Principles of Design Process

Master class

Principles of Design Process

Dates:

Oct. 22nd - Dec. 18th, 2013 + 1 extra week for content review

Fees:

$599

Pre-reqs:

Dynamic Sketching 2

Materials:

photoshop

Course Description:

This class emphasizes on the development of creating scene elements with character and story. These scene elements will be a variety of props. This is an integral part of concept design that places an importance on developing elements that pertain to a particular story. Students will learn the importance of creating dynamic pieces while breathing life to inanimate objects, this is crucial when creating hero props that may be used as motifs or visual cues.

Class goals: To understand the basic Linear process of designing props from having a blank sheet of paper, to a presentable stage for production. Production ranges from feature animation to film and applies to environments, technically characters as well, but the class focus will be on simple objects for a clearer understanding of the full process.

Weekly individual feedback format: video critique.

Course Outline

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• Week 1:  Understanding styles and how they apply to a project. A crash course in design process from start to finish, beginning with gathering photo references, thumbnailing, refining a sketch, and painting a final. 
  Hw: design a single prop for a simple styled show. Examples, foster's, samurai jack, adventure time. Provide sketches and then a sketch render final. Try best to do orthos
  Choose a theme for the semester. Indy jones, star trek, snow white, marvel character like spiderman. Preferably something we all understand.
• Week 2:  Gathering photo references that apply to any give project. From references, beginning the thumbnail process. This week begins the first of 3 projects: designing a "tool."
  Hw: project 1, design a tool. Do sketches and then a sketch render of a design
• Week 3: How to make brushes in photoshop. Developing a final with a style in mind. This week also concludes the tool project. 
  Hw: project 1, paint a final prop
• Week 4 : Basic design principles that apply to most everything. This week begins the 2nd project: designing a "weapon." In this week we explore thumbnailing in a slightly different style, with values applied as well.
  Hw: project 2, design a weapon. Provide sketches, and a sketch render.
• Week 5:  Developing the weapon to a final. This particular lecture starts to touch on material indication and storytelling and believability.
  Hw: project 2. Paint a final for the weapon.
• Week 6: Understanding ellipses, for mecha and vehicles, these principles are important. This week also begins the final project: design a "mecha" or a "vehicle."
  Hw: project 3. Sketches for a vehicle/mecha. Provide a sketch render. Do only one!
• Week 7: How to use paths in photoshop for tight, technical drawings and paintings. Developing a vehicle to a finish state.
  Hw: project 3. Final painting for the vehicle/ mecha.
• Week 8:  How to bring it all together. Taking previous work and adding any necessary elements, or editing any existing elements to communicate any given design from source material to final product.
  Hw: design a prop for a complex show. I.e. Motor city, ben ten, transformers, disney feature. Provide exploratory sketches, a final image and orthos.