UNIVERSITY OF CONNECTICUT
DEPARTMENT OF DIGITAL MEDIA AND DESIGN
DMD3220/ DMD 5220 Title Design
Course Number: DMD3220-001 or DMD 5220-001
Term: Fall 2023
Class Meeting:
Bishop 005 M/W 12:20 – 2:50
Course Instructor: Heejoo Kim
Office Hours: By appointment (please email to schedule)
Email: heejoo.kim@uconn.edu
Office Location: The Bishop Center, Room 239 (2nd Floor)
One Bishop Circle, Unit 4056, Storrs CT 06269
Course website: titledesign.dmd.uconn.edu
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course is designed as a survey and studio for broadcast design and title sequences for film and television. Students will develop a deep understanding of the evolution of broadcast television and film graphics, and command of several methods of producing graphics for broadcast television & film. Planning, storyboarding, and designing images as well as aesthetic issues of 2D & 3D design for television and film will be addressed. Discussions, case studies, and in-class assignments will address designing still images, sequencing images, compositing images and motion graphics.
COURSE RATIONALE:
Since the invention of the mute button, motion graphics have taken on a greater economic importance. In order to attract and hold the attention of viewers, who may otherwise wander, a need has emerged for increasingly dynamic and compelling graphics. These images have evolved into an important form of communicating, as well as an art form, relaying a condensed message through text and motion. This course analyzes current TV and film graphics, award sequence segments, film and video game trailers, network identity campaigns, news/information graphics, as well as the evolution of broadcast graphics and title sequences covered in lectures, introducing students to title sequence artists (Saul Bass, David Fincher, Guilherme Marcondes, Nina Paley, etc.. ) and production houses and/or studios (Curious Pictures, Digital Kitchen, The Mill, etc…) that specialize in broadcast graphics, title sequences and movie trailers.
Title design, historically has been associated with the post-production, the creation of title sequence and credit animation for television programs and motion pictures. Recently broadcast design has been applied to branding products, services and entertainment programs in the advertising and entertainment industry. As a result, title design has created a new visual language that can communicate a visual message to a broad viewing audience without the limitation of language or vocabulary. Broadcast design/motion graphics is new medium where artists can apply their traditional skills to communicate an objective or subject message to evoke a response.
COURSE OBJECTIVE:
This course is designed to provide motion graphic designers with instruction and guidance in the technique and critical understanding of experimental and expanded ways of 2D/3D motion effects, animation, and compositing. The technical instruction will be focused around the use of Cinema 4D, and Adobe After Effects in the handling of animated and motion imagery.
The goal of this course is for students to:
- Gain an understanding of what constitutes motion graphic design and animation
- Become capable of producing strong, effective motion graphics and animations
- Develop and process graphics and audio to be integrated into animation sequences and develop special effects for animation-video sequences using professional media development software
- Develop advanced and experimental motion graphics concepts that convey a defined message or story, and communicate effectively to a project audience
- Publish animation-video sequences onto appropriate media for audience playback
- Analyze and critique professional and amateur animation-video sequences form various delivery formats in terms of design and content
COURSEWORK:
During this course students will:
- Participate in class discussions and critiques
- Apply techniques covered in class in the completion of technical exercises
- Develop and complete a midterm and final project
- Document creative planning, process, and completed work
COURSE MATERIALS:
Software: You will use Game engine simulation, Cinema 4D, Adobe Creative Cloud applications provided to you by the Digital Media and Design Department.
External Hard Drive: You will need an external hard drive with a minimum of 120–500GB where you can store your work. Whether you work on the lab computers or your own laptop, your own external hard drive will serve as a necessary place to hold and back-up your projects.
Data Back-up: Maintaining a back-up system is a responsible and necessary task in this digital age. Along with the benefit of owning your own hardware comes the responsibility of maintaining it so data is safe. Hardware problems are no excuse for late or missing work. Apple offers its software Time Machine. Another is an app called Super Duper. Online back-up systems like CrashPlan are also available. Whatever back-up system you select, maintain it regularly.
Sketchbook: You should maintain a physical or digital sketchbook. Throughout this course you will be developing numerous small projects, and two long-term projects, and your sketchbook will serve as a record of creative ideas and the evolution of project concepts. Being able to communicate your intentions and objectives through notes, thumbnail sketches, storyboards, and design concept sketches prior to the investment of hours in production is a central and essential skill for animators and motion graphics designers.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
You are responsible for ensuring that original work is correctly attributed. You must give clear and complete attributions for the work of others in your own productions as well as in any written work. Plagiarism (either digital or written) will not be tolerated and may result in failure of the course or expulsion. Please refer to the Student Handbook.
