MA Design - Animation

Program Overview

The MA Design – Animation program fosters students' artistic visions and technical animation skills. Through hands-on projects, group collaboration, and personalized guidance from industry professionals, students delve into their chosen areas of specialization, developing a portfolio of exemplary work. The program culminates in a comprehensive portfolio showcasing the students' creative journey and enhanced industry readiness as animators or directors.

Program Outline

MA Design – Animation Program Details:

Degree Overview:

MA Design – Animation allows practitioners in animation to explore opportunities that cross established boundaries or develop in-depth aspects of practice beyond usual levels. This postgraduate course aims to develop the student’s personal philosophies on design with a view to developing a personal area of specialism. The program offers students a chance to fine-tune their animation skills under the supervision of industry professionals. This can range from creating brilliant character animation to creating an award-winning animated film or developing amazing sound design skills. A ‘statement of intent’ is drawn up during the beginning of your studies which forms the backbone of the postgraduate activity and provides a term of reference for assessable outcomes. AAS College students are supported by staff input through a series of design activities, and tutorials during the initial modules that are designed to identify an area of interest that can then be fully explored. The formal presentation of this initial research activity and the conclusions drawn, form the basis of the ‘statement of intent’ document. Both the practical and theoretical elements will be assessed both during, and at the end of, each module. Students work on individual projects and there is also the opportunity to work in groups on ‘live’ projects for real companies. In industry animation is essentially a group activity and this group work prepares students for their future career. Successful applicants to this course will find themselves part of a larger postgraduate community, which will reflect and include a wide variety of interest’s right across the Art and Design spectrum. Furthermore, students should be able to demonstrate an ability to critically examine, analyse and evaluate contextual and philosophical issues relating to their intended programme of study. Students from Animation have gone on to work in the industry as both animators and directors.

Outline:

Duration:

13 months

Educational form:

Taught

Education Variants:

Fulltime

Language:

English

October’s 2024 Intake:

Class Start Date: 7th October 2024

February’s 2025 Intake:

Class Start Date: 10th February 2025

British Degree:

Master of Arts in Design – University of Sunderland

Course Structure:

Core Modules:

Stage 1: Design Ideation (60 credits)

Negotiate a ‘programme of study’ with your tutors to identify the topics that you intend to study and develop.

Choose to specialise in just one discipline or explore a number of different disciplines.

Your studies will include aspects of creative studio practice that are relevant to your named pathway.

There is also a theoretical element that contextualises your chosen discipline(s), alongside other design media, within the broader field of design.

Stage 2: Design development and Prototypes (60 credits)

Test out your ideas and experiences in this prototyping stage before the final outcome in Stage 3.

Practical output and theoretical contextualisation will continue to interact and build on each other.

Stage 3: Design Realisation and Production (60 credits)

Produce your final design outcomes leading to a portfolio of creative work that has evolved from the practice and theoretical research developed up to this point.

A Critical Evaluation Report will support your portfolio.

Assessment:

Assessment is 100% coursework and you will be continually assessed throughout the course. The course is continually assessed through module requirements, allowing students to achieve target awards. Final modules are graded Pass, Merit, Distinction. Graduates will improve their chance of employment in the advertising industry with their demonstrated enhanced specialism and understanding developed on the course.

Other:

Students from Animation have gone on to work in the industry as both animators and directors.