DMA3305 Character Design

Syllabus

Instructor Information

Adjunct Professor Dan Fergus (call me “Fergus”)

Adjunct Office: F3380 (Totino)
Spring Office hours: Mon, Wed: 9am–10:30am
E-mail : dcfergus[at]unwsp.edu (or) use this form

Meeting Times

T/Th 10:50–12:30 am, Totino Hall, Room F3315

Course Description

This class covers the craft of character design and storytelling for a broad range of media. The objective is the creation of animation–friendly characters for the screen, emphasizing the look and appeal of a character—personality, psychology, context—within an environment and within a cast of supporting characters. In addition, storytelling concepts and tools such as storyboarda and animatics will be explored.

Credits: 2
Prerequisite: DMA3105—Figure Drawing

Learning Outcomes

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to :

Apply art and design principles to the creation of unique and aesthetically appealing character designs that elicit an emotional response from the viewer;
Contextualize a character in an environment;
Demonstrate storytelling ability through the use of storyboards and animatics.

Course Structure

This is a very hands-on class; you will spend the majority of your time making things (drawing in sketchbooks, on storyboards, on other media, and on the computer). In addition, we will devote a fair amount of time to critiques a

Web Resources

Course content, assignments, schedules, supplementary resources, and this syllabus are available through the Moodle site. Students should check the Moodle site at least 2-3 times each week, preferably prior to each class session. Many assignments are available exclusively on-line. Students who do not directly engage with the course site will likely fail this course.

Note that new assignments, readings, and other resources will appear/become available on Moodle throughout the semester; for example—just because you don't see an assignment listed for a given week now does not mean there won't be one once that week rolls around. Be vigilant.

Student Responsibilities

The student is expected to come to class with the appropriate materials to participate that day. This includes a notebook, art supplies, and whatever additional materials are required to complete the in-class assignment. The student is also expected to perform in-class activities with rigor. If you come to class without the appropriate materials, and are therefore unable to work on the current project in class, you will be considered “absent” and marked accordingly.

It is expected that the student will work to create a positive classroom situation. Toward that end, students will clean up after themselves, be respectful of any artwork created and/or shown, and be supportive of fellow students. Students will also be respectful and courteous toward their fellow classmates and the instructor.

Additionally, students are responsible for reading, understanding and appropriately responding to this course syllabus, other course materials, and instructions from the professor. All pertinent course information will be made available through in-class communications and/or on Moodle. Other supporting information beneficial to the course is available elsewhere on-line. Students are responsible for all college policies that pertain to them as found in the college catalog and student handbook. Digital university catalogs and the student handbook can be obtained on the ROCK.

Computers

Personal laptop computers are permitted in class as long as they are being used for classwork—taking notes, design research, using design applications to complete projects where appropriate, etc. Computers (laptops or studio desktops) should not be used for social media, emailing, game playing, streaming sporting events, during class.

Cell Phones

Cell Phones will not be allowed in my classroom unless they are silent. Students are not permitted to talk on cell phones in class, text, use social media, play games, etc., unless they are being used for class related work. Students may use their phones to listen to music during lab portions of the class as long as they wear earbuds (see below).

Earbuds/headphones

Students are not allowed to wear ear buds or other headphones during lectures, critiques, nor discussions. If I see you wearing any, I will confiscate them. However, students are permitted to use ear buds and/or headphones to listen to music while working on creative projects in class (drawing, painting, designing on the computer, etc.) as long as I don't otherwise disallow it. If you are unsure whether or not it is an appropriate time to use earbuds, ask me.

nd discussions. Sprinkled in will be short lectures/presentations by myself, and discussions on the textbook readings. Although you will have a fair amount of time in class to work on projects, expect to spend several hours each week on homework.

Web Resources

Student Responsibilities

Computers

Cell Phones

Earbuds/headphones

Attendance Policy

Students are expected to attend class every scheduled day and to do so on time. Given that this is a quad course and only meets 14 times total, class time is at a premium. As such, two or more unexcused absences will result in a one letter grade reduction to your final grade (an A would become a B for example). Five or more unexcused absences will result immediate failure.

In contrast, excused absences included illness, hospitalization, legal obligations, family tragedy, university sports commitments, and the like. However, for an absence to be considered excused, the student must communicate with me prior to the absence (in person or via email), and present pertinent documentation (in person or via email) no later than his/her return to class.

