School of Creative Arts

BA (Honours) in Model Making, Design and Digital Effects

Award Code : Level 8 DL046

Associated Course Information

Course Info	Details
Duration:	4 years (full time)
Places:	30
Awarding body:	IADT
Head of department:	Mr Donald Taylor Black
Course co-ordinator:	Mr Julian King

Level 8 Award

Application: CAO

What is Model Making, Design and Digital Effects?

The practice of model making requires a unique combination of conceptual, technical and creative competencies. The programme concentrates on these skills by focusing on the key areas of computing, design and drawing/sculpting. Particular emphasis is placed on 3D modelling and animation, as well as character and production design. 

This programme is designed to give you a broad education in specialised 3D studies and to encourage artistic awareness and digital creativity. As a practitioner, you must be able to combine intuitive creative thinking with strong design skills and become familiar with a complex, and continually evolving technical vocabulary. You will also acquire an understanding of professional practice, and will be encouraged to develop skills in areas such as project management, professional presentation, budgeting and communication. 

What modules will I study?

Year 1

2D/3D Studies, Technical Modelling, Architectural Modelling, Prototype Modelling, Digital Studies 2D (Photoshop, Autocad), Academic Methods and Visual Studies

Year 2

Model Animation, Film Props/Art Direction, Street Theatre, Digital Studies 3D, Communication and Critical Thinking, Model Making theory and practice

In addition, you will be able to choose one module from the School of Creative Arts’ bank of electives. *

Year 3

Digital Modelling, Production Design for Film, Character Design, Digital Studies 4D, Industry Project, Research Seminar, Business Studies, Thesis Proposal

Year 4

Project, Professional practice, Presentation skills, Thesis

Are there any costs for materials and/or field trips?

Approx. €200 - €400 (years 1, 2 and 3).

Purchase of hard drives (recommended): €120 - €250 

Non-compulsory trip: €300 - €500

Graduate Exhibition cost in year 4

What will I be able to do when I graduate?

Careers may arise within the creative and cultural industries (film, television and theatre production, model making for museums, interpretative centres and architectural and industrial design practices) working as a Modelmaker, Prop maker manufacture of Film advertising props, Event designer, Art director, Art lecturer / teacher, Architectural modeller, Creature Developer/Character Animator (Character Design for Games and/or Animation), Technical Director (tasks such as environmental lighting, Animation Rigging), Lighting Director (looking after the lighting of a CG scene), Effects Animator (animating natural/fantastic effects such as water, fire, spell casting), Motion Capture Technician (analysing and cleaning up mo-cap data), Compositor (combining CG elements for a final graded output), Rotoscope Artist (creating masks for the extraction of green screen material for compositor), Digital Matte Artist (creating Digital backdrops for animation or film), Visual Effects Supervisor (on set CG coordinator).

You may also choose to pursue postgraduate studies.

What are the entry requirements?

• Leaving Certificate Examination (or equivalent) with a minimum of Grade C3 in two Higher (or Common) level papers, together with Grade D3 in four other subjects, to include English. Foundation Level Maths (D3) is acceptable
  
• A portfolio of relevant work
  
• You may be called for interview if further clarification on your portfolio is required
  
• Applicants with FETAC awards require distinctions in 3 (of 8) modules
  

FETAC Links for this programme are:

• AACDX: Art, Craft, Design
  
• AAXXX : Art
  
• ACADX: Computer Aided Design
  
• ACXXX: Creative Craft
  
• ADESX: Design
  
• AGDXX: Graphic Design
  
• EMMPX: Multimedia Production
  
• EMPXX: Media Production
  

CAO Points in 2010: 600 (Combination of Leaving Certificate and Portfolio assessment points)

We welcome applications from mature students, who must apply to the CAO.

What should my Portfolio include?

A portfolio is a sample collection of your best work. It should be edited, easy to look through, and well presented.

Your portfolio should:

• Be selective: include and highlight only your best work, excluding early works unless there are some exceptional pieces. Do not “pack” it with any more than 30 pieces. (We appreciate quality, not quantity)
  
• Show evidence of hard work, commitment and quality
  
• Not include 3D work (only 2D documentation of 3D work)
  
• Clearly identify your role if team work is included
  
• Include notebooks, cuttings, creative sketchbooks or visual diaries indicating your interest in the discipline
  
• Present your work to your best possible advantage
  
• Not be a copy from photographs. Do not include any artwork which is a copy of someone else’s work
  
• Include a CV (one per programme applied to) with details of hobbies, technical skills and involvement in activities related to the programme you are applying to. As information on age or educational background is not used for assessment purposes, this should not be included in your CV.

We would like to see a portfolio that demonstrates a high level of visual skill, creativity, self-motivation, inventiveness, experimentation, flexibility and stylistic variation.

For this programme, make sure you include:

• Drawings (observational and life to include different media) and 3D sketch work. Drawing and observation skills are as important as 3D construction skills. You should demonstrate a creative imagination and an ability to develop concepts in 2D and 3D (3D work should be submitted as photographs)
  
• Colour work - painting, collage, etc
  
• Project work dealing with concept and ideas
  
• Photographs of 3D model work (to include different materials)
  
• Photographic work (optional) or support work of personal interest
  
• Computer based artwork
  
• Technical drawings
  

* Second Year elective modules

During your second year you will have an opportunity to choose one module from a bank of elective options.

This module allows you to work with students and staff from other programmes in the School and to explore combinations of materials, processes, creative strategies and critical thinking which will give you a greater appreciation of your main area of study.

Electives have been designed to encourage collaboration and experimentation and to broaden and deepen your understanding of the creative arts. They range in content from theatre and performance to media and politics, and include a wide range of learning experiences including overseas visits, practical workshops, lectures and seminars.

The current bank of elective modules includes: 

• Photography - Digital Imaging
  
• Performance in the Arts
  
• Animation Principles Experimental / 3D
  
• Theatre Workshop
  
• Drawing
  
• Introduction to Comics: Art and Culture
  
• Media and Politics in Ireland
  
• Sonic Arts 
  
• Creative Cities
  
• Puppetry
  

Visit www.iadtprojects.com to see the project work of our 2010 graduates