Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects
Part B: Course Detail
Teaching Period: Term2 2019
Course Code: VART5093C
Course Title: Design animation and digital visual effects
School: 345T Media and Communication
Campus: City Campus
Program: C5384 - Diploma of Digital Media Technologies
Course Contact: Nicole McKinnon
Course Contact Phone: +61 3 9925 4815
Course Contact Email: nicole.mckinnon@rmit.edu.au
Name and Contact Details of All Other Relevant Staff
Alyssa Smedley e: alyssa.smedley@rmit.edu.au ph: 9925 4815 Peter McDonald e: peter.mcdonald2@rmit.edu.au ph: 9925 4815 Arthur Michalopoulos arthur.michalopoulos@rmit.edu.au ph: 9925 4111
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
N/A
Course Description
This course will give you the skills and knowledge required to design animation and digital visual effects for screen productions such as television commercials, feature films, animated films or interactive games.
It is relevant to those who have high-level skills in research and creative concept development. They work closely with people such as directors or producers to generate concepts and prepare design specifications for animation or visual effects for a range of projects.
National Codes, Titles, Elements and Performance Criteria
National Element Code & Title: |
CUAANM503 Design animation and digital visual effects |
Element: |
1. Clarify design requirements |
Performance Criteria: |
1.1 Assess scope of design projects with reference to production documentation 1.2 Analyse factors that may impact the design process 1.3 Participate in preliminary concept meetings to clarify the design requirements 1.4 Itemise elements to be addressed with reference to production documentation |
Element: |
2. Generate and assess ideas |
Performance Criteria: |
2.1 Generate a range of design ideas that respond 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 Appraise ideas for implications on cost, technical feasibility and creative requirements |
Element: |
3. Conduct research and experimentation |
Performance Criteria: |
3.1 Research content and target audience characteristics that influence production styles and techniques 3.2 Trial various techniques to test their suitability for given design projects 3.3 Organise research and provide relevant personnel access to experimentation materials 3.4 Analyse and document research and experimentation findings |
Element: |
4. Produce draft design specifications |
Performance Criteria: |
4.1 Evaluate initial concept ideas in light of research and experimentation findings in consultation with relevant personnel, and select the most appropriate approach 4.2 Discuss and agree with relevant personnel on suitable documentation to present design specifications 4.3 Create storyboards as required 4.4 Prepare or supervise development of sample material to be included in design specifications as required 4.5 Draft design specifications to advise the design and development teams 4.6 Discuss draft design specifications with relevant personnel to ensure all requirements have been addressed |
Element: |
5. Finalise design specifications |
Performance Criteria: |
5.1 Present draft design specifications to relevant personnel for review to ensure they are clearly presented 5.2 Participate in evaluation of design specifications 5.3 Negotiate and agree to additions or modifications and amend design specifications as required 5.4 Clarify designer’s role for the production phase 5.5 Review process of designing animation and digital visual effects and note areas for future improvement |
Learning Outcomes
On completion of this course you will have the skills to:
- produce design specifications for animation and digital visual effects projects that are:
- well documented and clearly presented
- supported by appropriate research and experimentation
- meet production requirements
- generate a range of concepts for animation and digital visual effects that meet cost, technical feasibility and production requirements, in collaboration with other team members
- conduct trials, research and experimentation in developing design concepts for animation and digital visual effects
- analyse and document research findings based on trials and experimentation for improving concept designs
- review design process for improvement
- explain factors that impact on the design of animation and digital visual effects
- explain the audience characteristics that influence production style, content and technique decisions
- outline the main requirements for a design specification.
Details of Learning Activities
This course consists of 2 Units of Competency that are clustered together for delivery and assessment. The other unit of competency in this clustered course is: ICTGAM504 COSC7383c Manage interactive media production.
In class learning activities may include, but are not limited to:
• lectures and/or lab work
• teacher directed group activities and projects
• concept development of group and individual projects
• group discussions and class presentations
• peer and teacher feedback
• WIP (work in progress) reviews
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
Out of class activities may include, but are not limited to:
• maintaining secure daily backups of all assessment and project data to your RMIT Google Drive account
• accessing online tutorial resources
• self directed online, library and industry research
• self directed project production work and reflection
• class excursions to events and locations outside of RMIT
Teaching Schedule
Please note: While your teacher will cover all the material in this schedule, the weekly order is subject to change depending on class needs and availability of speakers and resources.
