Course Syllabus

DIGITAL CONTENT CREATION

EAE 1050 | Spring 2019 Syllabus

 

INSTRUCTOR

Matt Anderson, MFA

matthewladdanderson@gmail.com

Office hours: By Appointment

 

ATTENDANCE: GAME OF THE DAY

DISCORD: SERVER INVITE

 

TA HOURS:   

3 to 6pm on Monday in the EAE Grad Lab (make appt. via Discord)

1 to 4pm on Thursday in the EAE Grad Lab (make appt. via Discord)

 

TEACHING ASSISTANTS: 

Angie Wang

Kolton Eichers

 

COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course will establish a common language based on art and design principles while gaining a practical knowledge of digital creation techniques and software used in the gaming industry. Introductory skills in 2D and 3D software applications are explored through the lens of art and design theories and fundamentals (principles of art and design). No previous digital content creation experience  required.

 

The course will be held in a computer lab/classroom to enable students to practice exercises during class. The class will include lectures, presentations, and project work both in and out of class. The Teaching Assistants will have lab hours for the students to use outside of class. All of the software will be available in several labs across campus, and most will be available for students on their personal machines.

 

NOTE:

A drawing tablet will be required for this class.

See the Hardware section below.

 

COURSE OBJECTIVES & LEARNING OUTCOMES

• Students will be able to demonstrate a sound understanding of art and design theories and fundamentals through the creation of personal art work, peer to peer critiques, and class presentations.
• Students will gain a practical and technical understanding of core 2D and 3D software used in the games industry.
• Students will be able to create 2D concepts, style guilds, digital paintings, UI, logos, fonts.
• Students will be able to demonstrate an understanding of polygonal box modeling, edge flow, shape, form and digital sculpting in 3D space.
• Students will be able to demonstrate a basic understanding of composition, lighting and materials.
• Students will cultivate skills to continue to learn digital content creation independently via problem solving and internet resources long after this course.

 

HARDWARE

University of Utah computer labs will have the computers & software required to complete all assignments.

 

DRAWING TABLET

Each student will be required to pick up a tablet!

Wacom http://www.wacom.com/en-us

• Small to large drawing tablets, pen tablet displays (Cintiq) and pen tablet computers at a variety of price ranges. Any size will do for the purposes of this course.
• Wacom hardware drivers are installed on University Computers. Other tablet brands will have driver conflicts.

 

DRAWING TABLET ALTERNATIVES

• Pen-enabled computer with win-tab (Wacom) drivers
• Microsoft Surface Pro
• Wacom tablets available for checkout at Marriott Library (limited)
• Beware of non-Wacom tablets & drivers for use on University Lab Computers!
• Product reviews for pen computers, tablets and software compatibility can be found here: http://surfaceproartist.com/

 

PEN ONLY OPTION FOR CINTIQS IN 117 (WACOM PRO PEN 2)

https://us-store.wacom.com/Catalog/Accessories/Pens/wacom-pro-pen-2-with-case#/undefined1

You can look for refurbished or used.

 

OPTION WITH COMPATIBLE PEN FOR CINTIQS

https://us-store.wacom.com/Product/wacom-intuos-pro?sku=PTH660#/undefined1

 

SOLID BUDGET TABLETS

https://www.monoprice.com/category?c_id=108&cp_id=10841

 

SOFTWARE

Software required for this course will be available in university labs and available for download as student or trial versions for use on personal computers.

 

Adobe Creative Cloud - Labs/Free downloads for educational use via University Portal

https://software.utah.edu/faq/license/adc/index.php

• Adobe Photoshop CC
• Adobe Illustrator CC

 

Autodesk Maya 2018 - Labs/Free downloads for educational use

https://www.autodesk.com/education/home

 

Pixologic ZBrush - Labs/Limited trials/Student discounts

http://pixologic.com/

• Zbrush 4R8
• Zbrush Core - Reduced features/cost (Optional)
• Sculptris 1.6 - Free (Self-study & exploration outside of this class)

 

TEXTBOOKS AND OTHER RESOURCES

• Due to the cost of a drawing tablet, no textbooks will be required, but text recommendations will be provided.
• Class lectures, technique demonstrations, instructor authored videos and internet resources will be provided.

 

CLASS STRUCTURE AND GRADING

The student will demonstrate their understanding of the art theory and lecture content through visual problem solving and execution of weekly assigned projects. All Software will be taught through the lens of art and design principles.

 

Typical course projects will encompass practical game content, such as environments, architecture, vegetation, simple characters, props, weapons, vehicles, animation, layout, composition, lighting, shading, effects, etc., in a variety of styles.

 

Grading Rubrics will typically be based on the following:

• Following Instructions
• Participation
• Perceived Effort
• Aesthetics
• Creativity in achieving the desired visual goal
• Technical Execution

 

Grading Breakdown

Assignments: 50%

Quizzes: 30%

Attendance: 20%

 

Grading Scale

Grades are based on the following scale, and may be finalized on an adaptive curve. Grades in Canvas may not necessarily reflect final course grade.