Note that missing 7 or more classes (including both excused and unexcused absences) will result in failure of the course.

Furthermore, coming late to class counts as half an absence—so if you're late four or more times your final grade will drop one letter. Note that I will take extenuating circumstances into consideration—I will likely be much more lenient on snowy mornings, for example.

Students are responsible for all material discussed in class whether or not they attend that day. A student who is absent is expected to get any missed notes, handouts, or assignments from fellow students, and/or Moodle as soon as possible. Please don't expect me to repeat a lecture or class demonstration. Students who miss classes are still expected to complete all projects and other assignments on time.

Due Dates

Projects, papers, presentations, readings, forum posts, etc., with a stated deadline (due date) are due on the date and at the time specified and no later. Assignments turned-in late will lose points for every day they are late (unless I give you an extension due to extenuating circumstances). This grade reduction is roughly 10% per week. All work must be turned in by the end of the final scheduled class.

Grades

Project grades and comments (where applicable) will be posted to Moodle. It is the student's responsibility to check Moodle and review his/her grades. If a grade of "0" (zero) is listed, it is most likely because I did not received the project, or it is largely incomplete. It is the student's responsibility to make sure his/her work has been completed and received by the instructor.

Evaluation

Evaluations and grades will be determined by:

Achievement of the objectives of the assignment
Aesthetics (composition, use of design elements and principles)
Concept development
Time spent and effort
Craftsmanship
Personal improvement over the quad

The grade scale is as follows:

A (90-100%): Achievement that is outstanding relative to the level necessary to meet the project requirements. Reserved for excellence.
B (80-89): Achievement that is above the level necessary to meet the project requirements.
C (70-79): Achievement that meets the project requirements.
D (60-69): Achievement that is worthy of some credit even though it fails to fully meet the project requirements.
F (59 ≥): Failure to meet even minimal requirements either in quality or level of commitment.

Resubmissions

Students may redo and resubmit work that has been graded and returned. Final projects, and any projects not graded by the end of the term may not be redone.

If the resubmitted piece improves on the original project, a new (better) grade will be posted in place of the old grade. Redone work that is of equal or lesser quality will not be penalized (the grade will remain the same). Note that point loss do to lateness can not be made-up.

Plagiarism

To plagiarize is “to steal and pass off the ideas or words of another as one’s own” (Webster’s Dictionary). In addition to outright copying from another source with an intent to deceive, plagiarism can also be:

Failure to use quotation marks or properly formatted block quotes when quoting;
Failure to make a thorough paraphrase when attempting to put the idea in one’s own words;
Failure to give the source of the information quoted.

I—and the university—take plagiarism very seriously. Students found to have plagiarized material from another source (including other students) will at the very least receive a failing grade on the assignment with no opportunity to make it up. In addition, if I feel the transgression is serious enough, the culpable student will be given an immediate “F” for the class. Furthermore, that student will be subject to additional disciplinary action from the university (probation, or even suspension). For more information on the university policies regarding plagiarism, see the Northwestern Student Handbook.

Any student who aids another student in an act of plagiarism—allowing the fellow student to copy his or her work without citation, for example—will also be penalized for cheating and receive an “F” for the project, and possibly an immediate failing grade for the course.

CAPSS/DOSS ADA Statement

UNW students requesting academic accommodations in association with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are directed to notify the Disabilities Office for Support Services (DOSS) immediately to begin the application process. CAPSS also provides the following: writing and subject tutoring, advocating, transitional skill building, academic coaching (organization, time management, test taking, etc.).

Contact CAPSS for more information: CAPSS@unwsp.edu, or 651-628-3241, or room N4232 [Revised 8/17]

Required Text

Force: Character Design from Life Drawing, by Mattesi. Focal Press.

Suggested Texts

Supply List

The following supplies are needed for this class (you may use items you already own, or have purchased for other classes):

A notebook (recommended)
Sketchbook (required)
Tracing paper pad (required)
Pencils (various hardness/softnesses: e.g. 2H, HB, 2B, 4B, etc.) (required)
Kneaded eraser(s) (required)
Micron brand ink pens (or similar) (required)
Color pencils and/or markers (optional, but might come in handy)
Flash drive or external hard drive (required)

Disclaimer

The content of this syllabus is subject to change. Changes will be communicated orally in class and updated digitally on this Web page—accessible through Moodle.