Assessment 1: Portfolio: Visual Effects and Motion Graphics Portfolio
The practical portfolio can be a broad application of skills in visual effects and motion graphics or it can focus on individual areas of specialism within each. The final form of the output is negotiated but it should include a short video demonstrating the finished work.

Assessment 2: Reflection: Reflective Evaluation

The design document should detail the research, inspiration and processes that have been used to create the portfolio. It will demonstrate the knowledge and understanding that was developed while completing the module.

Option 1: Written reflection with supporting visuals – word count 1800
Option 2: Audio recording with image folder – 6-8 mins
Option 3: Video reflection with supporting visuals – 6-8 mins

The aim of this module is to establish and enhance your understanding of visual effects and motion graphics. By deconstructing and analysing various visual effects and motion graphics techniques, you will gain insight into the professional practices used in industry contexts. This module will also help you develop an awareness of fundamental theories and practical skills necessary for incorporating visual effects and motion graphics into your own projects (be that film, animation or other digital media with visual communication at its core).

Engaging with practical work will enable you to explore visual effects and motion graphics as creative tools to solve a range of challenges. You will also develop an appreciation of the required time, skills and resources required to effectively integrate visual effects and motion graphics within specific media projects.

Through the creation of your assignment work you will establish how to effectively apply visual effects and motion graphics to deepen an audiences' connection through effective visual communication.

The reflective report offers an opportunity to evaluate your creative and technical processes, assessing the effectiveness of your practice in relation to the original assessment brief. Through critical reflection, you will establish clear goals for integrating visual effects and motion graphics in future projects.

1. Demonstrate knowledge of the underlying concepts and principles of practices in Visual Effects and Motion Graphics.

Programme Learning Outcome: Knowledge and understanding

2. Deconstruct key principles of Visual Effects and Motion Graphics and interpret fundamental concepts that inform related practices.

Programme Learning Outcome: Research skills

3. Apply appropriate Visual Effects and Motion Graphics skills to solve technical and creative challenges.

Programme Learning Outcome: Application and problem-solving

4. Identify strengths and weaknesses within your completed Visual Effects and Motion Graphics project and critically reflect on the processes and practices used in its creation.

Programme Learning Outcome: Reflection

Learning strategies used in this module are grounded in a student-centred approach and utilises project-based learning and authentic assessment. This means you are learning about visual effects and motion graphics by making them. You can hyper personalise your learning by combining your own frames of reference for practice with the theories and examples introduced within the learning resources. While there is a requirement to meet a set brief you will have the freedom to select its own genre/style and purpose.

Workshops introduce fundamental theories that underpin the development of your practice.

Visual effects and motion graphics craft workshops provide a collaborative learning experience and enable you to link theory to practice.

Technical Instruction workshops introduce you to technical approaches and develop your competency with the specialist post-production software and hardware required to fulfil your assessment.

Studio & Location fieldwork is an integral part of your learning process. Applying your creative, technical, and theoretical skills to an authentic creative scenario on location and in the studio.

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University Library https://libguides.staffs.ac.uk/library
Blackboard Virtual Learning Environment will support this module where relevant
Specialist Spaces
Smart Zone
CAD Labs
Print Bureau
Media store

Aggarwal, V. (2024) Creative Motion Mastery with Adobe After Effects, Birmingham: Packt Publishing Ltd.

Ganbar, R. (2014) Nuke 101, Berkeley, CA: Peachpit Press.

Gyncild, B. & Fridsma, L. (2024) Adobe After Effects Classroom in a Book 2024 Release, San Jose, CA: Adobe Press.

Haunsana, L. (2025) The Exploring Adobe After Effects Guide: Master Motion Graphics Visual Effects and Animation Techniques for Professional Video Editing and Immersive Design in a Complete End to End Learning Guide.

Holmes, S. & Powers Going, L. (2023) Visual Effects for Indie Filmmakers, Oxford: Routledge.

Perez, V. (2023) The Colour Management Handbook for Visual Effects Artists, Oxford: Routledge.

Wright, S. (2024) Digital Compositing for Film and Video, 5th ed, Oxford: Routledge.

The aim of this module is to enhance your understanding of visual effects and motion graphics and how it can be applied to a variety of different projects. This module will also help you develop an awareness of fundamental theories and practical skills necessary for incorporating these effects and graphics in your projects. Engaging with practical assignment work will enable you to explore visual effects and motion graphics as a creative tool to solve a range of production challenges.