 

A        94 – 100                

A-       90 - 93.99              

B+      87 - 89.99              

B        84 - 86.99              

B-       80 - 83.99              

C+      77 - 79.99              

C        74 - 76.99              

C-      70 - 73.99

D+      67 - 69.99

D        64 - 66.99

D-       61 - 63.99              

E        0 - 60.99

 

COURSE POLICIES

Attendance

There will be a large amount of theoretical and practical information provided in each class. Attendance will be necessary in order to achieve success in this class. Unexcused absences will affect the participation grade. Life happens. The instructor is very understanding and fair with proper notification of an absence due to circumstances beyond control. That said, attendance will be graded and expected, using Game of the Day.

 

Effort and Practice

Digital Content Creation can be broken down into structured approaches that a diligent student can satisfactorily learn and execute, regardless of their experience. Effort/Perceived effort will make up for the lack of experience or natural artistic skills.

 

Participation

Participation comprises several factors. Attendance, arriving on time, being prepared, participating in discussions, critiquing work, asking questions, offering suggestions, clarifying expectations, and challenging suppositions or ideas. Make your positive presence known.

 

Canvas

Check Canvas for announcements and important information. The student is responsible for all information disseminated on Canvas.

 

Assignment Submissions

All homework files must be submitted in format required by Canvas. Please name your file using the following convention: Assignmentname_Studentname.(suffix) Naming conventions are extremely important in Content Creation.

 

Late Work/ Resubmissions

Grades on assignments may be penalized up to 10% per day at the discretion of the instructor. Resubmissions are subject to the discretion of the instructor.

 

Alternative Assignments

In limited cases, students with a demonstrable mastery of weekly subject matter may propose an alternate assignment. The goal of this class is to challenge the student and stretch their abilities. Alternate assignments are at the discretion of the instructor.

 

Syllabus

The syllabus may be subject to change. The Instructor will notify the class regarding all changes. In the event of any discrepancy between this syllabus and content found in Canvas, the information in Canvas will take precedence.

 

Equal Access

The University of Utah seeks to provide equal access to its programs, services and activities for people with disabilities. If you will need accommodations in the class, reasonable prior notice needs to be given to the Center for Disability Services, 162 Olpin Union Building, 581-5020 (V/TDD). CDS will work with you and the instructor to make arrangements for accommodations. All information in this course can be made available in alternative format with prior notification to the Center for Disability Services. 

 

Addressing Sexual Misconduct

Title IX makes it clear that violence and harassment based on sex and gender (which includes sexual orientation and gender identity/expression) is a Civil Rights offense subject to the same kinds of accountability and the same kinds of support applied to offenses against other protected categories such as race, national origin, color, religion, age, status as a person with a disability, veteran¹s status or genetic information. If you or someone you know has been harassed or assaulted on the basis of your sex, including sexual orientation or gender identity/expression, you are encouraged to report it to the University’s Title IX Coordinator; Director, Office of Equal Opportunity and Affirmative Action, 135 Park Building, 801-581-8365, or to the Office of the Dean of Students, 270 Union Building, 801-581-7066.  For support and confidential consultation, contact the Center for Student Wellness, 426 SSB, 801-581-7776.  To report to police, contact the Department of Public Safety, 801-585-2677(COPS). Additional information regarding reporting and victim supportive resources are available at the offices listed above.

 

EAE Misconduct Policy

Students in the EAE program are bound by the University of Utah’s Academic Misconduct Policy which is outlined in the Code of Student Rights & Responsibilities (available here: https://regulations.utah.edu/academics/6-400.php). As defined in this code, academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to, cheating, misrepresenting one's work, inappropriately collaborating, plagiarism, and fabrication or falsification of information. It also includes facilitating academic misconduct by intentionally helping or attempting to help another student to commit an act of academic misconduct. A primary example of academic misconduct would be submitting as one's own, work that is copied from an outside source. Students who are found to have participated in academic misconduct in a class will be sanctioned with a failing grade for the the course. Students who are sanctioned a second time will not be allowed to take further EAE courses at the University of Utah. Further, students who are in the degree program will removed from the program.

 

WEEKLY BREAKDOWN

 

Week 1

Introduction to the Syllabus

Industry Art Roles

 

Week 2

Lectures: Line

Software: Photoshop

 

Week 3

Lectures: Shape, Balance

Software: Photoshop

 

Week 4

Lectures: Color, Size, Emphasis

Software: Photoshop

 

Week 5

Lectures: Texture, Repetition

Software: Photoshop

 

Week 6

Lectures: Typography

Software: Illustrator

 

Week 7

Lectures: Format, Space, Negative Space, Composition

Software: Illustrator

QUIZ #1

 

Week 8-9

SPRING BREAK

Lectures: History of Graphics

 

Week 10

Lectures: Modeling

Software: Maya

 

Week 11

Lectures: UVs

Software: Maya

 

Week 12

Lectures: Perspectives

Software: Maya

 

Week 13

Lectures: Shaders

Software: Unity

 

Week 14

Lectures: Animation Principles

 

Week 15

Lectures: Sculpting

Software: ZBrush

 

Week 16

Lectures: ZBrush / Maya Workflow

Software: ZBrush

QUIZ #2