MOTION DESIGN & EFFECTS (MFX)

3D Fundamentals

Aims to equip students with the basic knowledge of 3D computer generated imagery. Students will learn how to perceive objects in 3D space and be taught the techniques for modelling, texturing, lighting, rigging, animating and rendering using state-of-the art 3D software. Through practical sessions, students will be able to apply their creativity and storytelling skills to conceptualise and build interesting 3D models and animate them. The module encourages the students to showcase their artistic talents in developing quality 3D content for product visualization, games, movies and advertising needs.

Critical and Analytical Thinking

This module aims to equip students with skills in critical and analytical thinking, which includes the ability to evaluate different perspectives, articulate a point of view and support it with relevant and credible evidence. The module also provides students with opportunities to practise information literacy, and critical and analytical thinking skills through the exploration of contemporary local and global issues.

Education and Career Guidance 1: Personal Development

This module aims to help you discover your strengths, values and interests. It also supports you in making informed educational and career choices to achieve your career aspirations.

MAD Taster

Choose 2 out of 5 taster modules.

Motion Analysis & Techniques

This module aims to deliver a practical approach to designing moving images for graphic communication solutions. Students will learn to create 2D motion graphics as a medium for design expression. Through studio sessions students will explore key concepts and processes, such as ideation, storyboarding, sequencing, graphical illustration, animation, audio insertion and special effects for 2D motion graphics projects.

Narrative Thinking (NAT)

This module aims to equip students with the skills to critically evaluate the elements of narratives used in a variety of contexts, and to appreciate and harness the power of storytelling in our daily life. Students will analyse narratives to connect and contextualise self to society, and learn to craft impactful personal narratives to inspire or influence others.

Principles of Design

Design plays a vital role in shaping and improving the user experience across all disciplines in the creative industry. It is a basic skillset that is core to the creation of effective animations, games, videos, marketing campaigns, etc that users interact with daily in the real-world. This module aims to cultivate these skillsets through the introduction of the basic principles of design. Students will engage in hands-on photography, digital imagining and illustration exercises to expose them to the importance of visual hierarchy and flow, colour theory, typography and other core design elements. They will undergo training to understand the importance of the design process from developing creative concepts, to sketching for communication and finally art directing effective designs for their users across various platforms.

Sports For Life

Sports for Life (SFL) is a physical education programme that has become part of the Graduation Criteria for ALL Year 1 students matriculated since AY2018/19. During this e-learning Semester, Year 1 students can choose their preferred module from a selection of 9 sports. SFL aims to encourage students to lead an active lifestyle by following a holistic e-learning package with videos and supplementary materials that focuses on acquiring knowledge, rules of the game, basic sports techniques and maintaining fitness. Besides physical activity, the e-learning curriculum also comprises of syllabus on Mental Wellness and Personal Leadership using 7 Habits of Highly Effective College Students.

Story Craft

Stories are the most powerful way to communicate. A good story captures our attention, makes us feel, shapes the way we think and even influences our actions. Telling a good story is essential in the media and creative industry whether you choose to be a writer or a journalist, a games developer or a designer, a brand specialist or an animated content creator. Through the study of storytelling, students will recognise the power of story in connecting people and shaping the way we see the world. They will learn key concepts from ideation to character development, story world building and narrative structure. They will examine themes and create original stories that will resonate with a target audience. They will learn tools in video storytelling. Ultimately, students will present their story in the form of a media product using audio visual technology.

PlayLab

Creativity, as well as the ability to explore problems through transdisciplinary lens, are key skills needed to solve complex real-world issues. PlayLab aims to cultivate these skillsets, by getting students to understand how we can disrupt the thinking process, to trigger creative ideas, in a playful, purposeful and meaningful way. PlayLab is an interdisciplinary, studio-based project module that aims to teach students how to approach complex problems in a systematic yet creative way, through playful and creative problem solving. To further expand their scope in generating novel and innovative solutions, they will also be introduced to prototyping with technology. These skills will provide them with opportunities to arrive at solutions, from a holistic standpoint, beyond the parameters of their respective disciplines.

Polywide Elective

Human Experience and Behaviour

Psychology is the foundation for understanding users. This is integral to the user experience (UX) process which underpins the MAD core modules. In this module, students will learn how humans process information, how our personalities and motivations shape us, and how media and the people around us influence our emotions and behaviours. They will also learn basic concepts in secondary research to enrich their understanding of users, audiences, or stakeholders to create more effective ideas that appeal best to their users, audiences or stakeholders.

Video and Audio Fundamentals

This module aims to train students in basic video production. Students will learn essential camera functions and grammar of shots. They will plan, shoot, edit the sequence and export the video for delivery. This module will also teach students to select required audio formats, and edit and export them. At the end of the module, students will be required to combine video and audio to produce a presentation of good quality.

Visual Design

This module offers a focused study of graphic concepts and practice of graphic design. Students will build upon basic graphic recognition and application through principles of design, art direction, typography, information graphics and imaging software. By the end of the module, students will explore and apply their knowledge gained through an integrated design project. This module also would provide students with opportunities to expand the various aspects of design and integrating them into other modules.

Cross-Platform Design

This module introduces motion design across multiple platforms such as web, app and traditional media. It explores brand identity and maintaining of brand consistency in the process of design and animation.

