Syllabus

Spring 2023

Course Number: KCDM 323

Course Title: 2D Character Design

Prerequisites: KCDM 241

Elective: DM Elective

Instructor: Susan Bonner, MFA, she/her

Contact: bonners@ferris.edu

Time: Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30-11:20

Delivery Mode: Hyflex Course

Revisions: This syllabus may be revised, at any time, at the discretion of the instructor.

Contact

Office Hours:
This is when I welcome you to come to see me about anything. We can discuss your career, your goals at Kendall, or how your achievement in the course is going. Please feel free to ask a question if you see me working. This is a time I have reserved for you.
If you would like additional help or feedback you are welcome to set up a time that works for both of us on Calendly. I typically have several slots available 4 days per week. Schedule a meeting with Susan on Calendly
Class Meets Tuesdays and Thursdays 8:30- 11:20 am
Susan Bonner: bonners@ferris.edu

Office Hours available to be scheduled on Calendy (external link)

Course Description:

Students will learn both the technical and stylistic methods of character design for a variety of media and entertainment applications.

Course Outcomes:

The student will:

Communicate character design concepts, considering genre and copyright issues, and discuss possible distribution channels
Apply design, and production processes that are congruent with current industry standard including 3d models and photography as reference
Understand the concept and rigged character design process for human, mech., animal, and creature design
Critique and receive critique for projects, relative to the stated objectives, as a member of a review group and then advance them accordingly

The Projects:

Character Exploration and Brand Match
Creatures for Game
Characters for Motion Design
2D Animated Game Character
- Concept
- Rigging
- Animation Test
- Character Battle (bonus assignment)

Materials

KCAD Digital Media Technology Requirements
A laptop
A Google account
External or cloud-based data drive for backups. Losing data is not an excuse for missing deadlines. Files that are backed up are files that are never lost.
Adobe Creative Cloud account
- Photoshop
- Animate
Google Drive
Google Slides

Grading

Each assignment is graded individually.

On-time delivery

was work turned in on the the due date?
were you present at the scheduled reviews?

File submitted correctly

is the file(s) in your Google Drive, named correctly, with the permissions set for me to edit?

Followed assignment directions

are all of the components listed completed?

Understood & implemented assignment concepts

this is a measure of the quality of the work based on the goals given.

Iterated based on feedback (if feedback was given)

revisions have been made to the previous week's assignment based on the feedback you received.

Communication:

If at any time you have issues with anything, I welcome you to discuss them with me during office hours or during class.

Attendance:

Will be taken and can be viewed on Canvas under Roll Call
Counts towards your grade
Missing 3 courses will put you in jeopardy of a Mid Semester Warning. Missing more than 3 courses will severely impact your ability to learn from the course in regards to discussions, lectures, reviews and student / faculty interaction.
Please contact me if you are dealing with extenuating circumstances so that we can create a plan for your success.

Midterm and Final Grades

Will be determined by averaging your progress reviews and benchmark scores.

(A) 96-100 %
(A-) 91-95 %
(B+) 86-90 %
(B) 81-85%
(B-) 76-80 %
(C+) 71-75%
(C) 66-70%
(C-) 61-65%
(D+) 56-60%
(D) 51-55%
(D-) 46-50%
(F) 0-45%

Hyflex Course with Flipped learning style

This is an on-campus HyFlex class

The faculty will be present on campus each day.
The students are required to attend in person one time a week and engage with the flipped classroom content throughout the week.
Students may choose to come in for additional help during the other course day or through office hours.
The classrooms at KCAD are available as open labs (when there is no class in session), and there are work-stations by the elevator if you need access to the internet, Cintiqs, or computers.

This is a "Flipped" style course. That means:

Students will acquire from this course site, all of the information they need to complete their projects (assignments).
Students will work independently using the supplied information over the course of a week.
Students will attend group meetings each week where we will collaborate to move your projects along technically, functionally, and aesthetically.
- Note: Students will have the option to attend as many group meetings each week as they desire. But will only be required to attend one meeting each week.

Course Engagement

(1) Check the Canvas calendar for your next assignment(s). Links to the instructions can be found in the calendar entries.

There are 2 types of assignments.

- The production of media.
- Revisions to the media based on feedback.

(2) Aquire the assignment instructions from the course website.

If you have questions about the instructions, contact me at bonners@ferris.edu.

(3) Upload your work into your Google Drive folder that you created for this class.

Use the directory structure that is outlined in your first assignment.

(4) Engage with the class: The type of engagement is noted on each course day on the calendar.

Daily Sessions: You are assigned to a student group and you are required to attend each of those sessions.
Big Group Review: The entire group will meet together.

Meetings

Class meets in room 709 in two separate groups, one on Tuesday and one on Thurssday, from 8:30-11:20 (check the home page on canvas to see which group you are in). Students are welcome to work in the classroom and join other groups at will.
All students. from both groups will attend together on the first week of class at 8:30 AM in room 703.
All students from both groups will have other required in person reviews including at the end of the semester.

Covid Protocols

Please review the DAD Covid protocols here.

