Syllabus
Department: Fine Arts
Course Title: Motion Design for Visual Artists
Course Number: FAV 3200
Term and Year: Spring 2012 Friday 8am – 3pm
Credit Hours: 3 credits
Instructor Name: Andrew Elijah Edwards
Prerequisites: FAV 2320 Introduction to Video Art and DM 3130 Digital Editing.
Contact Information and Office Hours: aedwards@rmcad.edu meeting by appointment.
Course Description: This course introduces Adobe After Effects as a tool for media artists, allowing students to incorporate and layer moving graphics, type and imagery during the editing process. Students learn a wide range of post-production digital techniques, including 2D animation, compositing, time manipulation and creating visual effects for video. In the first half of the term, students investigate the possible applications of this sophisticated image enhancement tool that is the current industry standard for motion design. At the conclusion of this class, students will present a collection of time-based art, using the technology of motion graphics as an enhancement to their personal conceptually-based work.
Important Dates:
Due: Jan 20th – Project One Concept Rough Draft
Due Jan 27th – Project One Proposal and Storyboards
Due Feb 24th – Project One Rough Draft
Due March 2nd - Project One
Due March 9th – Final Project Concept Rough Draft
Due March 9th – Final Project Concept Rough Draft
Due March 16th – Final Project Proposal, Storyboards, and Installation Layout
Due April 20th – Final Project Deadline
Course Materials:
• A set of headphones
• A means of note taking
• A means of transferring and storing data (USB thumb drive, portable hardrive, etc.)
• External hard drive (optional but highly encouraged, you will be creating a large amount of data for this
class)
Course Goals: The course will survey a range of animation artworks as a means of inspiration and understanding of the medium. Students will undergo a series of in-class artistic exercises alongside two large- scale video projects culminating in a unique multichannel video installation.
The course will also survey a variety of other software tools for use in media manipulation and creation including Google SketchUp, Troika Tronix’ Isadora, Max/MSP/Jitter, and others.
Students will maintain a personal blog on which they will post content weekly that they find inspiring and/or helpful.
Please refer to the Student Handbook for detailed policies and procedures, information about student services and resources.
All work presented for evaluation must be made for this class. If you want to use video for another class, it cannot be shown in this class for credit.
All work presented for evaluation must be presented during class. Exceptions may be considered with a written proposal at least one week prior to the date.
Critiques are a vital component for any creative process. A rigorous, thoughtful and challenging critique should be the goal of everyone.
Class Format and Assessment Philosophy:
1.Be prepared for class. Projects that are exporting or rendering when a project is due will be counted as late and dropped a letter grade. All materials are due at the start of class on the day listed.
2.If you want people to participate in your critiques, you must offer opinions and thoughts during their critiques.
3.Be aware of all techbar policies. Fines at the techbar is not an excuse for not finishing your work. 4.Late assignments will affect your grade. A pattern of late assignments will affect your future. Please refer to the departmental rubric. Students will be evaluated for the course based on their completion of
assignments in accordance with the rubric and course objectives.
5.WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN. It is Strongly Suggested that students keep a form of notation on technical information, artists that we see in class, process & procedures, etc.
Grading Policy and Scale:
Grading Scale: A 90%-100% Extreme dedicated effort, superior results, and progress. B 80%- 89% Dedicated effort, creditable results, progress, strong participation,
generally focused and on time C 70%- 79% Average effort and results, fulfillment of all requirements,
little participation or in-attentiveness. D 60%-69% Little to no evidence of effort, participation or achievement; or cheating. F below 60% No evidence of effort, participation, or achievement; or cheating.
Departmental Grade Policy
Incomplete Grade Policy:
Under only extenuating circumstances, an “I” grade may be assigned at the instructor’s discretion, and in accordance with the eligibility requirements specified in the Student Handbook. You may request an "I" grade for more time to complete required course work, which you were prevented from completing in a timely way due to non-academic reasons. You will be asked for documentation to justify the request, though it is important to remember that such documentation does not automatically validate your request. Other factors may be taken into consideration, such as the pattern of performance and participation in the course, and other factors that the instructor deems relevant. Keep in mind that to be eligible for an “I” grade, you must be passing the course at the time of the request, and must have completed at least 75 percent of the course work.
All “I” grades require a written agreement specifying the remaining course work required for completion and timeline for removal of the “I” grade. This agreement is subject to the approval of the Instructor and the Chair of the department or program. If the coursework is not completed within the prescribed timeframe, the “I” will automatically change to an “F” grade. The maximum time in which students must complete all coursework is no later than the last day of Week 7 of the following term, though the exact timeline is at the instructor’s discretion.
