<-- home

MMAS 438
Senior Capstone Project (Digital Art & Design)

Instructor: Curt Cloninger / curt at lab404 dot com / 251-6553 / Zeiss 211

Course Site: http://www.lab404.com/438/

MMAS 438 is a capstone project for seniors. Students will work on two long-term, large-scale projects (one art project and one design project) in media of their choosing. Throughout the projects' development, emphasis will be placed on the creative process itself. Students will be evaluated on their ability to: 1. execute, document, evaluate, and justify their artistic and design decisions at given stages of the creative process; 2. give, receive, and act upon peer critique.

Additionally, students will be introduced to concepts in digital art; to historically accepted design processes; and to various strategies, tools, templates, paradigms, and work habits used by leading creatives. Research, written response, and class discussion will supplement the major project development process.

The project phases and other assignments required in this class are time-intensive and require an average of 9 hours per week on the computer, either in a campus lab or on your own computer that contains the software used in the class. The pre-requisite for this class is MMAS 321.

In this course you will:
  • Create and implement a large-scale multimedia artwork
  • Design and develop a large-scale multimedia solution to a given real world problem
  • Generate art & design concepts based on research and intuition
  • Understand common themes and forms in digital art
  • Practice a historically accepted creative process
  • Justify the merits of various artistic & design approaches at given stages of the creative process
  • Identify the flaws in various artistic & design approaches at given stages of the creative process
  • Modify artistic & design approaches based on peer critique
  • Understand the inherent strengths and weaknesses of any theoretical creative process
  • Identify personal creative strategies that optimize individual strengths and characteristics
  • Develop an aptitude for creating under conditions of high uncertainty
  • Improve technical software skills by creatively applying them to the specific project constraints
  • Apply creative artistic & design solutions given the constraints of one's medium (cf: H. Curtis' "Filter")
  • Understand the constraints and challenges of working with/for commercial clients
  • Identify ways in which "quality" art & design can contribute to positive social change

Assignments will explore the following subjects:
  • The nature and value of digital art
  • The nature and value of design
  • The origin of ideas
  • Differences between inspiration, imitation, and rip-off
  • Differences (and similarities) between art and design
  • Balancing the theoretical and the particular
  • Balancing research and intuition
  • Nurturing creativity

Note: The total passing score on assignments does not guarantee a passing grade for the course. Your evaluation in the area of professionalism on the student evaluation form, and your adherence to the attendance policy, along with your participation in class critiques, presentations, and in-class exercises, significantly impact your final grade. Grades can be dropped if assignments are late. Missing more than 2 classes in the semester will result in lowering your final grade. Please read both the attendance and grading policy carefully.

Required Texts:
In addition to various online texts, these books will be read and discussed. They are intended for theoretical reference and for conceptual guidance while working on the projects.

Other Required Materials:
Bulldog email account -- check regularly
Student web hosting space (for posting work)
flash drive, DVD-Rs, notebook or sketchbook, graph paper, pencils, and pens


<-- home