Prerequisite/Recommended prerequisite for participation in the module

Content, progress and pedagogy of the module

Objectives:

Computer generated imagery (CGI) is an integral part of visual media products. It is so abundant and of so high quality that oftentimes it is no longer noticed. We find CGI and animation in movies that are either entirely computer generated or substantial elements are made as special effects and we find CGI in commercials, music videos or for example visualizations of molecular biology. Interactive 3D computer graphics and animation applications are also becoming increasingly abundant and find them-selves into ever more aspects of our lives. They range from 3D computer games and animations for entertainment over mobile augmented-reality applications for navigation to visualizations of abstract phenomena in web-based applications. In addition to its wide range of applications areas, interactive 3D computer graphics and animation is also mediated in many different ways, from high-end desktop computers to hand-held devices, from projection screens to head-mounted displays, from monitors to laser light displays.

The students shall learn about screen media production, computer graphics, animation and rendering techniques, including the analysis of relationships between audio-visual communication and the communication offered by animation and computer graphics technologies. The students shall develop their technical and methodological skills by creating audio-visual experiments and experiences that are pre-rendered and/or interactive.

In this project module students will be working with analysing, designing and implementing (parts of) applications and media-technological experiments in which pre-rendered and/or real-time, interactive 3D computer graphics and animation are essential parts.

This can, for example, be a 3D game based on a game-engine consisting of an animated short story, a custom-designed application for data visualization, an interactive edutainment installation, a mobile navigation application or even developing a technology and/or a methodology for a special effect or production tools for aiding in the implementation/production of such products.

It is essential that projects contain elements of pre-rendered and/or real-time, interactive 3D computer graphics and animation and address an audio aspect, if applicable (and it has to be considered that many of the desired impacts on an audience can be achieved through the use of audio instead of, or in combination with, visuals). Film theory and cinematography must be applied wherever it can be applicable for the project or wherever the project can benefit from such theoretical and practical considerations. Evaluations of the designed solution must be conducted to investigate experiences, design criteria or formulated hypotheses.

As specified by the Study Board for Media Technology, a sub-theme description is formulated in connection with the project. In connection with the project a minimum of five related seminars /lectures are offered.

Learning objectives

Knowledge

Students who complete the course module will obtain the following qualifications:

• Understanding of modeling, animation and rendering techniques for high quality computer graphics imagery
• Understanding of film form and dramaturgic models
• Analysis of fundamental concepts and theories within screen media production, animation, rendering and computer graphics

Skills

Students who complete the course module will obtain the following qualifications:

• Ability to analyse, design and implement/produce an audio-visual pre-rendered and/or interactive artifact with a narrative element and aimed at communicating a formulated message or experience to a human user or group of users
• Ability to analyse relationships between established theories for audio-visual communication and the communicative possibilities offered by animation and computer graphics rendering technologies
• Ability to apply theories, methods and techniques within animation, rendering and computer graphics (to create a pre-rendered and/or interactive application or a communicative artefact/installation)
• Ability to analyse theoretical and practical issues in pre-rendered and/or interactive 3D computer graphics and to synthesise solutions for such issues (application)
• Ability to apply 3D modeling, animation and rendering techniques to synthesise pre-rendered and/or interactive 3D computer graphics content.
• Ability to apply cinematographic concepts in state-of-the-art graphics rendering tools for pre-rendered and/or interactive content
•  Ability to analyse the audio-visual communication possibilities and requirements associated with a chosen project subject
• Ability to analyse the technical requirements associated with the chosen project subject
• Ability to synthesise an effective solution to the chosen project domain by bringing together relevant concepts, theories and techniques from the fields of film theory and 3D computer animation, rendering and graphics

Competences

Students who complete the course module will obtain the following qualifications:

• Ability to synthesise knowledge, methodology, theories and/or techniques concerning a problem centered around computer generated pre-rendered and/or interactive imagery or animation content that are effective according to some chosen communication requirements
• Ability to analyse the product requirements of a pre-rendered and/or interactive graphics application and to synthesise a functional/formal specification for it
• Ability to critically evaluate knowledge in comparison to the knowledge required for the project work - in particular knowledge in 3D computer graphics rendering, animation, human-computer interaction and/or audio visual design and programming
• Ability to evaluate the designed solution in order to investigate experiences, design criteria or formulated hypotheses.

Type of instruction

Academically supervised student-governed problem oriented project work.

Exam

Exams