Courses

A continuation of the foundational animation courses. Students will research animation techniques and aesthetics and then develop a plan in consultation with the instructor for a semester-long project.  Students will build on their existing animation skills and aesthetic judgement as well as gain a wider appreciation for what is possible with animation, whether computerized or otherwise.

Printmaking is explored historically, and as a vehicle for critical inquiry and self-expression. Critical, theoretical, and practical aspects of relief printmaking are studied.

Integrating cultural theory with material experimentations, this course investigates a variety of contemporary practices and themes, including, but not limited to, multimedia investigations, site specific installation, soundscapes, video, performance, and phenomenologically driven practices. The boundaries of more traditional art experience are pushed to discover new possibilities of collaborative and personal expression using a variety of media in time and space.

An exploration of the conception, production, and analysis of imagery in graphic communication design, including photos, illustrations, and graphic marks. Imagery-based problems are investigated in multiple design contexts and formats. Specialized rendering techniques, digital studio practices and iconographic style development are considered.

An exploration of integrated conceptual thinking and formal experimentation with type and related symbol systems in graphic communications. Emphasis is placed on type as image, principles of typesetting, hierarchy, and structure. The complex interaction of type in relation to other graphic elements in multiple design contexts and formats is considered.

An exploration of integrated conceptual thinking and formal experimentation with the structural and organizing systems at work in graphic communications. Emphasis is given to the development of unified graphic systems spanning multiple design contexts and formats.

Introduces students to the design of interactive digital experiences with a focus on website design, User Experience (UX) design, and User Interface (UI) design. Students will learn the core concepts and principles of interaction design by working through technical and design projects using industry standard design software. Students leave this course with the ability to build basic websites and design digital experiences that follow current interaction design standards and methodologies.

An overview of professional practices in creative careers with a focus on developing the practical skills and materials necessary for sustainable and healthy creative careers. Students will engage in professional writing, portfolio development, networking, and career planning.

This course introduces students to a broad range of critical and theoretical texts that have impacted art practices and the discipline of art history in the 20th century through to the current day. The role of enlightenment aesthetics and the rise of mass culture are explored in relation to the formation of cultural modernism and how Marxist, psychoanalytic, and poststructuralist theories have challenged modernist conceptions. This course investigates the implications for Christians engaging with visual culture today; considers the theoretical underpinnings of postmodern theory; and cultivates the critical thinking skills necessary to engage in current critical debates within visual culture.