DES 511: Production Design: From Script to Screen I
FALL TERM
CREDIT HOUR
REQUIRED
A workshop exploring the history and contribution of Production Design in film, television and new media, as well as the application of art, design and architecture to moving image storytelling.

Fellows learn about the role of the Production Designer in the production process, from the job interview to a film’s completion. The course will also introduce the Fellows to all the other positions in the art department and their contributions. The work of established designers is examined through research, film design assignments, set visits and guest speakers. A range of topics will explore the Production Designer’s journey to find and develop the visual design approach/concept from the script, art department breakdowns and budgeting, presentation of designs, finding locations, pre-production and production, to interfacing with various other departments that the Production Designer deals with.

DES 512: Production Design: From Script to Screen II
SPRING TERM
1.5 CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
A workshop exploring the history and contribution of Production Design in film, television and new media, as well as application of art, design and architecture to moving image storytelling. Fellows continue to learn about the role of the Production Designer in the production process from prep to wrap. This course will continue to introduce Fellows to the other creative collaborators in the art department and in other departments. The work of established Production Designers will be examined through set visits and visiting guest speakers. The big focus in the second semester will be the in-class TV Pilot/Episodic Streaming Design Assignment. Each Fellow will choose a TV pilot at the end of DES 511 and design two sets from it. This assignment will be mentored by Faculty in DES 512, DES 524 and DES 534.

DES 523: Set Design and Art Direction: Craft & Practice in the Art Department I
FALL TERM
CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
This course introduces Fellows to some of the creative and technical skills necessary for film concept design and presentation. Fellows will be required to perform research exercises and document existing locations with photographs, measured floor plans and elevations and physical scale models as an aide to pre-visualization by the creative team. There will be short exercises to strengthen the Fellows’ design abilities. The emphasis will be on design solutions that complement the narrative and the characters within.

DES 533: Introduction to Set Sketching
FALL TERM
CREDIT HOUR
REQUIRED
One of a Production Designer’s essential skills is the ability to draw environments quickly and convincingly in perspective set sketches. This class develops the Fellow’s freehand set sketching skills through a series of lectures and demonstration by the instructor as well as weekly in-class drawing exercises. Topics include creating one- and two-point perspectives layouts from a variety of sources and using the layout to develop a final line drawing.

DES 534: Applied Set Sketching
SPRING TERM
CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
Fellows further develop their set sketching ability by applying what they have learned in DES533 to their set design exercises. Advanced concepts introduced include linear perspective techniques, adding light and shadow to create volume and using color and reflections to render materials convincingly in their drawings. Fellows are required to complete and deliver a variety of in-class drawing exercises, a series of homework sketches as well as set sketches of TV pilot sets they design during this semester.

DES 545 and 544: Modeling with SketchUp for Entertainment Design
FALL AND SPRING TERMS
4.5 CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
DES 545 and 544 are intensive hands-on computer laboratory classes on the use of SketchUp as an Art Department tool for 3D modeling, rendering and drafting. Emphasis will be placed on using the software to quickly visualize design concepts and then develop those concepts into finished drawings in practical real-world Art Department situations.

DES 551& 552: Fundamentals of Visual Storytelling I & II
FALL AND SPRING TERMS
3.5 CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
This course will provide a survey of methods used by the Production Designer/Filmmaker to understand fundamental principles that shape their work in the visual story telling process. We will explore systematic approaches to script analysis, genre, tone, character development and historical reference as it pertains to film studies. Fellows will view research that reaches across disciplines into art and architecture for both narrative realism and symbolism. The course will be structured around film genre and style; each week we shall focus on one particular genre and analyze the film, identify visual motifs and tropes common to that genre, and discuss it in both a historical, social and narrative context. Additionally, given the tools and framework within which to work from, Fellows will create presentations of all visual development for that Cycle project to the class. The class will then workshop the ideas and it will discuss each designer’s approach. The designer will refine his/her/their ideas before the Cycle project enters production. The final projects will be screened, analyzed and discussed upon completion. DES 552 builds upon DES 551.

First-Year Fellow Comprehensive Review
At the end of the first year, a panel comprised of the Discipline Head and key Faculty members meet with each individual Fellow to review professional growth over the course of the first year of the program. Fellows are asked to bring with them their best Cycle film, as well as examples of work from each class. Both academic and production work will be discussed. The review will note accomplishments, identify areas of strength, include an assessment of skills learned, denote areas of concern and provide recommendations for focus and improvement in order to advance to candidacy for the Master of Fine Arts degree or Certificate of Completion.

