Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects

Part B: Course Detail

Teaching Period: Term2 2011

Course Code: COSC5381C

Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects

School: 345T Media and Communication

Campus: City Campus

Program: C5218 - Diploma of Interactive Digital Media

Course Contact : Program Administration

Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4585

Course Contact Email:mcvet@rmit.edu.au


Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff

Course Contact: Kieran Doolan
Course Contact Phone: 99254110
Course Contact Email: kieran.doolan@rmit.edu.au


Nominal Hours: 80

Regardless of the mode of delivery, represent a guide to the relative teaching time and student effort required to successfully achieve a particular competency/module. This may include not only scheduled classes or workplace visits but also the amount of effort required to undertake, evaluate and complete all assessment requirements, including any non-classroom activities.

Pre-requisites and Co-requisites

None

Course Description

This unit of competency is delivered in the class Animation 1. The unit covers the skills required to design animation and digital visual effects for a screen based productions.


National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria

National Element Code & Title:

CUFANM503A Design animation and digital visual effects

Element:

1 Clarify design requirements.

Performance Criteria:

1.1 With reference to production documentation identify the scope of design projects
1.2 Identify factors that may have an impact on the design process
1.3 Participate in preliminary concept meetings to clarify understanding of design requirements
1.4 With reference to production documentation, itemise elements that need to be addressed during the design phase

Element:

2 Generate and assess ideas.

Performance Criteria:

2.1 Generate a range of design ideas that respond sympathetically to the brief and provide creative solutions to design issues
2.2 Assess ideas and collaborate, as required, with relevant personnel to maximise contribution of ideas to initial concepts
2.3 Continuously reflect on and appraise ideas for implications on cost, technical feasibility, and creative requirements

Element:

3 Conduct research and experimentation

Performance Criteria:

3.1 Research aspects of content and target audience characteristics that might influence production styles and techniques
3.2 Trial various techniques to test the suitability of their use in given design projects
3.3 Organise research and experimentation material for ease of access by relevant personnel during the design development process
3.4 Analyse and document research and experimentation findings for use during the design phase

Element:

4 Produce draft design specifications.

Performance Criteria:

4.1 In consultation with relevant personnel, evaluate initial concept ideas in light of research and experimentation findings and select the most appropriate approach
4.2 Ensure that agreement is reached with relevant personnel on a consistent interpretation of design and visual details
4.3 Create storyboards as required
4.4 Prepare or supervise the preparation of sample material to be included in design specifications as required
4.5 Write draft design specifications to include relevant advice to design and development teams
4.6 Discuss draft design specifications with relevant personnel to ensure that all requirements have been addressed

Element:

5 Finalise design specifications

Performance Criteria:

5.1 Present draft design specifications to relevant personnel for review
5.2 Participate in the initial and ongoing evaluation of design specifications
5.3 Negotiate and agree to additions or modifications and amend design specifications as required
5.4 Clarify the ongoing role of the designer during the production phase and in the evaluation of the final animations or digital visual effects
5.5 Review process of designing animation and digital visual effects and note areas for future improvement


Learning Outcomes


On successful completion of this unit, you will have developed the skills required to design animation and digital visual effects for a screen based production.

 


Details of Learning Activities

In class learning activities include, but are not limited to:
• lectures
• peer teaching and class presentations
• group discussion
• teacher feedback
• online research
• independent project based work
• teacher directed group activities/projects
• workshopping of students’ own projects

Out of class activities include, but are not limited to
• online research
• work shopping
• independent project based work


