Working with the principles of visual storytelling to add depth and consistency to Portfolio work.



Students will explore topics including:

Colour theory

Iconography

Signposting

Visual hierarchy

Visual noise

Lighting

Prop narrative

Advanced PBR techniques with focus on narrative storytelling in roughness maps

Photography techniques which can be applied to digital worlds

Assessment is as follows:


Game Ready Artefact 60% [Learning Outcomes 2,3]

Create an 3D Assets of your choosing from the provided Game World Story. You must look to produce an artefact that shows your understanding of Visual Story Telling Principles.

You will be assessed on the following:

Quality of the Design/ Planning breakdown

Colour Theory

Iconography

Signposting

Visual Hierarchy/ Visual Noise

Lighting

Quality of the Modelling techniques implemented

Quality of the Topology

Quality of the Textures

Quality of Materials

Art Booklet 40% [Learning Outcomes 1,4]

You will create a round up Art Booklet that demonstrate your workflow for your chosen game ready artefact. The specifics of the booklet are provided in the Assignment Brief.

This will be broken down into the following criteria:

Clarity of understanding shown for each stage of a workflow

Consistency in the development process demonstrated

Research and additional learning used to self-improve and critique own work

The final work presented

Two, three-hour sessions per week

Lecture Sessions will consist of theory, methodology and good practice deliverable content


Demonstrative / Development Support sessions will consist of providing support to students and demonstrating technical applications of theory or providing examples of development/ improvement to student work.

1. Apply principles of visual storytelling, and to develop new skills to add depth and consistency in your portfolio work.

Learning

2. Evaluate methodologies and techniques, including Information Literacy, applicable to a provided game world story.

Enquiry

3.Critically appraise current research, advanced scholarship, contemporary problems and/or new insights, at the forefront of Visual Story Telling.

Analysis, Application

4. Present work to suite specialist and on non-specialist audiences.

Communication

Reference to the Module welcome page for study guidance.

Access to Staffordshire University library.

Access to internet sources through Staffordshire University library.

Provision as appropriate of case materials by tutor and / or external organisations.

The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module

Details will be supplied on the Module Welcome page.

Software:

Digital Academy Forum

Digital Academy Uploads

Adobe Photoshop

Pixologic ZBrush

Autodesk 3DS Max

Autodesk Maya

Autodesk Fusion 360

3D Coat

Substance Designer

Substance Painter

Unreal Engine 5

Hardware general:

Access to Scanning Equipment available via Visualisation and Simulation Studio

HandySCAN Black Elite

MechScan Macro 3D Scanner

Faro FOCUS S70

Access to Photography Equipment available from CISO – Henrion Media Store

Birn, J. (2014). Digital Lighting & Rendering. New Riders.3rd ed.

Wissler, V. (2013). Illuminated Pixels: The why, what, and how of Digital Lighting. Course Technology/Cengage Learning.

Gurney, J. (2010). Color and light a guide for the realist painter. Andrews McMeel.


Pharr, M., Humphreys, G. Jakob, W. (2017). Physically based rendering: From theory to implementation. Elsevier.

Harris, D. and Wiltshire, A. (2022) Making videogames: The art of creating digital worlds. London: Thames ; Hudson.

Humpries, M. (2023) Visual Storytelling with Color and Light. CRC Press

Work towards a better understanding and polish of your skills with the art of visual story telling in Games Art media. Develop a portfolio piece that incorporates important elements such as colour theory, iconography, signposting, visual hierarchy/ visual noise, and solid lighting to present your work