Visual Effects - BA (Hons)

The Procedural Modelling module delves deep into the principles, techniques, and applications of generating 3D content algorithmically rather than manually. Aimed at technical artists, this course will explore the potentials and boundaries of creating detailed, adaptive, and scalable models using procedural techniques, emphasising the synergy between art and code.

The purpose of this module is to give students an up-to-the-moment introduction to the working methodologies of 3D video game character art production and this module allows students to experience the challenge of completing the research and development of a 3D video game character asset. Working individually, students will research appropriate production workflows and retopology creation methodologies, to define and develop their own unique game characters. The focus of the module will be solely on the 3D game development disciplines of character artist. This is due to the complexity and distinct specialisation that this role has within industry.

This module provides knowledge and experience of digital video compositing, exploring the fundamental principles and techniques of compositing using professional node based compositing skills and tools. The competent use and application of these techniques are core practical skills within the course programme and fundamentally important to a variety of careers within the visual effects industry.

This module will provide an in-depth look at Dynamics and Simulations. This module will consist of an exploration into creating and simulating physics such as setting fire to objects, breaking glass, adding dust to scenes and destroying various geometry.

The Collaborative Practice module is designed to break down the silos between disciplines in game development and digital art. Through guided exercises, real-world case studies, and hands-on collaborative projects, students from varying backgrounds will learn to communicate effectively, understand the needs and constraints of each discipline, and work together harmoniously to achieve shared goals.

The purpose of this module is to enable you to develop professional attributes and subject skills through experience in the work place, and to critically reflect upon your learning in that context. You will normally be expected to arrange your own placement, with support from academic staff and ADM Careers+.

Creative careers can take people to a wide variety of, sometimes, unexpected destinations. Learning to see and exploit opportunities can be the key to a rewarding portfolio career making good use of your creative skills whilst earning a living from doing what you love, whether it's producing creative artefacts, performing, offering a service or consultancy. Learning to promote and ‘pitch’ those ideas to others is core to developing a successful independent, creative and entrepreneurial career. This module will build your skillset to enable you to talk confidently about you and your work. It will also help you to find or create opportunities, some may even come as a surprise to you!

This module provides an opportunity for you to apply your knowledge and skills to an external, professional brief. The brief will be set by or in discussion with an external client/agency/community and could be a ‘real life’ problem to be solved, or a simulation. The resulting project should consider sustainability and address relevant UN Sustainable Development Goals as a key aspect of contemporary creative industries work. The module provides an opportunity for you to engage in a responsive, imaginative and professional manner with an aspect of your subject area, which contributes to the development of employability skills within the supportive infrastructure of the University. You will collaborate with students, and where relevant with other stakeholders, and will be supported to approach the project with curiosity, openness, critical thinking, innovation and practical and technical skills, in order to produce project outcomes and/or solutions which meet the required brief.

This module is designed to provide you with the opportunity to undertake a credit bearing, 40- week Professional Placement as an integral part of your Undergraduate Degree.

The purpose of the Professional Placement is to improve your employability skills which will, through the placement experience, allow you to evidence your professional skills, attitudes and behaviours at the point of entry to the postgraduate job market. Furthermore, by completing the Professional Placement, you will be able to develop and enhance your understanding of the professional work environment, relevant to your chosen field of study, and reflect critically on your own professional skills development within the workplace.

The Virtual Production module will introduce you to the converging worlds of film, animation, and interactive media through the lens of virtual production. As real-time technologies continues to advance, the lines between traditional filmmaking and digital content creation are blurring. In this module, students from technology, design, and technical art backgrounds will delve deep into the techniques, tools, and collaborative processes that define virtual production in modern content creation.

The module is an opportunity to learn and critically reflect on the skills of collaboration &/or your own professional practice. The module enables you to create either an interdisciplinary project with students from complementary disciplines or your own self-defined project.

The purpose of the module is to enable you to undertake a sustained, in-depth and theoretically informed research project exploring an area that is of personal interest to you. It is important that we can support you appropriately, so you will be guided towards choosing a research topic which is relevant to your discipline and in which your lecturers have expertise. The outcome may take the form of a written dissertation or a practice-based portfolio.