Design Courses

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Animation: Intro to 2D and 3D Production

OAK EXMED-1501-01
Instructor: Ed Gutierrez
Saturday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., June 16 - July 21
6 sessions. $350. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none
This course covers the principles of animation and production pipeline procedures as they relate to 2D (traditional) and 3D animation. The first half of the course focuses on 2D animation production, while the second half uses Maya 3D software to complete assignments. Short animations are produced in class, with instructor demonstrations preceding all projects. Industry standards will be emphasized and discussed. Students have the opportunity to compile a final reel of all animations produced in class.

Bring to first class: a sketchbook no larger than 9" x 12", pen, B or 2B pencil, and a 2-4GB flash drive to save assignments. A more detailed materials list will be given out at the first class meeting.

Ideation Sketching & Visual Notation

SF EXGRP-1504-01
Instructor: Lewis Bangham
Tuesday & Thursday, 6:45 - 9:45 p.m., July 10 - August 9
10 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: one previous drawing class or equivalent experience
Whether you are a designer, artist, or filmmaker, what inspires you to create art and design are the pre-visual concepts that arise in your mind. These pre-visualized concepts may potentially become the foundation of a great painting, product, movie, or advertisement.

In this course, students learn how to form and evolve ideas through the use of images, as well as to communicate them clearly and effectively with clients, art directors, or in meetings, using sketch techniques. Class time will be divided between demos, short lectures, and in class studio time. Students should expect to have at least a few hours of homework each week.

Students begin by learning the fundamentals of translating 3D space and objects onto 2D drawn space. Topics covered include using 1, 2, and 3 point perspective, laying out your ideas, using backgrounds, and finding your style. Various types of notation (arrows, typography) will be explored to help clarify your drawn ideas.

Bring to first class: 14" x 17" pad of layout paper and a pad of tracing paper, a variety of drawing pencils (2H, HB, 2B), a ballpoint pen or sharpie.

Intro to Illustration

SF EXILL-1400-01
Instructor: Caitlin Kuhwald
Monday, 6:45 - 9:45 p.m., June 11 - July 16
6 sessions. $210. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none
Illustration is often a hard word to define. It can be considered design as well as fine art.

Illustration communicates ideas through imagery via publication. It comes in many forms and is so varied and versatile that there is something in it for everyone — from graphic novels to children’s books, concept art, character design, magazine editorials, advertising, and books.

The class builds up slowly to allow a solid understanding of illustration and the part it plays in the media, the art world, and society as a whole. Participants work through the basic construction of an illustration assignment from sizing, bleed, surface preparation, and material choices. Demonstrations on different materials from painting to the computer are presented.

The class discusses what illustration is, the career opportunities it has to offer, and the challenges it presents. We talk about promotion techniques, reference gathering, and how to deal professionally with clients.

Students will have a few homework assignments, but a substantial amount of work will be done in class.

Bring to first class: any artwork you have that you feel comfortable sharing and a pad of paper or sketchbook, and pencils for small sketches and brainstorming.

This course is offered only in the summer.

Illustration: Visual Storytelling

OAK EXILL-1503-01
Instructor: Arden Johnson-Petrov
Tuesday & Thursday, 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., June 5 - July 5
10 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none
Spiderman began as a comic. Where the Wild Things Are started with a book. Both morphed into movies and licensed characters. This course focuses on the methods and tools of sequential, visual storytelling (storyboarding), as it is applied to children's books, comics, graphic novels, commercials, and movies.

This studio also covers pacing, character development, thumbnails, dummies, preliminary sketches, and finished portfolio pieces. Students create visual story images from written and spoken ideas.

In the first few classes, students develop a black and white storyboard for a 10-second commercial, exploring how to stage a scene/shot with angles, P.O.V, perspective, and lighting. Guest speakers include a successful freelance illustrator in the field of storyboarding commercials and movies and an art director from Pixar Animation Studios. Please note that all guest speakers are subject to change.

Intro to Interior Design

SF EXINT-1500-01
Instructor: Briggs MacDonald
Tueday & Thursday, 6:45 - 9:45 p.m., June 5 - July 5
10 sessions. $335. Noncredit. Prerequisite: none
In this studio-based overview of the practice of interior design, students review the history and current applications of the practice. Participants explore the multifaceted technical and aesthetic principles of design. Students also examine concepts of programming, planning, and three-dimensional form. Principals of light and lighting, color, materiality, furniture overview and layouts are covered through hands-on exercises.

*Students develop one long-term project of their choice from conception through presentation.

Bring to first class: one roll of 12" tracing paper, one black-ink Uni ball roller ball pen (or equal), and an architectural scale.*