STUDY PROGRAMME
Graphic Design and Art Direction

AFAM CODE
ABTEC40

DISCIPLINARY AREA
Multimedia design

DISCIPLINARY FIELD
Multimedia languages

CREDITS
6

APPROACH
Theoretical/project based

This course, both theoretical and practical, is an introduction to animation techniques and is aimed at third year graphic design students that have already developed a taste for visual communication. It presents the fundamentals of a mindful animation project, and promotes the use of a rich language (in terms of images, pace, taste and narrative aspects that refer to the historical structure and characters’ psychology).

The programme consists of one single module, which grants 6 credits.

Successful students will be able to:

• In-depth understanding of the animation artistic scenario, widening of personal taste and critical skills, definition of a more personal language

• Communicate through images, movements and sounds with or without the use of words

• Create a small portfolio of original animation films as well as audio-visual projects that are creative and understandable

• Acquire organizational skills and exchange notions and methods within various group-work opportunities

• Theoretical introduction to animation: psychological aspects, analogical thinking, observation of real movements

• Creation of a loop film clip of sequential animated drawings, sense of dynamic image and rhythm, pauses, personal taste

• Pre-production in audio-visual products: storyboards, animatics

• Lip-synch and dialogue practice

• Editing of an animatic

This is a theoretical/project based course.

Students will take part in the following activities, which may vary depending on the development of different projects:

• Classroom lectures

• Use of tutorials, videos or other media tools

• Exercises and revisions

• Workshops

• Individual or group projects

• Individual or group study and research

Assessment tools may include:

• Mid-term projects

Further details about the exams will be provided by the professors.

• Muybridge, The human figure in motion, Dover.

• Muybridge, Animals in motion, Dover.

• Williams, R.,The Animator’s Survival Kit, Faber & Faber Limited.

Many of the recommended sources, together with additional material, are also available online on MyNaba, in the Library section.

Books and resources might be requested or suggested by the professors.