mmas 222 001: TTh 9:25 - 10:40 am, Lab ZS 201
mmas 222 002: TTh 3:10 - 4:25 pm, Lab ZS 203
office: 206 Zeis Hall
phone: 828.350.4572
email: lwalsh@unca.edu
office hours: M 10:00-11:30 am, W 2:30-4:00 pm, and by appointment
The purpose of this course is to develop concepts and skills for creating innovative multimedia/new media projects. There will be a focus on 2D animation with a final comprehensive research project that will include animation, interactivity, sound, and video for the Web or for installation. Topics will include digital methodologies as well as traditional practices. Development of skills and critical analysis through experimentation and class critiques are key components of this course.
In this course students will learn to distinguish ideas informed by established visual information and those that envision new meaning through analysis of perception, perspective and vantage point. The challenge will be to see images as more than objects for just consumption or play, and to observe them as agencies for meaningful experiences. Emphasis is on creativity, experimentation, and critical thinking.
• Effective visual communication and an understanding of the vocabulary of art and design
• Developing strategies and work methods for successful projects
• Learning to explore, research, and realize your ideas
• Allowing process to inform and shape, but not dictate the final form
• Learning to select and edit while understanding constraints and how to utilize them
• A solid understanding of motion, spacing, and timing
• Using color and sound to convey ideas and emotion
• Allowing your content to inform, surprise, and challenge
The course provides hands-on experience with key software tools, with a focus on Flash CS4. Flash’s special features, including the creation and coordination of images, sound, animation and video, will be explored. Other software includes Photoshop, Illustrator, and Dreamweaver. A working knowledge of HTML is expected.
There will be four projects. Beginning with drawing on paper (drawings are not evaluated; drawing is thinking and you can use simple lines/marks to express your idea), you will create projects for Web delivery or for off-line installations and/or application. You will be prepared to take projects from initial concept through development phase to the final piece. The initial ideas will be in the form of drawing with written outlines to articulate concepts, abstract as they may be. Your projects will take time and effort. You will be encouraged to collaborate with others in the class to solve conceptual and technical issues. Be prepared to learn, experiment, and create excellent work!
Project 1: Motion Media/Pattern Animation Project
Project 2: Poetry/Type in Motion Project
Project 3: Digital Print
Project 4: The Science-Art Project
Sketchbook
USB key
CD-Rs/DVD-Rs
Firewire/USB external hard drive (recommended)
Adobe Flash CS4 Professional How-Tos, 100 Essential Techniques, Mark Schaeffer, Adobe Press 2008. Available in the UNCA Bookstore.
The following factors will be considered in determining grades.
• Creativity and artistic development
• Willingness to innovate and experiment
• Effort and participation in critiques and presentations
• Completion of all assignments
• Attendance
All projects to be submitted on a CD or DVD in .fla and .swf format. CD/DVDs MUST be labeled and in a sleeve or case.
Project 1: Motion Media/Pattern Animation Project: 20 %
Project 2: Poetry/Type in Motion Project: 20 %
Project 3: Digital Print 10%
Project 4: The Sci-Art Project: 30 %
Development of projects, sketchbook, participation, weekly assignments, quizzes: 20 %
The +/- grading system will be used for this course:
A 4.0; A- 3.67; B+ 3.33; B 3.0; B- 2.67; C+ 2.33; C 2.0; C- 1.67; D+ 1.33; D 1.00; F 0.00
• Projects to be uploaded to the server dropbox on the DUE DATE specified.
• Late assignments are not accepted.
• Critiques are equivalent to exams. The Final Critique is mandatory. Failure to attend and present your projects at the final critique will result in a failing grade for the course.
Attendance at all class sessions is mandatory. Instruction and information provided in the lessons are difficult to repeat outside the classroom. Non-attendance affects the quality and the quantity of your work. Excessive lateness will also significantly lower your grade. For more information, see UNCA MMAS Attendance and Grading Policy. If it is unavoidable to miss a class, contact me via e-mail or phone. Please communicate extenuating circumstances.
• Any absence beyond one will lower your final grade
• Each unexcused absence beyond three will lower grade by one full letter. No kidding!
• Missing more that half a class session is considered an absence.
• Consistent tardies will be counted as an absence (3 late arrivals = 1 absence).
The best way to contact me outside of class is via e-mail at lwalsh@unca.edu. My office hours are as posted and I’m also available by appointment. If I’m in a meeting during office hours, please contact Linda Rice, MMAS Program Assistant, 205 Zeis Hall, lrice@unca.edu.
Note: The following course schedule is subject to change. Advance notice will be provided.
• Introduction, background & goals
• Review syllabus, projects, resources, and sites
• Flash overview/interface
• Discussion of Project I
Assignment: Bring in an example of an animation to present to class for discussion Due Thursday 8/20.
Work on initial sketches for Project 1. Bring in sketches and storyboards - on paper. Illustrator/Photoshop sketches may be included. (minimum 6 sketches) Due Thursday 8/20 and Tuesday 8/25.
• Ideas: creating multiple solutions
• Drawing and Thinking
• Drawing Tools/Options; Editing and Transforming Objects
Assignment: Conceptual development of Project 1
Flash Practice Study 1 .swf DUE in dropbox 8/27
• Symbols and Instances
• Creating & Editing Symbols
• Keyframe Animation; Putting Animation inside Symbols
• Masking
• Using Blending Modes
• Kinematics
• CRITIQUE –
Project 1 Due Tuesday 9/15
• Working with imported artwork
Assignment: Conceptual development of Project 2
• Typography, Art and Design
• Working with imported artwork continued
Assignment: Development of Project 2
Flash Practice Study 3 .swf DUE in dropbox 9/24
• Image and Motion
• Bitmaps/Importing Bitmaps into Flash
• Breaking Apart and Autotracing Bitmaps
Assignment: Development of Project 2
• Audio, Image, and Motion
• Putting Sounds in the Timeline; Synchronizing Sound to Animation
Assignment: Development of Project 2
• Interactivity
• Buttons
Assignment: Final Phase Project 2
Flash Practice Study 4 .swf DUE in dropbox 10/15
CRITIQUE - PROJECT 2 DUE Tuesday 10/20
• Photoshop
• TUESDAY, Oct 27th, Studio Day
• THURSDAY, Oct 29th, Guest Robert Klein
Assignment: Final Phase Project 3
Review Tuesday 11/3. Bring in 3 to 6 ideas.
CRITIQUE - PROJECT 3 DUE Thursday 11/5
• Introduction to Actionscript
Assignment: Conceptual development of Project 4
• Building Interactivity/Examining Usability
• Flash and Video
• Using Video; Skins
• The Adobe Media Encoder
• More on Actionscript
• Exploring the Basics of Object-Oriented Programming
• Formatting Text; Using Components
• Testing and Publishing
mmas 222 001: THURSDAY, Dec. 10, 8:00 – 10:30 am, Lab ZS 201
mmas 222 002: TUESDAY, Dec. 8, 3:00 – 5:30 pm, Lab ZS 203
ALL projects to be submitted on a CD or DVD in .fla and .swf format on the day of the Final Critique. CD/DVDs MUST be labeled and in a sleeve/case.
© LORRAINE WALSH 2009
MMAS 222 001
MMAS 222 002