Open Labs

The classrooms at KCAD are available as open labs (when there is no class in session), and there are work-stations by the elevator if you need access to the internet, Cintiqs, or computers.

Getting assignments

login to your myFSU account, then visit Canvas
Once there, choose the course from the Dashboard. There, you find information regarding this course.
Click on the calendar. There, you will see all of the assignments listed on their due dates. Assignments should be completed and uploaded to your Google Drive before class starts.

Scheduled Online Day:

Some days or times will be online. See the schedule on the Canvas Calendar.

In-Person Day:

Some days and times will be scheduled for in-person when it benefits the group to be together in person. If you are ill or have extenuating circumstances and emailed Susan then you may attend on zoom during a scheduled in-person day. See the schedule on the Canvas Calendar.

Attending Remotely

If you are not feeling well, have transportation issues, or are experiencing anxiety regarding being on campus, you can request by email to attend via Zoom.
The Zoom URL for the online sessions and students that want to engage online will always be found at the bottom of each page.
Zoom will be on when I know that there is need for it. That is why communication about attending remotely is required.

Zoom Etiquette

Turning on your camera is optional, but encouraged for presentations.
Using a profile picture is optional, but encouraged. A photograph is the preferred professional method for creating a digital presence on Zoom in most scenarios.
Listing your pronouns in your profile name is optional, but encouraged.

Canvas

Overview: Using Canvas

Assignments will be acquired through Canvas then linked to the page on the course site.
Completed Work will be uploaded to Google Drive (not Canvas)
Grades will be acquired through canvas.
Additional Comments on work will be acquired through Canvas. (Most comments will be given during the reviews.)

This course website is optimized for phones. This means you can use your phone as a second screen to follow assignment instructions while you work on your laptop.

There is also a mobile app for Canvas (external link)

Communications

It is highly recommended that you set up your Canvas to receive notifications for Announcements.

Announcements will be given if there is a change to the assignment, a change in meeting remotely or in person, and for other various things that you will need to know in a timely manner, such as new tutorials or instructor illness.

Notifications

Sign up to recieve notifications either by text or email so that you are aware of any changes.

See the screen captures below to see how to turn announcements on.

In Box

You can see and send emails messages from and to all of your course instructors using In Box!

Aquire an Assignment

(1) Visit the Canvas Calendar and click on an assignment

(2) Review The Assignment Overview from the pop-up window

(3) Click the links in the pop-up window to acquire the detailed instructions from the course website.

Check your Grade

(1) Choose the Grades in the left sidebar menu

(2) Click on the assignment you wish to check

Check Announcements

(1) Click on the 'Announcements' button in the left side menu

Syllabus Supplement Sp 23

KCAD Syllabus Supplement contains important information about the college.

Syllabus Supplement Spring 2023.pdf

Policies

KCAD Student Artwork Usage Policy

As a condition of enrollment, students and/or parents of minor students consent to the following usage rights, for purposes which may include, but are not limited to: display, educational assessment, accreditation, archiving, and publicity/promotions for the college. The college reserves the right to edit materials as needed for best use in context without specific written permission.

1. Use of any works produced by students while attending Kendall College of Art and Design, Ferris State University.

2. Use of photographs, video, audio or other recordings of any artworks, designs or other coursework produced while a student at KCAD.

3. Use of photographic, video, audio, written or other recordings/documentation in college or KCAD sponsored/affiliated classes or activities, on or off campus, while a student at KCAD. Usage may be in any medium. Materials may be used without further notification, compensation or credit, though whenever possible, credit will be included for students enrolled in a KCAD degree program. Materials produced by or for KCAD are the sole property of KCAD.

All other copy and reproduction rights to original artwork, designs or coursework remain the sole property of the student. KCAD students may request that their name and other public information be kept confidential by submitting a completed Directory Non-Disclosure form to the office of the Registrar.

Susan Bonner's Additional Policy:

I will honor any requests to not publish, record, or share your work if notification is given.
You may contact the Chair of the DAD program if you prefer to not contact me.

Your Identity

I strive to support all students in their coursework and am happy to use your correct name and pronouns in class. Please contact me (in office hours or by email) to let me know your correct name and pronouns at any time.

Please let me know if you have a first name other than the one listed in the FSU course roster. For record-keeping purposes, on Canvas, I will need to use your last name as it is listed in the FSU course roster.

You can make Zoom show your preferred name by editing your profile in Zoom. Additionally, anyone may edit their name so that their pronouns are also displayed.

Rules for using Ai in this course:

Ai may be used as a tool in this course.
Elements from Ai may be used to collage with your work.
Poses may be developed in Ai for reference.
Work finished by the Ai is not acceptable as your own work.
The Ai software must be listed as a tool in your proof of workflow, the same as listing photoshop as a software must be listed.

Proof of Workflow

You must show the process of your work, the AI generator name, and your prompts.
There is a line that can be drawn on how much the Ai is a part of your work and how much you have created the work. (This is still to be determined by the courts).
You will need to prove that a significant amount of the work was done is by you.
In this way, we can also learn from each other on the process of using Ai as a tool.

See more information about Ai as a tool

Google Sites

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