Monday, September 14, 2015

DIG1111 Digital Character Design DIG-1111-Syllabus

Course Title: DIG1111 Digital Character Design DIG-1111
Prof. Cesar Santalo M.F.A
Lecture Days and Time: Mondays: 5:40 p.m – 8:30 p.m.
Class Location: Wolfson Campus/Magic Main Lab
Course Email: csantalo1@gmail.com

This course is for students majoring in Animation & Game Art, covers the observation and translation of three-dimensional form into two-dimensional drawings. Students will learn the interpretation of the human body, based on major masses organized by gestural lines. Students will transition to draw on digital tablets.

Week 1
•    Week 1 Overview
•    Drawing from Life-(Still Life)
•    Techniques-(Cross-Hatching)
•    Arm motion and Gesture
•    Shadow and lighting
•    Introduction-Photoshop(Brushes)
•    Week 1 Assignments

Week 2
•    Week 2 Overview
•    Drawing from Life
•    Gesture Drawing
•    Construction Technique
•    Rules of Proportion
•    Week 2 Assignments

Week 3
•    Week 2 Overview
•    Measuring and Sighting
•    Dynamic Gestures; Contrapposto; and Balance
•    Line of Action
•    Linear Structure
•    Geometric Shapes
•    Week 3 Assignments

Week 4
•    Week 3 Overview
•    Basic Vocabulary
•    The Skeleton
•    Axial Skeleton
•    Appendicular Skeleton
•    Comparison of Human and Animal Skeleton
•    Bony Landmarks
•    Week 4 Assignments

Week 5
•    Week 5 Overview
•    Muscles
•    Torso
•    Arms and Legs
•    Hands, Feet, Paws, Hooves
•    Comparison Between Humans and Animals
•    Skulls, Human vs. Animal
•    Week 5 Assignments

Week 6
•    Week 6 Overview
•    Chiaroscuro and Foreshortening
•    Overlaps
•    Textures
•    Cloth, Clothing and Drapery
•    Character Design Sheets
•    Character Design Basics
•    Creating a Brand
•    Week 6 Assignments

Week 7
•    Week 7 Overview
•    Maintaining and Improving Your Skills
•    Inspiration from Art History
•    Improving Quality
•    Week 7 Assignment

Week 8
•    Week 8 Overview
•    Inking-Using thick and thin lines
•    Using Adobe Illustrator
•    Free sketching in Illustrator
•    Week 8 Assignments

Week 9
•    Week 9 Overview
•    Lateral Head Turns
•    Cartoons
•    Week 9 Assignments

Week 10
•    Week 10 Overview
•    Human and Animal Proportions
•    Animal Proportion
•    Drawing Emotion and Gesture Drawing
•    Posing and Facial Expressions
•    Week 10 Assignments

Week 11
•    Week 11 Overview
•    Natural vs. Anthropomorphic Characters
•    Protagonists vs. Antagonists
•    Model Sheets
•    Reworking Character Shapes
•    Week 11 Assignments


Week 12
•    Week 12 Overview
•    Finding Focal Points and using Costumes
•    Designing Props with Personality
•    Introduction to Motion and Movement
•    Week 12 Assignments

Week 13
•    Week 13 Overview
•    Layout for Character Sheets
•    Cleaning Up in Photoshop and Illustrator
•    Professional Presentation
•    Week 13 Assignments


Course Competencies: (for further instruction/guidelines go to: http://www.mdc.edu/asa/curriculum.asp)

Competency 1: The student will demonstrate an understanding
of elements of art by:

1.     Defining the elements of art as related to drawing.
2.     Creating solutions to assigned drawing problems directed to specific elements.
3.     Describing the effects of specific drawings in critique discussion.


Competency 2: The student will demonstrate an understanding of the principles of design by:

1.     Defining the principles of design related to drawing.
2.     Creating solutions to assigned drawing problems as they relate to composition.
3.     Identifying and describing the key principles of scene composition.


Competency 3: The student will demonstrate an understanding of observational gesture drawing of the human figure by:

1.     Observing and translating of three-dimensional live models into two-dimensional gesture drawings as quick and direct impressions of the subject.
2.     Demonstrating the ability to construct Constructing the figure starting from simple shapes to complex organic forms.
3.     Drawing parts of the figure in correct proportion.

Competency 4: The student will demonstrate an understanding of life figure drawing by:

1.     Applying knowledge of skeletal, muscular, and surface anatomy.
2.     Drawing the figures in relation to mass and plane by using value and/or line.
3.     Drawing parts of the figure in relation to foreshortening and overlapping shapes.
4.     Drawing the figure as a three dimensional rendering through light and shadow in developing value scale.

Competency 5: The student will demonstrate an understanding of character and object design by:

1.     Demonstrating the ability to design characters and objects for animation based on the building blocks of drawing and design.
2.     Exploring historical and contemporary design styles and techniques for developing a wide range of character types, traits, mood, personalities, and attitudes for visually realizing an animated character.
3.     Creating model sheets.



