KNB136 Visual Storytelling: Production Design

Unit Outline: Semester 2 2024, Kelvin Grove, Internal

Overview

Animation is the art of impossible worlds, requiring a broad base of skills that address the nexus of theory and practice. Core animation skills such as observation, meaning-making, description, interpretation, representation and recording synthesise the foundations laid through critical thinking and affiliated practice.

This unit explores the theoretical context for the use of techniques and processes involved in the development of concepts for production. It also introduces some of the drawing skills and processes employed in the visual development phase for animated, live-action production, motion media and games. It addresses design thinking, concept art, character design and modelling, in anticipation of production work. This unit provides a solid foundation for subsequent visual storytelling units, such as KNB216 Visual Storytelling: Cinematic Pre-Visualisation and KNB226 Visual Storytelling: Pre-Production, which inform final year capstone project.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit you will be able to:

1. Identify and demonstrate the basic drawing elements of line, shape, and form to create designs that support visual narrative structures and compositions.
2. Through drawing represent the human form in a solid and expressive manner with overall appeal.
3. Develop an understanding of the visual language and conventions employed in visual communication and storytelling.
4. Develop critical/reflective frameworks for the contextualisation of personal design and style with audience appeal.

Content

Learning Approaches

This unit introduces the skills involved in the development and presentation of ideas through the use of a range of traditional and contemporary processes for media production. It involves lectures on theoretical and practical approaches to storytelling and visual communication. Tutorials include discussions and demonstrations of current practice and new methodologies.  

You will apply the resulting knowledge to creative outcomes such as animation, game production, motion media practice and information design. You will learn drawing techniques that will help comprehend spatial relations and produce stronger visualisation. You will have the opportunity to engage in critique for the improvement of your creative outcomes.

Feedback on Learning and Assessment

Formative and summative feedback in this unit is provided to you in the following ways:

• a range of formative exercises will be discussed in class and you will receive verbal feedback on your progress in this unit during tutorials throughout the semester
• criteria sheet grading
• generic comments back to the cohort via QUT Learning Management System.

Assessment

Overview

For this unit you will be required to demonstrate your comprehension of design for basic animation storytelling.

Faculty Assessment Information
To access the Creative Industries Faculty Assessment Information see the Canvas site for this unit.

Unit Grading Scheme

7- point scale

Assessment Tasks

Assessment: Concept Art

Based on a given storyline or narrative, you will be required to develop a collection of work to be published on your blog. This should include your in-class drawings, ideas for environments and character design. Together with brief reflections of your evolving vision, these will be documented on your blog.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Assessment: Production Design

Building on the theme explored in Assessment 1 (Concept Art), you will craft a short story and produce designs to enable its production with an accompanying rudimentary animatic. The entire development process together with brief reflections of your evolving vision must be documented on your blog.

This is an assignment for the purposes of an extension.

Academic Integrity

Students are expected to engage in learning and assessment at QUT with honesty, transparency and fairness. Maintaining academic integrity means upholding these principles and demonstrating valuable professional capabilities based on ethical foundations.

Failure to maintain academic integrity can take many forms. It includes cheating in examinations, plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, and submitting an assessment item completed by another person (e.g. contract cheating). It can also include providing your assessment to another entity, such as to a person or website.

You are encouraged to make use of QUT’s learning support services, resources and tools to assure the academic integrity of your assessment. This includes the use of text matching software that may be available to assist with self-assessing your academic integrity as part of the assessment submission process.

Further details of QUT’s approach to academic integrity are outlined in the Academic integrity policy and the Student Code of Conduct. Breaching QUT’s Academic integrity policy is regarded as student misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties ranging from a grade reduction to exclusion from QUT.

Requirements to Study

Costs

The unit requires a digital stylus for Cintiq tablets, animation software subscription and traditional art materials. Alternative arrangements may be available for students experiencing financial hardship. Refer to the unit Canvas site for more information.

Resources

Resource Materials

Recommended text(s)

Bancroft, T. 2006, Creating characters with personality, Watson-Guptill, New York.

Barber, Barrington (2004) The complete book of drawing: essential skills for every artist. London: Arcturus.

Fischer, L. 2015, Art direction and production design, I.B. Tauris, London.

Glebas, F. 2009; 2012; 2008, Directing the story: professional storytelling and storyboarding techniques for live action and animation, Elsevier/Focal Press, Amsterdam; Boston.

Halligan, F. 2013, Production design, Focal Press, Burlington, MA.

Han, R.P. & Gnomon Workshop (Firm) 2008, Character design for production: concept techniques with Peter Han, Gnomon Workshop, Hollywood, Calif.

Katz, S.D.1. 1991, Film directing shot by shot: visualizing from concept to screen, Michael Wiese Productions in conjunction with Focal Press, Studio City, CA.

Mascelli, J.V. 1965, The five c’s of cinematography: motion picture filming techniques simplified, Cine/Grafic Publications, Hollywood.

Mattesi, Mike (2006) Force: Life Drawing for Animators [electronic source]. Burlington: Elsevier.

Mattesi, Mike (2008) Force: Character Design from Life Drawing [electronic resource]. Burlington: Elsevier.

Micklewright, Keith (2005) Drawing: mastering the language of visual expression. London: Laurence King Publishing.

Paez, S. & Jew, A. 2013; 2012, Professional storyboarding: rules of thumb, Focal Press, New York.

Rousseau, D.H. & Phillips, B.R. 2013, Storyboarding essentials: how to translate your story to the screen for film, TV, and other media, First edn, Watson-Guptill Publishers, New York.

Selby, Andrew (01/01/2013). “Storyboarding” in Animation (1-78067-097-4, 978-1-78067-097-3).

Shorter, G. 2012, Designing for screen: production design and art direction explained, Crowood, Ramsbury.

St. Aubyn, Jacklyn (2006) Drawing Basics. Belmont, CA: Thomson/Wadsworth

http://ebookcentral.proquest.com/lib/qut/detail.action?docID=1876152

Risk Assessment Statement

All students and staff are required to complete the Tier 1 CIF General Health and Safety Induction for access to campus buildings and facilities. This must be completed online.

There are no out of the ordinary risks for this unit.

Course Learning Outcomes

IN05 Bachelor of Games and Interactive Environments

1. Demonstrate broad knowledge of games and interactive environments principles and theory, with an in-depth knowledge of one games-related discipline.
   Relates to: ULO1, ULO3, Concept Art, Production Design
2. Apply creativity, critical thinking and problem-solving skills to generate solutions to design challenges.
   Relates to: ULO2, Concept Art, Production Design
3. Create engaging and meaningful games experiences for specific target audiences in partnership with diverse industry and community stakeholders using industry-relevant software and technologies..
   Relates to: ULO2, Concept Art, Production Design
4. Critically reflect on social, ethical, cultural, legal and accessibility issues in the context of games and interactive environments, including as they relate to First Nations Australians.
   Relates to: ULO4, Production Design
5. Evidence the development of your learning, professional capabilities and skills through creating a curated portfolio of work.
   Relates to: ULO2, Concept Art, Production Design

KK34 Bachelor of Fine Arts

1. Identify and demonstrate knowledge of the techniques and concepts underpinning your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO1
2. Demonstrate technical proficiency in at least one area of your field of creative practice.
   Relates to: ULO1
3. Represent and promote your work in ways relevant to your creative field.
   Relates to: ULO2
4. Discern, critically analyse and synthesise knowledge in complex creative practice settings.
   Relates to: ULO3
5. Formulate and apply an independent perspective through reflection and by acting on the informed critique of others.
   Relates to: ULO4