The development of this FdA has been delivered within a close working relationship with Skillset and the Digital Knowledge Exchange (DKE) at Doncaster College University Centre. This development ensured that consultancy to Skillset was facilitated by the DKE via funding from Yorkshire Forward as part of the capacity building infrastructure for Creative and Digital Industries development through the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) South Yorkshire. The matching of course descriptors aligned to an ongoing future determination of occupational standards for this fast emerging and ever changing digital industry was seen as fundamental to ensuring that the quality of this Animation and Games FdA programme met both academic and professional attributes for its students.
Run by a professional team with direct involvement from industry this unique and distinctive course offers great opportunities to work in an inspiring and realistic environment using industry standard equipment and software. This new course aims to replicate, as closely as possible, the attitude, environment and practices found in professional studios. The focus of the curriculum is on transferable, traditional creative skills working hand in hand with digital technology. We aim to give our graduating students the best chance possible of gaining employment within a constantly shifting post industrial economy by enabling them with skills and knowledge which is transferable between many areas within the creative industries.
The course has enjoyed extensive input from Alias, the makers of Maya, the industry standard for 3D illustration, animation and effects who ran an intensive week long workshops covering modeling, texturing, animation and effects. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop also came in to show our students how they manage the film making process from initial concepts through to visual effects, they then focused on the relationship between concept art, model making, 3D modeling, animation and special effects production by showcasing many of the projects they have been involved with. Students have found this exposure to industry in their first year inspirational and highly beneficial to their progress.
First year students progressing to the second year will be involved in live projects and work based learning which will further enhance their knowledge and understanding in a variety of commercial situations. This includes students working as a team on a game development proposal, commercial illustration and animation for the north’s largest illustration agency, 3D visualisation for Imagination Ltd, the largest independent design consultancy in the world as well as this our students are also involved in producing a variety of work for local companies leading to placements and work opportunities.
