can affect an interactive experience
- Strive for the highest levels of craft
Lab
This course has a one-hour lab attached to every course meeting. The labs are technical in nature and are designed to enhance your skills with a variety of techniques, procedures and equipment in the department that will aid in your assignments in this course and in projects for future courses. For a complete list of labs in this course, refer to the course calendar.
Required Materials
- Sketchbook – This course requires that you maintain a sketchbook in order to keep a coherent documentation of written descriptions of ideas, preparatory drawings, exercises and copies of source material. At the end of each class, make entries in your sketchbook recording problems, questions, progress and short-term goals. Keep your project evaluations and handouts as well. In summary, you should maintain reflective and analytical text, as well as several small drawings in your sketchbook.
- Graphite Pencils and Erasers
- Ruler, Triangles and French Curves
- Tracing Paper
Recommended Materials
- Thumb drive
- Access to the Adobe Creative Suite or similar software
- Smartphone / Tablet
Structure
Classes will generally begin with a lecture or demonstration, then transition into studio time.
Projects 80%
- Animation / Stop Motion
- Game Design
- Video / Performance / Audio
- Projection Mapping
- Final Project – Each student will propose their own final project that combines techniques from two or more of the previous projects.
Project Evaluation
The following criteria will be the basis for your evaluation for all creative assignments in the course:
- Fulfillment of assignment objectives
- Technical execution/craftsmanship
- Conceptual sophistication and physical investment of time
- Aesthetics, pacing and conceptual quality of your finished work
Critique and Participation 20%
Critiques play a crucial role in any design or media based practice. Group and individual meetings take place through out the semester. Students encounter numerous situations where it becomes necessary to evaluate, work and rework projects in order to achieve the highest possible standards.
Each project will be turned in for group critique in person, documentation of your process should also be uploaded to the class blog. All projects, and documentation are due at the beginning of the class for which the critique is assigned.
Critiques and online discussions, will become helpful tools only through your participation. Participation in class will count for 20% of your final grade.