DES 601: Art Direction & Set Design Essentials
FALL TERM
CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
The goal of this course is to educate and strengthen the Fellow’s conceptual, drafting and communication skills by providing training in practical design methods used for set building. This training will be augmented with insights into Art Direction, which will include organizing the workflow for both your project and your department, understanding how to communicate your design goals with all personnel and departments, and how to foresee potential problems within your set concepts and/or builds that could make filming problematic and/or expensive.

DES 602: Applied Art Direction & Set Design
SPRING TERM
CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
This course on advanced set design reviews and strengthens the Fellows’ conceptual, drafting and communication skills. Each Fellow will select their own film projects (with instructor approval) and produce working drawings for two major sets within that film over the course of the semester.

Drawings for the project include all plans and elevations, plus some details, and a white model.

DES 623: Modeling with VectorWorks for Entertainment Design
FALL TERM
2.5 CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
DES623 is an intensive hands-on computer laboratory class that will concentrate on the use of VectorWorks as an Art Department tool for 3D modeling, rendering and drafting. These skills will be studied concurrently with other digital tools throughout the two second-year terms. Emphasis will be placed on using software to quickly visualize concepts and then develop those concepts into finished drawings in practical, real world Art Department situations. The course will consist of in class lecture and demonstration and student hands-on experience to demonstrate the tools and concepts of each program. Each week we will examine different aspects of the programs in class, and each week there will be an assignment to be done to reinforce the week’s classwork.

DES 624: Advanced Design Software Skills
SPRING TERM
CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
This course will instruct students in the design of scenery for Film and Stage using advanced modeling techniques in both VectorWorks and SketchUp, as well as introduce students to the design of production graphics using Adobe Illustrator.

DES 641: Concept Development
FALL TERM
2 CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
Fellows are required to select a screenplay of their choice, create a breakdown, budget and schedule, then design and present two key set concepts by the end of the class.

DES 642: Advanced Concept Development
SPRING TERM
2 CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
Working from their interpretation of a more complex source, Fellows research and develop an advanced set design that fits on a given sound stage and addresses the technical concerns of the key disciplines including cinematography and visual effects. Their concept must be clearly presented in drawings including perspectives, plans and elevations as well as a physical study model. After the conclusion of the course, each Fellow presents their work to a panel of professional Production Designers.

DES 655: Introduction to Concept Modeling with Rhino I
FALL TERM
2 CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
DES 655 introduces the Fellows to the flow of information into and out of the art department. We will look at blocking and framing as the basis for design and explore the ways that 3D digital modeling (in Rhino 3D) is used in a feature film art department. Through in-class design charrettes, the Fellows will learn to use Rhino 3D and be introduced to the basics of concept modeling and how it is used to bring a set from their initial concept, through construction, shooting and post before being seen in the finished film.

DES 656: Concept Modeling with Rhino II
SPRING TERM
2.5 CREDIT HOURS
REQUIRED
DES 656 builds on DES 655. We take the modeling skills we developed last semester and learn to apply them to several scenarios that are faced during production. We will start with learning the particulars of designing a set with set extension component. We will then move on to designing a set with a special effects component. And finally, you will take one of the sets you previously did in this class and revisit it to bring it up to a finished standard.

DES 670: Internship Practicum
ANY TERM
1–3 CREDIT HOUR(S)
ELECTIVE
The objective of this course is to provide working experience in the film/TV industry as it pertains specifically to the Fellow’s degree/certificate requirements. Specific duties and requirements will be outlined and supervised by the Faculty Mentor. This internship qualifies an international Fellow for Curriculum Practical Training; approval must be obtained by the international advisor, as well as the faculty mentor prior to enrolling in the course.

DES 690 and 691⁵: Thesis Portfolio Visual Development and Mentorship
FALL, SPRING and, if applicable SUMMER TERM
2.5 CREDIT HOURS (Final credits earned may be in DES 691 if portfolio has not been presented)
REQUIRED
Each thesis team is scheduled to present their visual approach to the class, six weeks out from their shoot date. A Q&A Workshop follows for the thesis team. Two weeks after each thesis production, there is a post presentation from the Designer and Cinematographer addressing lessons learned and challenges experienced during their shoot. Then a rough cut is shown to the class and reviewed. Design Fellows are required to present to Production Design Faculty their Thesis Portfolio Binder that documents the development of their thesis project, including analysis and visual interpretation of the script, color flows, storyboards, key frame illustrations, set design sketches, floor plans, perspective drawings, models and computer renderings, as well as set construction and finished set photographic documentation. In addition, Design Fellows select and prepare additional illustrative work for this professional portfolio. The complete portfolio will be presented to senior Faculty for review, evaluation and approval for graduation.

⁵ Fellows will be enrolled into DES 691 in summer term if their portfolio has not been presented.

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