The Digital Design Studio

The Glasgow School of Arts

The Digital Design Studio (DDS) is wholly focused on commercial and research activities, supported by an academic footprint. We are interested in innovative and imaginative use of visualisation and interaction against the background of massive growth in digitary imagery communications. Examples of this are seen in our research activities with UK Ministry of Defence, BBC, Royal College of Surgeons. 

DDS recently completed work on development of the most advanced 3D City model in Europe.  We are presently researching how our can be used in a medical context, ie surgical rehearsal, remotely conducting operations.

From a historical point of view, DDS are involved in the historical archiving of national assets, 3D capturing of world heritage sites.

The researchers employed by DDS are programmers, engineers, scientists and academics. Our commercial wing assists in keeping the researchers employed, and at its heart is the academic programme.  At Masters level, we bring in graduates from science, engineering, social sciences and the arts, who become the intellectual heart of the DDS, and we grow these people into PhDs, steeped in the visualisation and interaction technologies which we believe in.

DDS operate three postgraduate programmes:

Masters in Animation

The Masters in Animation aims to provide an academic framework which allows postgraduate students to explore concepts, aesthetics and narratives within the language of animation and sound. The programme of study is designed to provide a foundation in the processes, craft and theoretical background required to develop a research project within this medium.

It promotes the production of work, through individual or group-based research, that is conceptual, aesthetically challenging and wide ranging in its use of narrative languages and structures.

Teaching and learning is undertaken in a studio-based environment, which is support by a series of classes that cover a range of subjects from animation to sound construction.  The teaching and learning strategy is based on the delivery of units, each of which contains theoretical and practical elements.

These units build consecutively to provide a firm grasp of animation principles while a continuous flow of practical assignments provide an intensive learning experience. Emphasis is placed on the craft of animation, narrative structures and the storytelling process. The programme also includes lectures in research methods, which is intended to assist in the overall management of ideas, sources of knowledge and presentation of work for the Masters award.

Aims of the programme

            This conceptually driven programme aims to provide a comprehensive grounding in the professional practice involved within the creative industries of animation and sound production. The programme aims to promote the production of theoretically grounded, aesthetically challenging work, which explores personal themes through a wide range of narrative structures.

            Pre-production, production and post-production studies will form a key component of the generic aims, with an emphasis on story telling, script writing, sound design, character design, set and lighting design and storyboarding.

The Masters in Animation aims to offer each student the opportunity to:

·         Develop and demonstrate a critical knowledge of animation principals and articulate this through the production of (a) practical project(s);

·         Acquire and demonstrate a critical knowledge of computer animation production methodologies and articulate this through the production of (a) practical project(s);

·         Acquire and demonstrate a critical knowledge of the production process in relation to animation and sound;

·         Acquire and demonstrate a critical knowledge of sound production in relation to animation and sound;

·         Acquire and demonstrate a critical knowledge of production methodologies in relation to animation and sound;

·         Develop and demonstrate through a research proposal a suitable project for Masters level study in relation to animation and sound;

·         Demonstrate a significant range of the skills and techniques associated     with current developments in the field of drawing;

·         Demonstrate an understanding of new media in their various forms as relevant to Art, Design & Architecture in Education.

Masters in Visual Sound

This new one-year Masters in Visual Sound (subject to validation)* offers postgraduate students the opportunity to explore theory, concepts, aesthetics and technology within the process of sound design & music production for the visual environment; film, web, broadcasting, theatre and installation-based art. Students will be encouraged, through individual and group-based research, to produce original work that is sonically challenging and intellectually rigorous. Much of the work will be practically-based, however students will also undertake theory-based discussion seminars, which will compel them to contextualize their own ideas alongside those of sound practitioners and theorists such as Walter Murch and Michel Chion, and to rigorously analyse the conceptual basis of sound in key works within the visual canon.  The final award of an Masters in Visual Sound will be dependent on the completion of a major project and thesis in the field of sound for picture.

Aims of the Programme

This programme aims to prepare students for a career in audio production for film, broadcasting, animation, visual art and multi-media.  The programme will allow new and current practitioners in these fields to delve deeper into their craft, achieving a significantly greater insight into the conceptual, theoretical and aesthetic basis of sound for picture.  The programme will also be of relevance to visual artists seeking to explore the medium of sound from a perspective that places sound and vision on an equal footing.

The programme equips students with the following:

• An in-depth theoretical and practical background in sound-for-picture methodologies
• The ability to exploit advanced audio technology in the pursuit of artistic excellence in the field of sound-for-picture
• The opportunity for students from a range of disciplines to work, both individually and collectively as part of a multidisciplinary team.
• Develop research projects that are based on personal study or collaboration with industry

M.Phil Research (in Animation)

The programme aims to provide an academic framework which allows postgraduate students to explore concepts, aesthetics and narratives within the language of animation and sound. It promotes the production of work, through an Individual Programme of Study that is conceptual, aesthetically challenging and wide ranging in its use of narrative languages and structures.

The emphasis of the programme rationale is the interplay between creative practices underpinned by theoretical research, and mediated through the craft elements of process (making). The programme of study is primarily conceptually driven and shaped by the process of research. The phases of production (pre-production, production and post-production) will form the foundation to all the practical work undertaken with a strong emphasis on the key elements of planning, storyboarding, and script writing.    

The programme of study is aimed at postgraduate students who wish to explore their creative practice through the medium of animation, and sound. Students will be expected to engage in a high level of self-directed learning, research and independent critical reflection, as well as participating in the taught elements of the programme of study.

Prospective applicants to the MPhil will be expected to have an understanding of the key principals of computer animation, sound and editing before commencing on the programme.

Aims of the programme

Pre-production, production and post-production studies will form a key component of the generic aims with an emphasis on story telling, script writing, sound design, character design, set design, lighting design and storyboarding.

The MPhil in Animation aims to offer each student the opportunity to:

·         Develop an understanding of the key processes required to develop a research project within the field of animation and sound (pre-production, production and post production);

·         Develop and demonstrate an understanding of research methodologies and research processes within the field of animation and sound;

·         Explore aesthetics, narrative structures and concepts through an Individual Programme of Study within the field of animation and sound;

·         Acquire and demonstrate an understanding of professional practice within the fields of animation and sound, and articulate this through an Individual Programme of Study;

·         Undertake research into the theoretical language of animation and sound, and articulate this through an Individual Programme of Study;

·         Develop a research project that explores personal themes and ideas within the field of animation and sound.

For further information on any of the above, please contact:

Avril McAllister

0044 141 353 4424

a.mcallister@gsa.ac.uk

www.gsa.ac.uk

Digital Design Studio

THE GLASGOW SCHOOL OF ART
167 Renfrew Street | Glasgow | G3 6RQ | Scotland | United Kingdom
+44 141 353 4500

*Add-a-Link*Student Information*Advertise *Advertisers*A-Z Countries *