Film, photography, digital art for computer games and more

Explore creative media and bring your design ideas to life through animation, film and photography, digital art for computer games or a combination of these areas.

Your specialist area

Animation

Explore all key aspects of the animation production process using a variety of techniques from script to screen including 2D drawn, 3D stop motion and 3D computer animation and mixed screen based media. We have strong links with industry and professional bodies such as Skillset, NAHEMI and various animation associations. Emphasis is placed on your personal and professional development, communication and entrepreneurial skills so you are well equipped to enter a diverse and rapidly changing industry.

There are opportunities to work not only in the animation industry, but also in associated areas such as conceptual artwork, computer games, music video, television graphics and live action. Many past students have been successful in national competitions such as the RSA Design Awards, D&AD and the Ffresh Student Moving Image Festival of Wales. The animation route has established extensive external and industrial links enabling students to liaise with industry and gain professional experience. Past students have risen to become directors in their own companies, while others have worked on feature films such as Space Jam, Prince of Egypt, A Bug's Life and The Corpse Bride.

There are organised study trips to animation festivals such as the Bradford Animation Festival, Stoke Your Fires and the International Animation Festival in Annecy. There is also a four day industrial visit to prestigious London animation production companies. Visiting guest speakers/lecturers are an important feature during our Creative Futures week. This is supplemented with regular screenings of films and seminars. There are opportunities to produce work for real clients and enter major design and animation competitions.

Film and photography

Key elements include conceptual processes, design, digital imaging, camera technique for still and moving image, lighting for studio and location, editing and post-production techniques. Within the assignments set, you can explore contemporary themes through generating ideas for the still and moving image which include location and studio work for drama, documentary, advertising, music media and other related topics.

Technology has had great impact on all of these areas and fosters inter-dependent design and creative relationships. This teamwork is reflected in the programme.

You will have the opportunity to develop and locate your role in the film and photographic industries, either as a provider of creative lens imagery, as a media developer, as a content provider or in production and post-production industries. 

As in any dynamic industry, the job function demarcation lines are not rigid and students are encouraged to multi-task in order to be flexible, adaptable and multifunctional. This is particularly important with the development of SME's (small to medium enterprises) where skills that transfer across more than one design discipline are highly desirable. There are strong links with industry that enable students to work on client related projects. The feedback from these links is continually evaluated and incorporated into the programme.

There are organised study trips to festivals, exhibitions and galleries and an extended biennial industrial visit to London design and post-production centres. Many past students have been successful in national competitions that are specific to lens and media industries and have worked on a number of commissions for industry.
 
There are opportunities to produce work for commercial clients, for charitable and community organisations and education. Work can also be produced in collaboration with other design students to provide experience of teamwork to reflect normal industrial practice. Students are encouraged to present their work to a wider audience through festivals and competitions.

Emphasis is placed on students' personal and professional development, communication skills and entrepreneurial skills so they are well equipped to enter and shape a diverse and rapidly changing industry.

Digital Art for Computer Games

Our philosophy identifies the many design problems that exist in games development pipelines and responds with promoting imaginative problem solving. The development of intellectual property in game art lies at the core of our programme - from design through to production. Traditional design skills and natural media techniques such as life drawing, storyboarding, character and environment design is transferred using 2D and 3D industry standard software to create digital concept art, models and animations.

There is a strong emphasis on team building and this programme enjoys close collaborative links with a more general games course. This enables students who want to specialise in producing game art with the opportunity to work closely with students who enjoy programming to produce playable demos and games.

The programme is specifically orientated towards students’ need for the knowledge, experience and skills that will promote a confident approach to prospective employment as digital concept artists, modellers and animators for the computer games market and related creative industries.

Students successfully completing their degree programme will graduate with a digital portfolio of 2D and 3D Games Art such as concept design, art, animation and assets developed to advance the game narrative, mood, pace, tone and characterisation.