Teaching Schedule

Week Class Content Elements
1 Alpha channels and advanced masking - Formative assessment 1  1, 2, 3
2 Simple shapes character design - The Simpsons - Formative assessment 2  1, 2, 3
3 Summative A01 concept presentations - Formative assessment 3  1, 2, 3
4 Project structure/asset management - Summative A01 studio class  4, 5
5 Summative A01 studio class  4, 5
6 Script breakdown, timing and animatics  4, 5
7 Fuzzyard poster design - Summative A02 concept presentations - Formative assessment 4  1, 2, 3
8 DVD planning & authoring  1, 2, 3
9 Summative A02 studio class and progress presentation - Formative assessment 5  1, 2, 3
10 Simple DVD overlays  4, 5
11 Summative A02 – studio class  4, 5
12 Summative A02 - Character Animatic on DVD – class presentation  1, 2, 3
13 Photoshop Pen tool exercises - Formative assessment 6  1, 2, 3
14 Advanced hair masking - Formative assessment 7  1, 2, 3
15 Animated Filigree  4, 5
16 Studio Class  4, 5
17 Assessment  
18 Assessment  


Learning Resources

Prescribed Texts

Galer & Andrews, 2010, Photoshop CS5 Essential Skills, Focal Press


References

You are advised to look at the course Blackboard site for ongoing updated information. Students are expected to make full use of University library facilities, in researching and developing photographic, digital imaging and graphic design techniques.


Other Resources

Other required resources include suitable digital media storage such as a portable hard drive or USB flash drive, with at least 4Gb capacity.


Overview of Assessment

Assessment for this course is ongoing throughout the semester. Your knowledge of course content is assessed through participation in class exercises, practical project work and through the application of learned skills.


Assessment Tasks

Assessment tasks in this course are either formative or summative. Formative tasks provide the basis for ongoing feedback and can be considered as essential building blocks for the more substantial summative assessment tasks.
To demonstrate competency in this course, you will need to complete each one of the following pieces of assessment to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback on all assessments and a grade for the summative assessments.

Formative Assessment

1. Alpha Channels and Advanced Masking
Demonstrate your ability to make and refine alpha channels in Photoshop. Due before the following class.

2. Simpsons Character Design with Simple Shapes
Draw Bart, Lisa, Homer, Marge or your choice of Simpsons character, illustrating your understanding of structure using simple shapes. Due before the following class.

3. Summative Assessment 01 concept presentations
Present your concepts for Summative Assessment 1, concept art for an animated cartoon character based on simple shapes. Due in class.

4. Summative Assessment 02 concept presentations
Present your concept for Summative Assessment 02, Character Animatic. Due in class.

5. Summative Assessment 02 Progress Presentation
Present your current progress in the Summative Assessment 02, Character Animatic. You need to produce sufficient evidence of your work in progress. Due in class.

6. Photoshop Pen Tool Techniques
Demonstrate your ability to create and manipulate Bezier curves. Due before the following class.

7. Advanced Hair Masking
Demonstrate your ability to do the hardest thing in Photoshop, cut out hair perfectly. Due before the following class.

Summative Assessments

1. Character Concept Art
Plan, develop, design and create a series of high resolution images for print, that illustrate an animation character in various scenarios. Due in class.

2. Character Animatic on DVD
Plan, develop, design and create a 15 sec animatic using your character from assessment one, to realise a series of simple scripted actions. Due in class.

For further information on the grading system and criteria used, please refer to the course blackboard site.

Grades used in this unit are as follows:

Grades which apply to courses delivered in accordance with competency-based assessment, but which also use graded assessment:

CHD Competent with High Distinction
CDI Competent with Distinction
CC Competent with Credit
CAG Competency Achieved - Graded
NYC Not Yet Competent
DNS Did Not Submit for Assessment


Assessment Matrix

The assessment matrix demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the relevant Unit of Competency. These are available through the course contact in Program administration



Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:
http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;



Other Information

Feedback:
You will receive feedback from your teacher on your work. This feedback also includes suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.

Late Submissions
Please refer to the course blackboard site for policy information including information on late submissions and plagiarism

Plagiarism
RMIT has a strict policy on plagiarism. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Special consideration Policy (Late Submission)
All assessment tasks are required to be completed to a satisfactory level. If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment by the due date, you will need to apply for an extension.
Please refer to the following URL for extensions and special consideration:

http://www.rmit.edu.au/browse;ID=qkssnx1c5r0y;STATUS=A;PAGE_AUTHOR=Andrea%20Syers;SECTION=1;

 

Course Overview: Access Course Overview