PARTICIPATION STATEMENT:
This course is experiential in nature, and failure to attend class means you are not fulfilling your obligation to participate in discussion and critiques and contribute to the overall learning experience of all. There is no practical way to recapture material covered in class if a class is missed. Students are expected to arrive on time and remain throughout the entire class period. Failure to participate in 15% or more of class time will result in the lowering of one or more letter grades at the discretion of the instructor. Failure to participate in 30% of class time will result in automatic failure for the course.
If you must be absent from class for any reason email me prior to the absence.
Providing adequate notice is professional etiquette and a demonstration of active participation. If you are unable to send notice prior to a lesson you must email me within 24 hours. I make a concerted effort to accommodate absences for religious observances, and absences due to extracurricular activities coordinated by a university official, such as scholarly presentation, performing arts, and intercollegiate sports. Please note, however, that being absent from class does not change a submission deadline for an assignment unless prior arrangements have been made.
If you are absent for a sustained period of time I need to know. If you have a serious, life-threatening illness that will accrue absences, a handwritten and signed letter from your doctor, with a telephone number, is required. See me for class materials you may have missed and to discuss a plan for making up your missed class time and work. Failure to comply with this procedure will result in either an I, X, or N grade until the matter is resolved.
COMMUNICATION:
Good communication is essential to a successful class experience. Please come and talk to me if you anticipate any conflicts with any of the due dates or studio critique deadlines of the course, or if you need any special accommodation in order to successfully complete the requirements of the course. The sooner I know about any exceptional circumstances the better, and the more likely we are to come up with non-stressful alternatives.
If you encounter any questions or challenges with an assignment, please come talk to me or email me. I am here to help. However, please try to email me at least 24 hours before a deadline. Please try your best to compose emails with a salutation and closing, and using complete, grammatical sentences.
ETIQUETTE:
Please avoid digital distractions.
Your computers, tablets, and phones are essential to the digital media work that you do, but they are also a gateway to all kinds of distractions. This course depends on your full and active engagement, and as a result, I ask that you please refrain from making phone calls, texting, emailing, or checking social networks during class except as part of class participation or with agreement from me.
Please keep food and drink away from each other’s work and equipment.
Come prepared for class. Arrive with your work completed/exported/rendered and ready to present before the start of class. Make sure that you have planned your presentations and critique days so that you stay within the time restrictions. Complete any assigned readings and viewings in advance of class and be ready to discuss them.
GRADES:
Assessment for this course is comprised of participation and professional behavior, preparation for and engagement in studio critiques and an end-of-semester exhibition and demonstrated progress on self-directed creative work.
This is a graduate-level course. The quality of your artwork was already “graded” upon acceptance into the DMD program. As such, grades will not be based on the quality of your artwork, but rather on your demonstrated commitment to developing and presenting your creative work and on your contribution to the group.
Participation: You should strive to be active, insightful, considerate, and honest during class critiques and discussions. Active participation includes arriving to class on time, professional communication in and out of class, asking questions, providing critiques or comments, paying attention, showing extra initiative, and sharing expertise with classmates.
Preparation: You should prepare in advance for all presentations, studio critiques, and discussions. Plan in advance so that all presentations stay within the time limits identified. As this class is based on discussion and critique of work, there is no practical way to recapture material covered in class if a class, deadline, or critique time is missed.
Portfolio: All the work produced in this course should be considered suitable portfolio material, if it is crafted to the standards expected. The portfolio is the single most valuable artifact you will generate during your coursework and the most important one for when you graduate and seek employment and/or clients. Collect, keep, record everything towards this purpose. All of the documentation you generate may well be viable in a portfolio.
| Assessment | Percentage |
| Participation + Exercise | 50% |
| Inspiration Presentation | 10% |
| Prototype Presentation | 10% |
| Peer Evaluation | 10% |
| Final Project | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
STANDARD GRADES:
A 94-100
A- 90-93
B+ 87-89
B 84-86
B- 80-83
C+ 77-79
C 74-76
C- 70-73
D 60-69
F less than 60 points
I Incomplete
LETTER GRADE EXPLANATION:
[A] Excellent. Student exhibits mastery of the material; demonstrates the ability to express and apply the material in a creative way, i.e., not simply what has been covered in the class or texts. Student demonstrates a strong articulation of personal voice, both in the work completed and in the presentation of material to the class.
[B] Good. Student exhibits an advanced understanding of material covered in class; has some consistency in performance on tests and assignments; presents the material in a clear, organized fashion, but needs further work on clear expression of ideas.
[C] Fair. Basic understanding of material covered in class. Concepts and facts are correct and covered in adequate depth; exhibits inconsistency (some areas covered well, others poorly, indicating some confusion over the material) or inability to clearly express understanding of the material.
[D] Poor. Student demonstrates perfunctory comprehension of the material; inconsistency of performance on tests and assignments; misunderstanding of the material; incomprehensive mastery of skills; excessive absences or lateness.
[F] Failure. Failure to complete the assignments as stated; failure to hand in an assignment; complete or near complete misunderstanding of the material; plagiarism; illiteracy; excessive absences or lateness.
