Description
Topic is “Software Lab”, course is 2 units. This project-based studio course introduces industry-standard emerging media. Students will explore and establish an introductory technical foundation in tools for animation, modeling, and coding to support creative work. The course includes hands-on demonstrations that provide practical insights, informing conceptually oriented projects.
Learning Outcomes
- Explore and learn emerging software to gain new skills and inspiration
- Develop the ability to use software in bold and experimental ways
- Create an individually specified tool to develop your own visual vocabulary
- Gain a deeper understanding of the unexplored potential of software and its impact on design
Courseware
Please check our class website regularly, as it will be used for sign-ups and uploading course materials. We will be using Are.na as the main tool for sharing insightful resources. If you don’t have an Are.na account yet, please sign up in advance.
Project Submission
All projects should be uploaded to the class Google Drive by the date specified in the class schedule. Files uploaded after this date will be rejected for your semester grade.
Grading
You will receive one-semester grade (A—F) according to the following metric:
- Course assignments & Projects :
clarity of topics and contents, final deliverables, visual ability
- Depth & Breadth :
in-depth research, exploration, curiosity, and experimentation
- Class Participation & Contribution :
actively participate and contribute in class
Disability Statement
Students who have self-identified, provided documentation of their disability, and requested reasonable accommodations may be entitled to receive approved modifications in the classroom, appropriate academic adjustments, or auxiliary aids that enable them to participate in and benefit from all educational programs and activities. Please see http://www.bu.edu/disability for more details.
Attendance & Absences
Please make every effort to arrive punctually. You must attend all the classes. According to the SVA Attendance Policy, unless specific permission for absence is arranged with the instructor of this course, students must attend class to receive credit for the course. Unexcused absences exceeding 1/4 of the total class hours in a given semester are considered excessive in all SVA courses. Tardiness and any unexcused absences will reduce your course grade. Three unexcused absences will reduce your semester grade by one step (e.g. A- to B+). Seven unexcused absences will earn you a failing grade for the course.
Wellness and Health
Your health and well-being are important for your journey as a professional graphic designer. It is important to work hard and balance that with rest, self-care, and attention to your mental and physical health. I will challenge you in this class through assignments, activities, and discussions. However, the work in this class should not be at the expense of your well-being. If for any reason you are struggling to find balance in your work life and health/wellbeing, please reach out. I am happy to discuss ways in which this class can support you in your learning and growth. You can find more resources provided by BU CFA Mental Health & Wellness Resources.
#0 Collaborative Toolbox
Playing with new and different software helps us expand our visual vocabulary and creative ideas. The Software Lab is a collaborative space where all members experiment together using new tools. To expand our toolbox archive, we will operate a Collaborative Toolbox Arena channel. Each member will sign up for a date and introduce five tools they find interesting. These tools will be shared on the Arena channel so that everyone can use them as assets for future projects. The five tools can include graphic design tools, motion graphics tools, 3D tools, AI tools, typeface creation tools, writing tools, or any other tools we commonly use in our work.
#1 Proto—Type
Using one or more typeface creation tools, create a new typeface. The focus is on experimental and playful design, rather than producing a fully polished typeface. Consider creating modular, color, or variable fonts, and give your typeface a name. The typeface you create will be used as the title for the second project, Re:Place, so it is encouraged to design a type that connects conceptually with Re:Place.
#2 Re—Place
Reimagine a place that is meaningful to you in a digital space. This could be your hometown that you’ve left behind, a place belonging to someone you love, or even a virtual space you’ve long imagined. What form could it take in a digital environment, and what new meanings might emerge? Tools for creating 3D interactive spaces will be introduced during the workshop. For your project, you may use these tools or any others you prefer. (Learning 3D tools in the workshop does not mean your final project must be in 3D.)
#3 Between Worlds
As the final project of the Software Lab, we will explore the conversation between the physical and digital worlds. What meanings can emerge when physical actions intervene in the digital? Web programming workshops for building digital spaces will be included. For physical interactions, you are encouraged to bring creative and diverse ideas that can connect with digital spaces to your project.