Wk 1 |
Introduction to assessments, a refresher on last semester and review on design elements and principles. |
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Wk 2 |
Pitching and budgets - an introduction to the techniques for Assessment 02 and class group exercise to go through the processes. |
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Wk 3 |
Introduction to After Effects. Using new tools to highlight animation principles. |
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Wk 4 |
Typography and 2.5D motion graphics in After Effects. |
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Wk 5 |
3D modeling and advanced texturing using a provided terrarium model. Assessment progress checkpoint. |
|
Wk 6 |
Rigging and animating in 3D, with Maya. Continuing on with our terrarium scenes. |
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Wk 7 |
3D lighting and output for compositing. Working in groups to create different styles. |
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Wk 8 |
Compositing techniques in after effects. Combining 2D and 3D components created thus far. |
AT01 Foundation Skills |
Wk 9 |
Pitch review - class time dedicated to completing documentation and practice pitching. |
|
Wk 10 |
Entire class time set aside for the assessment of AT02 |
AT02 Pitch to Panel |
Wk 11 |
Review of pitching session last week and the beginning production of AT03. Time also allowed for revisions and adjustments to AT02 as needed. |
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Wk 12 |
Class time dedicated to the production and one-on-one support for AT03 |
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Wk 13 |
Class time dedicated to the production and one-on-one support for AT03 |
|
Wk 14 |
Students to review each others progress, completing the ident portion of AT03 to allow time to review. Assessment progress checkpoint. |
|
Wk 15 |
Final week on the production of AT03 |
AT03 Ident and review |
Wk 16 |
A03 review and project feedback. Class time dedicated to tying loose ends. |
Learning Resources
Prescribed Texts
References
Other Resources
Students are encouraged to make full use of class time, open studio time and University computer lab resources. Please consult the RMIT University web site for details of access times and locations.
Other required resources include, but are not limited to: an A4 or A3 visual diary, drawing materials (pencils of various grades (1B & 2B), erasers, coloured pencils and pens, graphic markers such as Copic brand) broadband internet access, suitable digital media storage such as a portable hard drive or USB 3.0 flash drive, with at least 128Gb capacity.
You are strongly advised to maintain a daily backup schedule of all assessment and project data to your RMIT account.
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 for this course is competency based. To show competency, you must complete all assessments to a satisfactory standard. You will receive feedback from the teacher at the conclusion of each assessment task.
Late assessment submissions, or submissions that do not reach the required standard may be assessed as Not Satisfactory (NS). You will receive feedback on your assessment through Canvas and resubmission instructions via email. You must resubmit within two weeks of this notification. You may re-submit an assessment task only once. Please refer to the assessment brief or rubric for full assessment criteria. All assessment documents are available on the course Canvas page through MyRMIT.
A01 - Foundation skills.
A pdf logbook submission, along with supporting video materials that documents the weekly learning activities held in class. The logbook also presents questions each week that must be researched and answered, specific to the activity of the week.
Due week 8
A02 - Pitch to Panel.
In week ten, students will be presenting their proposed idea for Assessment 03 via way of a pitch document and a presentation to a panel of industry professionals. The documentation must present their concept as well as two different treatment options to account for budgets. During their presentation, the student will also be asked a series of questions.
Due week 10
A03 - Ident and Review
The production of their proposed idea from Assessment 02. The students were given 3 different briefs to choose from, each developing a short ident animation that features both 2D and 3D animated components. Along with their ident, students must complete a written review of their process and their learning thus far.
Due week 15.
Graded assessment in this course uses the following grades:
CA - Competency Achieved
NYC - Not Yet Competent
DNS - Did Not Submit
Assessment Matrix
The assessment matrix for this course demonstrates alignment of assessment tasks with the unit of competency. It can be found on the Canvas course page through myRmit, or from your teacher.
Other Information
Please refer to the RMIT student page for extensive information about study support, assessment, extensions, appeals and a range of other matters.
Attendance:
Your learning experience will involve class-based teaching, discussion, demonstration and practical exercises. You are strongly advised to attend all timetabled sessions. This will allow you to engage in the required learning activities, ensuring you the maximum opportunity to complete this course successfully.
Assessment Feedback:
You will receive spoken and written feedback on all your work. Where relevant, this feedback will also include suggestions on how you can proceed to the next stage of developing your projects.
Academic Progress:Monitoring academic progress is an important enabling and proactive strategy designed to assist you in achieving your learning potential.
Adjustments to Assessment
If you are unable to complete any piece of assessment satisfactorily by the due date, you can choose to apply for an adjustment to your assessment. RMIT University offers a range of adjustments designed to support you in your studies, including an extension of time to complete the assessment.
Academic Integrity and Plagiarism:
RMIT University has a strict policy on plagiarism and academic integrity. Please refer to the website for more information on this policy.
Credit Transfer and Recognition of Prior Learning:
Credit transfer is the recognition of previously completed formal learning (an officially accredited qualification).
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) is an assessment process that allows you to demonstrate competence using the skills you have gained through experience in the workplace, voluntary work, informal or formal training or other life experiences.
Recognition of Current Competency (RCC) RCC applies only if you have previously successfully demonstrated competence in a unit of competency, and now require to be reassessed to ensure that the competence is being maintained.
Please speak to your teacher if you wish to discuss applying for Credit Transfer, RPL, or RCC for the unit(s) of competency addressed in this course.
Course Overview: Access Course Overview