[I] Incomplete. Incompletes are given at the discretion of the course instructor.
UNIVERSITY POLICIES
ACADEMIC ACCOMODATIONS:
The University of Connecticut is committed to protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities and assuring that the learning environment is accessible. If you anticipate or experience physical or academic barriers based on disability or pregnancy, please let me know immediately so that we can discuss options. Students who require accommodations should contact the Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD), Wilbur Cross Room 204, (860) 486-2020, or csd@uconn.edu. More information at http://www.csd.uconn.edu.
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY:
Scholarly activity at the graduate and postdoctoral level takes many forms, including, but not limited to, classroom activity, laboratory or field experience, writing for publication, presentation, and forms of artistic expression. Integrity in all of these activities is of paramount importance, and The Graduate School of the University of Connecticut requires that the highest ethical standards in teaching, learning, research, and service be maintained.Scholarly integrity encompasses “both research integrity and the ethical understanding and skill required of researchers/scholars in domestic, international, and multicultural contexts.” It also addresses “ethical aspects of scholarship that influence the next generation of researchers as teachers, mentors, supervisors, and successful stewards of grant funds” (Council of Graduate Schools, Research and Scholarly Integrity in Graduate Education: A Comprehensive Approach, 2012).
The Graduate Faculty Council, in accordance with the provisions of its By-Laws, has adopted this policy concerning scholarly integrity in graduate education and research and has approved the procedures set forth herein for addressing alleged violations. The Dean of The Graduate School shall coordinate the reporting, investigation, and determination of alleged breaches of scholarly integrity by graduate students in accordance with this policy.
Members of the Graduate Faculty have primary responsibility to foster an environment in which the highest ethical standards prevail. All members of the University community have a responsibility to uphold the highest standards of scholarship, which encompasses activities of teaching, research, and service, and to report any violation of scholarly integrity of which they have knowledge. Instructors have a responsibility to take reasonable steps to prevent scholarly misconduct in their courses and to inform students of course-specific requirements.
University definitions of scholarly misconduct can be found here:
https://policy.uconn.edu/2014/04/ l l/policy-on-scholarly-integrity-in-graduate-education-and-research/
You are responsible for ensuring that original work is correctly attributed. You must give clear and complete attributions for the work of others in your own productions as well as in any written work. Plagiarism (either digital or written) will not be tolerated and may result in failure of the course or expulsion. Please refer to The Student Code: community.uconn.edu/the-student-code-preamble/
Note: Student misconduct other than scholarly misconduct, as defined herein, is governed by the University’s Student Code, which is administered under the direction of the Office of the Provost. Enforcement of its provisions is the responsibility of the Director of Community Standards. At the Health Center, student misconduct other than scholarly misconduct is governed by the Health Center Rules of Conduct.
POLICY AGAINST DISCRIMINATION, HARASSMENT AND INTERPERSONAL VIOLENCE:
The University of Connecticut is committed to maintaining an environment free of discrimination or discriminatory harassment directed toward any person or group within its community- students, employees, or visitors. Academic and professional excellence can flourish only when each member of our community is assured an atmosphere of mutual respect. All members of UConn community are responsible for the maintenance of an academic and work environment in which people are free to learn and work without fear of discrimination or discriminatory harassment. In addition, inappropriate amorous relationships can undermine UConn’s mission when those in positions of authority abuse or appear to abuse their authority. To that end, and in accordance with federal and state law, Uconn prohibits discrimination and discriminatory harassment, as well as inappropriate amorous relationships, and such behavior will be met with appropriate disciplinary action, up to and including dismissal from the university. Additionally, to protect the campus community, all non-confidential university employees (including faculty) are required to report sexual assaults, intimate partner violence, and/or stalking involving a student that they witness or are told about to the Office of Institutional Equity.
UConn takes all reports with the utmost seriousness. Please be aware that while the information you provide will remain private, it will not be confidential and will be shared with University officials who can help. More information is available at eguity.uconn.edu and titleix.uconn.edu
SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTING POLICY:
To protect the campus community, all non-confidential University employees (including faculty) are required to report assaults they witness or are told about to the Office of Diversity & Equity under the Sexual Assault Response Policy. The University takes all reports with the utmost seriousness. Please be aware that while the information you provide will remain private, it will not be confidential and will be shared with University officials who can help. More information is available at sexualviolence.uconn.edu.
ABSENCES FROM FINAL EXAMINATIONS:
A student who is prevented by sickness or other unavoidable causes from completing a scheduled final assessment must apply to the Dean of Students or designee for validation that will authorize the student’s instructor to give a substitute assessment. A student whose absence is excused by the Dean of Students or designee shall have an opportunity to complete a substitute assessment without penalty. A student whose absence from a scheduled final assessment is not excused in this way shall receive a failure for this assessment.