Digital Compositing

In Sem 1, the module aims to train students with compositing techniques such as 2d to 3d workflow integration. CGI multi pass rendering and compositing. This module shares an integrated assignment with other modules across this level, which provides students with an opportunity to apply their compositing skills to integrate live action footage with CG for their title opening pieces and visual effects sequence. In 2nd Sem, the module aims to introduce students to the fundamentals of compositing that combined the principles of colour theory and image composition. Students will develop an understanding of CGI passes, set extension and alpha extraction.

Dynamic Typography

In this class, students will be introduced to strategies of visual communication through kinetic elements, focusing on form, speed, rhythm, orientation, colour, texture, and quality of motion. Students will explore the expressive potential of typography in a variety of exercises dealing with dynamic typography and motion graphics. Students explore and experiment with typography in print expressed and unleashed in motion. Through analysing contemporary and historical examples, such as film and TV titles, music videos, commercials, as well as exemplary typography work in print design students will develop their own potential for expression trough dynamic typography. Each student will give a research presentation about a designer and discuss his or her contributions to design, animation, and typography.

Education And Career Guidance 2

This module helps you to discover and develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes needed for work effectiveness. Upon completion of the module, you should be able to develop professional skills and build interpersonal relationships, acquire the skills to seek and secure work, develop the ability to adapt and respond effectively to changes at work, and appreciate and respect the diversity of individuals, culture and work environment. You would also learn to be financially savvy consumers.

Effects Animation

This module aims to equip students with fundamental knowledge in the creation and simulation of natural elements such as fire, water and wind. This module will also cover other effects based animation such as destruction, particle effects, rigid/soft body dynamics and hair/fur simulation.

MAD Studio Project

The MAD Studio Project aims to build on the interdisciplinary practices taught in PlayLab in order to further develop students’ ability to generate new ideas and contribute to innovations. Students will work in mixed groups and take on complex, real-world industry projects. They will draw on the domain knowledge and skills from their own tracks, as well as those of their peers from other tracks, in order to gain a deeper understanding of an issue, and transform them into new knowledge which confronts the challenges of the present world. This module is a facilitated time and space for students to explore across the disciplines of creative perspectives, which necessarily includes research and design, problem-solving and communication of ideas. The teaching facilitation will also embrace the design inquiry cycle that enables learners to mind shift and lead into a convergence of viewpoints.

MAD White Space 1

MAD White Space 2

Polywide Elective

Production for Visual Effects

This module aims to train students to be competent in video production to support visual effects projects. It will expose them to video production and post-production processes and workflow. It will foster the appreciation of film as an art form and the development and impact of CG in filmmaking. Students will be introduced to the history of visual effects and how it has evolved over time. Students will be familiarised with the techniques and application of video production including cinematography, lighting and stereoscopic 3D. Students will produce their own short film integrating live action and CG elements based on the skills acquired from the module.

Sustainable Innovation Project

Work in multi-disciplinary groups to apply the design thinking method and tools backed by research and qualitative data, to tackle local issues mapped to the UN SDGs. You will also tap on what you have learnt in the CCC modules that come before this module to create sustainable and innovative prototype solutions for real-life issues faced by a local community in need. In the process, you will develop empathy for the community you have identified for your project and a better understanding of yourselves.

Emerging Media

This module explores innovative studio and field practices in the development of emerging forms of digital media and communications. Students will work individually and in teams to produce new media projects using a variety of methods and technologies. Areas of investigation may include immersive media, motion capture, emerging formats and trans-media projects.

Film Titles

This module delves into the history of film titles design from title cards and intertitles to computer generated title sequences. By the end of the module, student should be able to structure a title sequence according to industry practiced hierarchies. Student will be able to describe the elements and components that make up a title sequence. They will design and propose a title sequence, plan the timing, counterpoint to music and add the typography to the sequence.

Final Year Project

The Final-Year Project is an opportunity for students to integrate, apply and deepen the knowledge, skillsets and competencies (both technical and general) they have gained over the course of their study. Building on the skills taught in PlayLab and the MAD Studio Project, students will work in mixed groups to tackle complex real-world issues through industry projects. They will learn how to research and generate new, innovative solutions that go beyond a single domain, while considering other factors such as meeting a business-end, dealing with resource constraints, as well as taking advantage of social, cultural and economic trends. They will also learn how to communicate with their stakeholders and manage a project. By the end of this module, students will deepen their skills in acquiring and synthesising knowledge from across disciplines and develop resilience and an entrepreneurial spirit in tackling complex problems.

Internship Programme

This module aims to immerse students with the real-world industry experience. This programme comprises a 22-week enhanced internship programme integrating a structured learning outcome which facilitates authentic learning.

Polywide Elective

Transdisciplinary Project

The Final-Year Project is an opportunity for students to integrate, apply and deepen the knowledge, skillsets and competencies (both technical and general) they have gained over the course of their study. Building on the skills taught in PlayLab and the MAD Studio Project, students will work in mixed groups to tackle complex real-world issues through industry projects. They will learn how to research and generate new, innovative solutions that go beyond a single domain, while considering other factors such as meeting a business-end, dealing with resource constraints, as well as taking advantage of social, cultural and economic trends. They will also learn how to communicate with their stakeholders and manage a project. By the end of this module, students will deepen their skills in acquiring and synthesising knowledge from across disciplines and develop resilience and an entrepreneurial spirit in tackling complex problems.