Departmental Policies
Assignments: The following assignments contain rubrics for this course. Some assignments have been identified for curricular assessment and must be submitted using LiveText. Your instructor will notify you of those assignments and assist with submission. Additional LiveText assistance is available through the Office of Institutional Research and Assessment.
Assessment Policy:
LiveText is an assessment tool used by RMCAD for internal evaluation of curricula and planning. Assignments uploaded into the system by students will not be disseminated or used for purposes other than assessment.
As such, each student is required to submit work as directed by the instructor in order to support this process of curricular assessment. Failure to provide work as required jeopardizes individual student success and limits the College's on-going mission to improve the educational opportunities it provides students.
Failure to submit required assignments to LiveText as indicated will result in a grade of F for the assignment.
Detailed Description of Course Activities and Assignments:
Students will be evaluated for the course based on their completion of the following assignments in accordance with the rubric and course objectives.
Attendance Policy:
Due to Federal Financial Aid Guidelines, all attendance must be documented. Class meets one/twice a week and each class will last the entire time. Students will be required to attend class, to be on time, and to have the required supplies. Students will be responsible for keeping track of any missed materials or assignments.
You are allowed ONE unexcused absence. All supplementary absences will drop you one letter grade. Arriving to class more than 15 minutes late will be counted as one third of an absence. Attendance and punctuality to project critiques is mandatory, no excuses.
Accommodations for Students with Disabilities:
In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), and Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act, the College affirms its commitment to seek to achieve reasonable accommodations for students who have documented disabilities. Prior to admission acceptance, the College will provide general information upon request. Once enrolled, students are responsible for initiating a request for accommodations by disclosing their disability to the Student Disability Services Coordinator and providing the required supporting documentation. The Student Disability Services Coordinator will provide additional information to students requesting accommodations, such as standards for required documentation and specific policies regarding use of accommodations. An individual’s needs must be communicated to the Student Disability Services Coordinator before accommodations will be made.
Please note: Students with accommodations must discuss and distribute their Accommodations Letter with faculty. Student Disability Services does not inform your instructors of your accommodations. Further, accommodations will not be considered in place until you share your Accommodation Letter with your instructors.
Student Learning Center
The Student Learning Center (SLC) offers various resources to assist RMCAD students with their academic success. Peer Tutoring is available free of charge for most courses. Peer tutors are friendly and patient upper level students who reinforce classroom learning, exam strategies, and study skills. Tutoring is available on both an appointment and walk-in basis but appointments are recommended for specialized tutoring. The SLC is located in Tri-Boro near the Library. Hours of operation, as well as numerous online resources, can be found on the SLC section of the Dome under Academic Services. For more information, or to make an appointment, contact us at learning@rmcad.edu or 303-225-8605.
Emergency Procedures:
If there is a life-threatening emergency, the instructor or a student should call 911 directly, and then notify the Texas front desk. It is not necessary to notify the Texas front desk prior to calling 911.
RMCAD Honor Code
As an academic and artistic community, RMCAD seeks to support the development of the highest levels of creativity, growth and learning within each individual. It is our community’s belief that this is accomplished by careful, personal transformation effected through the incorporation of academic and artistic integrity, through a focus and attentiveness to process as well as resultant forms and product, and through acknowledging those upon whose work each is informed and inspired.
As citizens of this community each has the right and duty to expect honest and authentic work from self, peers and all others. Further, RMCAD recognizes that this commitment to integrity is the path of discovering one’s own creative voice and art. Further, RMCAD recognizes that this commitment to integrity is the path of discovering one’s own creative voice and art. Thus, RMCAD holds in high esteem this Honor Code, by which each pledges to abide.
Ensuring Academic Integrity:
Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design is committed to academic integrity. Academic dishonesty includes:
• Cheating
• Plagiarism
• Theft
• Alteration or falsification of academic records
• Violation of any college, state, or federal laws or policies
To commit or assist someone in committing academic dishonesty is grounds for disciplinary action and possible suspension or expulsion from the college. Students who observe or become aware of apparent academic dishonesty should report the matter to faculty or administration.
Plagiarism is a form of cheating. To plagiarize is "to steal and pass off the ideas or words of another as one's own, use a created production without crediting the source, commit literary theft, or present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source" (Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary, 1993). Plagiarism is intellectual theft, a serious academic offense with serious consequences.