Books & Materials

RECOMMENDED:
Dynamic Figure Drawing-Burne Hogarth-Paperback
Drawing Dynamic Hands-Burne Hogarth-Paperback
Drawing The Human Head-Burne Hogarth-Paperback
Dynamic Wrinkles and Drapery-Burne Hogarth-Paperback
Dynamic Anatomy-Burne Hogarth-Paperback

REQUIRED:
Students should bring a portable USB hard drive or thumb drive (If you are on a Mac user, format to Fat32) for data storage. All files saved on the desktop of the lab computers will be deleted periodically without prior notice. So please have your own media storage devices ready to backup your files.

Attendance Policy: Weekly attendance and participation is mandatory. In the event of an absence, the student should communicate the reason for his/her absence to the professor in writing (note or email) and collaborate with other students to obtain discussion information, notes, or assignments. If a student is absent, he/she is still responsible for all material given through lectures, assignments, in the labs, etc. The student is still required to take any upcoming test or evaluation on the date given. Emergency situations should be documented by signed official certificates. More than 3 absences (excused or unexcused) may result in an instructor drop and a letter grade deduction.
Tardy Policy: Students who arrive to class late disrupt both the professor and other students. We all deal with heavy traffic and emergencies. Please make sure that you plan for unexpected delays. Start early. You know that parking is limited and that you will have a problem finding a space to park. If you arrive late to class, enter the classroom silently, and do not bother other students by asking what we are doing.
NO FOOD OR DRINKS IN THE COMPUTER LAB

Cell Phones: Cell phones are very convenient and are part of modern life; however, there is a time and a place for everything. The classroom is not the time nor the place for cell phones. Make sure your phone is turned to silent during class. If you receive a call that is urgent, please leave the classroom, and do not interrupt the class. No texting in class.
Honor Code: Academic honesty should be a part of each student's personal integrity. Each student is expected to abide by the college's honor code which strictly prohibits cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic misconduct. Students who are caught exhibiting any form of academic misconduct will receive a F on the assignment/ test/ project and will be subject to review by the college administration.
Please acquaint yourself with the Miami Dade College's resources on academic honesty. 

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Statement: Students who have a disability that might affect their performance in the class are encouraged to contact Access Services, in confidence, as soon as possible. The office will aid in appropriate accommodations for the student. This is in accordance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. Please inform me during the first week of classes if you need special accommodations due to a disability that might otherwise affect your performance in our class.
Students Rights and Responsibilities Handbook:
http://www.mdc.edu/policy/student_rights_and_responsibilities.pdf
Computer Issues:
Occasionally, problems do arise. Files can be accidentally erased, disks can be corrupted, networks can crash, and computers can crash.
Be prepared! Backup all files. Hard drives and USB thumb drives are cheap. Time is not.

Contacting the Instructor
You are welcome to give me feedback about the course, to ask a question about an assignment, to share an interesting article or resource, to report that you will be absent from a class/lab, to request additional time for an assignment (because of significant health, personal, or educational matter), or similar communication.

Breakdown of Letter Grades
This course is comprised of smaller technical assignments and larger projects. Assignments are weighted at 50% and projects are weighted at 50%.  Assignment grades are generally graded as complete / incomplete. Your grade for individual projects will be an evaluation of creativity AND craftsmanship. Creativity is your individual and unique approach to the assignment. Craftsmanship is your level of mastery of the technical aspects of digital art, including presentation. Other factors that will affect your grade include participation in class discussions, ability to respond to criticism and relate to suggestions for improvement to your work. Active participation in class can raise your grade. Extra Credit is available upon request.

Project Grades:
A =  Superior – The grade A indicates that work surpasses expectations for the assignment, that critique participation is exceptional, often leading discussions with full interest in other students’ ideas and work.
B =  Above Average – The grade B indicates that work is extraordinary and goes beyond the minimal requirements of an assignment, that critique participation is exemplary and fully respectful of other students’ ideas.
C =  Average – The grade C indicates that work is completed as assigned, that participation in the critique is regular and fully respectful of other students’ ideas.
D = Below Average – The grade D indicates that work is completed, but is not completed as assigned, that participation in critique is sporadic or minimal.
F =  Failure – The grade F indicates that work is not completed as assigned and that there is minimal or no participation in the assignment critique.

Critiques:
A major component of the course is the ongoing development of an ability to comment upon work made by oneself and one’s peers. It is beneficial to receive such comments as they can accelerate ideas and act as motivation for future work. Your participation in critique is important. It will be considered as a component of your project grade and your final grade. Attendance of all class critiques is MANDATORY.  It is important for everyone to be present and to start on time in order to adequately critique everyone’s work. Your participation in critique is important. It will be considered as a component of your project grade and your final grade.

** Students are responsible for all assignments/information on the syllabus unless notified differently by the professor. This syllabus may be modified at the professor’s discretion.



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