Digital Art and Animation Program

Catalog 2006/07

Bachelor of Arts Degree in Digital Art and Animation (DAA)

Digital Art and Animation offers students preparation in four specialization areas: 3D Animation, Entertainment Design, Game Design, and 3D Modeling. The coursework bridges traditional and digital arts classes and includes solid components of theory, production, and general education. Digital Art and Animation provides many opportunities for collaborations with other programs at Cogswell, including Digital Audio Technology, Digital Motion Picture, and Digital Arts Engineering. The Portfolio I and II classes provide a format for bringing together all of the elements of the concept to delivery pipeline in a final capstone project.

3D ANIMATION

The animation program encompasses character, non-character and experimental animation. Character animation fuses acting, performance and the principles of movement to create believable, genuine, emotive characters. Character design, story structure and strong animation fundamentals are used by students to create a short, animated film project in their senior year. Fundamentals and the development of the "craft" of animation are stressed. Students may produce animations fusing both traditional and computer techniques. Non-character animation focuses on visual effects, abstract animation or the motion of inanimate objects. Students are encouraged to combine media to produce original, creative work and content.

ENTERTAINMENT DESIGN

The Entertainment Design specialization integrates a strong traditional art background with skills in digital imagery. The course of study includes drawing, painting, illustration, character design, and concept art. It is designed for students interested in digital matte and texture painting as well as concept design. Issues of presentation and delivery are addressed. The ability to transform verbal and written directions into visual representations of characters and scenes is emphasized.

GAME DESIGN AND INTERACTIVITY

The Game Design and Interactivity specialization studies the theories and production processes used in professional video game development. Students study how a game is created from initial concept through production planning, implementation, iteration and testing. They also learn how to work efficiently, effectively, and collaboratively in teams. The course work includes projects which realistically simulate real-world video game production and requires hands-on application of learned theory and tool skill-sets. This specialization serves to train digital artists, software engineers and game designers seeking a career in the video game industry and exposes them to the growing casual, serious and massively multiplayer online (MMO)/virtual worlds markets.

MODELING

The Modeling specialization develops both 2D and 3D skills in modeling. It allows the student to focus on strong conceptual visual skills, hands-on model building, digitizing, texture mapping, and other skills necessary for model data set creation. These models find applications in movies, commercials, simulators and emulators, games, animation sequences, product design, and product development.

DAA LEARNING OUTCOMES

Students who successfully complete the DAA program of study will be able to:

Identify the most critical components of a project by evaluating the contributing factors.
Develop a production plan that includes concepts, technology, and a schedule.
Produce a senior reel that integrates the principles, techniques, and skills acquired in their coursework.
Utilize the most appropriate existing and emerging software technology in their work.
Create computer generated images which convey messages and emotions.
Apply the elements of design and color to their work.
Use drawing and rendering techniques to invent expressive characters, sets, and props.
Define the role of each member of a group project.
Contribute their expertise effectively to a collaborative project.
Develop a final project concept through experimentation and iteration.
Design and implement a project that exhibits inventive combinations of ideas, techniques, and materials.

DAA CURRICULUM

DAA CORE AND GENERAL EDUCATION COURSES

DAA Core Courses - 42 credits

Visual Studies – 27 credits
DAA1002D Design- 3
DAA105Color Theory- 3
DAA110Sketching- 3
DAA115Figure Drawing I- 3
DAA212Perspective and Rendering- 3
DAA106Digital Imaging Concepts-3
DAA230Intro to Sculpture- 3
DAA310Storyboarding I-3
DAA108 Intro to Photography- 3

Web and Interactive - 3 credits
DAA109 or DAA264Web DesignDrawing Animation I -3

Content Development – 3 credits
DAA107Creativity & Content Development-3

Modeling and Animation - 3 credits
DAA240Intro to 3D Modeling- 3

Audio and Video - 6 credits
DAT110Desktop ProductionFundamentals- 3
DMP230Video Editing- 3

General Education Courses - 45 credits

English - 9 credits
ENG100Composition- 3
ENG210Cultural Diversity in Literature- 3
ENG310 or ENG320Classics of Western Drama Classics of World Drama- 3

Humanities - 18 credits
HUM120 or HUM130Nature and History of Western ArtModern Art History- 3
HUM122 or HUM125World MusicMusic in Western Culture- 3
HUM200History of the Modern World-3
HUM227 or HUM230Film HistoryHistory of Animation- 3
HUM361Contemporary Ethical Issues- 3
HUM400General Education Capstone Research- 3

Social Science - 6 credits
SSC200U.S. Government- 3
SSC332Global Political Economics- 3

Math - 6 credits minimum
MATH115Basic Topics in Mathematics- 3
MATH or SWE105Math Course higher than MATH115 Scripting for CG34

Science for Digital Arts - 6 credits
SCI100 or SCI130Basic Concepts of PhysicsBasic Concepts of Anatomy and Physiology -3
SCI200General Science: Principles & Trends- 3

DAA SPECIALIZATION COURSES -
36 CREDITS

Entertainment Design

DAA210Figure Drawing II - 3
DAA120Painting - 3
DAA320Digital Painting - 3
DAA270Illustration - 3
DAA335Portrait Sculpture - 3
DAA245Texturing - 3
DAA470Illustration II - 3
DAA370Concept Design - 3
DAA 340Modeling I - 3
DAA ElecOpen Elective - 3
DAA480EPortfolio I - 3
DAA485EPortfolio II - 3

3D Modeling

DAA120orDAA270PaintingIllustration - 3
DAA245Texturing - 3
DAA330Figure Sculpture - 3
DAA248Lighting and Layout - 3
DAA340Modeling I - 3
DAA267Character Rigging - 3
DAA370Concept Design - 3
DAA442Advanced Lighting & Layout - 3
DAA345Modeling II - 3
DAA440Modeling III - 3
DAA480MPortfolio I - 3
DAA485MPortfolio II - 3

Game Design

DAA245Texturing - 3
DAA270Illustration I - 3
DAA340Modeling I - 3
DAA267Character Rigging - 3
DAA330Figure Sculpture -3
DAA350Game & Interactivity I - 3
DAA355Game & Interactivity II - 3
DAA450Game & Interactivity III - 3
DAA ElecElective (program or drawing) - 3
DAA ElecElective (modeling) - 3
DAA480GPortfolio I - 3
DAA485GPortfolio II - 3

3D Animation

DMP200Acting - 3
DAA210Figure Drawing II - 3
DAA364Drawing Animation II - 3
DAA2652D Animation I - 3
DAA267Character Rigging - 3
DAA410orDAA460Storyboarding II 2D Animation II - 3
DAA3603D Animation I - 3
DMP440Visual Effects & Compositing - 3
DAA3653D Animation II - 3
DAA4653D Animation III - 3
DAA480APortfolio I - 3
DAA485APortfolio II - 3

If you are a current student enrolled under 2004 - 2006 catalog, please use the link below.

Digital Art and Animation Program 2004-06