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JOHN CABOT UNIVERSITY

COURSE CODE: "DMA 225"
COURSE NAME: "Principles of Motion Design and Visual Effects"
SEMESTER & YEAR: Fall 2024
SYLLABUS

INSTRUCTOR: Giulia Panadisi
EMAIL: [email protected]
 HOURS: M9:00 AM 11:45 AM
TOTAL NO. OF CONTACT HOURS: 45
CREDITS: 3
PREREQUISITES: Recommended: COM 230
OFFICE HOURS:
COURSE DESCRIPTION:
This course introduces students to visual communication design for new media, offering an overview of the grammar of motion design and a communication approach designed to be multi, trans and cross-medial. The main objective of the course is to provide students with approaches, methods, and tools needed for the design of multimedia projects in all their components. The course will integrate the theoretical knowledge needed to develop conceptual frameworks as well as the practical skills needed to implement these across a variety of texts and platforms. This course ultimately gives an overview of the grammar of motion design and prepares students for more advanced work in a field where things like keyframes, nodes, and curves have become as ubiquitous as Moviolas.
SUMMARY OF COURSE CONTENT:

The Principle of Motion Graphic and Visual Effects course aims to provide the student with a theoretical and practical approach to the design project for new media; for this reason the course includes theoretical lessons and practical workshops to give the student a complete training from different perspectives on the subject.

•      Theoretical lessons to provide students with an adequate knowledge background for the development of the design activity; the lectures will be based on presenting to the students the historical framework of the discipline, the uses and the potential of the new media in current communication design.

•      Practical lessons that will put students in the position of knowing how to govern the workflow of a complex multimedia project. Through a series of practical workshops, students will have the opportunity to learn the main digital tools for the correct execution of the project. Through the use of specific software, they will be able to experiment various stages of the project, from 2D design to 3D modeling, from animation to video-assembly, from rendering to post-production.

•      Exercises and collective reviews to create a moment of confrontation between students and teacher, verify the assimilation of concepts as the teaching progresses and ensure the resolution of any problems.
LEARNING OUTCOMES:

The course in Principles of Motion Graphics and Visual Effects aims to connect the areas of arts and graphic design to the design of multimedia:

•      Achieve the ability to instrumentally apply knowledge and theoretical-technical skills in the field of motion graphics in contexts of communication and design.

•      Understanding, analysis, acquisition and management of the tools to plan and complete communication and audiovisual narrative strategies from the concept to the final outcome.

•      Know and use the main software tools used in the field of motion graphics.
TEXTBOOK:
NONE
REQUIRED RESERVED READING:
NONE

RECOMMENDED RESERVED READING:
NONE
GRADING POLICY
-ASSESSMENT METHODS:
AssignmentGuidelinesWeight
presentation of the concept and the final project 30%
evaluation of the quality and the coherence of the final project realized 40%
evaluation of the exercises and the presentations made during the semester 20%
participation and the attendance during the lessons  10%

-ASSESSMENT CRITERIA:
AWork of this quality directly addresses the question or problem raised and provides a coherent argument displaying an extensive knowledge of relevant information or content. This type of work demonstrates the ability to critically evaluate concepts and theory and has an element of novelty and originality. There is clear evidence of a significant amount of reading beyond that required for the course.
BThis is highly competent level of performance and directly addresses the question or problem raised.There is a demonstration of some ability to critically evaluatetheory and concepts and relate them to practice. Discussions reflect the student’s own arguments and are not simply a repetition of standard lecture andreference material. The work does not suffer from any major errors or omissions and provides evidence of reading beyond the required assignments.
CThis is an acceptable level of performance and provides answers that are clear but limited, reflecting the information offered in the lectures and reference readings.
DThis level of performances demonstrates that the student lacks a coherent grasp of the material.Important information is omitted and irrelevant points included.In effect, the student has barely done enough to persuade the instructor that s/he should not fail.
FThis work fails to show any knowledge or understanding of the issues raised in the question. Most of the material in the answer is irrelevant.
-ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENTS:
This course introduces students to visual communication design for new media, offering an overview of the grammar of motion design and a communication approach designed to be multi, trans and cross-medial. The main objective of the course is to provide students with approaches, methods, and tools needed for the design of multimedia projects in all their components. The course will integrate the theoretical knowledge needed to develop conceptual frameworks as well as the practical skills needed to implement these across a variety of texts and platforms. This course ultimately gives an overview of the grammar of motion design and prepares students for more advanced work in a field where things like keyframes, nodes, and curves have become as ubiquitous as Moviolas.
ACADEMIC HONESTY
As stated in the university catalog, any student who commits an act of academic dishonesty will receive a failing grade on the work in which the dishonesty occurred. In addition, acts of academic dishonesty, irrespective of the weight of the assignment, may result in the student receiving a failing grade in the course. Instances of academic dishonesty will be reported to the Dean of Academic Affairs. A student who is reported twice for academic dishonesty is subject to summary dismissal from the University. In such a case, the Academic Council will then make a recommendation to the President, who will make the final decision.
STUDENTS WITH LEARNING OR OTHER DISABILITIES
John Cabot University does not discriminate on the basis of disability or handicap. Students with approved accommodations must inform their professors at the beginning of the term. Please see the website for the complete policy.
SCHEDULE

1. Course structure, main objective and theme explanation. Introduction to motion design, taxonomy, and examples.

2. Storytelling, explanation, technique and examples of digital storytelling. Transmedia and crossmedia explanation and examples of transmedia and crossmedia narratives.

3. History of motion graphics, from animation to VR/AR (part 01- 1870-1960).

4. Software Workshop Adobe Animate

5. Motion design production process from pre-production to post-production. Examples of multimedia campaigns on the theme of the course

6. History of motion graphics, from animation to VR/AR (part 02- 1960-today).

7. Students Presentation (Pitchbook)

8. Software Workshop Adobe After Effects

9. External workshop, movie making

10. Software Workshop C4D

11. Communication Design & AI, tools and case studies

12. Students Presentation (Pitchbook and Production)

13. Platforms, post-production and exportations formats. Classroom work

14. Revision and classroom work