Remember that academic dishonesty includes:
1. cheating, which is defined as the giving or taking of any information or material with the intent of wrongfully aiding oneself or another in academic work considered in the determination of a course grade or the outcome of a standardized assessment,
2. plagiarism, which is defined as the act of stealing or passing off as one’s own work the words, ideas or conclusions of another as if the work submitted were the product of one’s own thinking rather than an idea or product derived from another source, or
3. any other form of inappropriate behavior which may include but is not limited to falsifying records or data, lying, unauthorized copying, tampering, abusing or otherwise unethically using computer or other stored information, and any other act or misconduct which may reasonably be deemed to be a part of this heading
An initial act of academic dishonesty may result in an “F” for the course or assignment, and at the instructor’s discretion. Subsequent offenses may result in expulsion from the college. A more detailed discussion is available in the Student Handbook.
Course Grading Policy / Evaluation Process
1. Technical Proficiency & Attention to Materials
2. Degree of growth made by the individual in his/her ability to express ideas creatively and the ability to discuss these ideas in the context of the media arts.
3. Contributions to group critiques and discussions.
4. Completion of projects by announced due dates
• 40% of your final grade is determined by the final project. • 30% of your final grade is determined by the midterm project.
• 15% of your final grade is based on your classroom preparation, participation, enthusiasm and
interaction.
• 15% of your final grade is based on the completion of assignments and the weekly blog post.
Projects and Schedule:
PROJECT ONE Assignment: Using the knowledge learned in the first half of the semester, you are to create an animated video artwork a minimum of two minutes in length. You should demonstrate the finest work of which you are capable and it should reflect “inspired” vision. Be ambitious, it is better set the bar high and fail than it is to stay safe. Go outside your comfort zone. Your piece should incorporate a well thought out soundtrack that supports the visual components and should be a minimum of two and a half minutes.
Due: Jan 20th – Project Concept Rough Draft – half page write up and relevant media to explain the project.
Due Jan 27th – Project Proposal and Storyboards – 1.5 page outline of project accompanied by a thorough pre-visualization.
Due Feb 24th - Project One Rough Draft
Due March 2nd – Project One : QuickTime file.
PROJECT TWO Using the knowledge learned over the entire course, you are to create a multi-channel video installation composited in After Effects of a minimum of two minutes. Multi-Channel means that the piece is made up of at least two videos that play simultaneously towards a specific intention. This piece should show significant growth from project one and represent the best work you are capable of. The project should be designed with the layout and space of the installation in mind. Your installation should utilize a well thought out channel of sound that supports the visual components. Your installation should incorporate at least one of the following elements: (Generative Elements, Interactivity, A Third Video Channel, A Second Audio Channel, An Extra Minute in Length, Non-traditional Display Format)
Due March 9th - Final Project Concept Rough Draft - half page write up and relevant media
Due March 16th – Final Project Proposal, Storyboards, and Installation Layout
Due April 20th – Project Dealine
Week 1 – Jan 13
Welcome and Syllabus overview After Effects Tutorials : Session One - basics and overview Exercise One
Week 2 – Jan 20
DUE: Project One Concept Rough Draft
Personal Presentations, Blog Post, and Project Concept Rough Draft Tutorials : Session Two Exercise Two Special Tutorial : Overview of Sound
Week 3 – Jan 27
DUE: Project One Proposal and Storyboards
Blog Presentations and Project Proposal and Storyboards Tutorials : Session Three Exercise Three Work Session
Week 4 – Feb 3
Blog Presentations
Tutorials : Session Four Exercise Four
Work Session
Tutorials : Session Four Exercise Four
Work Session
Week 5 – Feb 10
Blog Presentations
Tutorials : Session Five Exercise Five
Work Session
Tutorials : Session Five Exercise Five
Work Session
Week 6 – Feb 17
Blog Presentations
Tutorials : Session Five Exercise Five
Work Session
Tutorials : Session Five Exercise Five
Work Session
Week 7 – Feb 24
DUE: Project One Rough Draft
Blog Presentations, Rough Draft Critique After Effects Tutorials: Session Six - Extras / Project Relevant Add-ons Work Session
Week 8 – March 2
DUE: Project One
Project Presentations and Critique
Project Presentations and Critique
Intro to Final Project Special Tutorial : Intro To Interactivity Intro to Google Sketchup
Week 9 – March 9
DUE: Final Project Concept
Blog Presentations, Project Concept Presentations Tutorials : Session Seven Exercise Seven
Week 10 – March 16
DUE: Final Project Proposal
Blog Presentations, Final Project Proposal Presentations Tutorials : Session Eight Exercise Eight Work
Session
Week 11 – March 23
TBA
Week 12 – March 30
TBA
Week 13 – April 6
TBA
Week 14 – April 13
TBA
Week 15 – April 20
DUE: Final Project Due
Final Critique
