BFA Game & Entertainment Design

Course Description: This course provides a comprehensive study in drawing from observation. Students begin by lear ning to draw a simple geometrical form, progressing to rendering objects within a compositional setting and drawing the entire human figure based on an investigation of its anatomical structur es. Students will develop an awar eness of the playful, rhythmic relationships between various components of a compositional sett ing and the human form, constructing drawings which reflect their unique vision. Drawing techniques such as perspective and isometric projection facilitate successful form generation. Skills of r elational measurement, compositional organization, and the accurate placement of form in space, will infor m all drawing activities such as drawing objects, figures, and environments, which will enhance students’ per ceptual abilities.

Course Description: Students will create innovative and impactful designs by lear ning and applying essential elements including, line, shape, color, texture, space, balance, contrast, and rhythm. Utilizing digital and analog tools, students will engage in diverse design challenges, enhancing their pr oblem-solving and critical thinking skills, as well as de veloping their visual literacy and communication abilities. Thr ough this course, students will lear n fundamental concepts relevant to today’s creative industries, laying a solid foundation for further explor ations.

Course Description: Students explore the built environment, analyzing its physical, spatial, and temporal elements. This course introduces students to art and design fundamentals, including scale, material, measurement, context, and function. They will explore innovative and sustainable solutions using fabrication, techn ology, studio labs, and joint activities with other classes. This course includes the Creative Action & Integrated Learning (CAIL) component, which encourages engagement with the city of Los Angeles. Students will participate in site visits, lectures, and relevant readings that highlight cultural, social, political, ecological, or economic aspects of responsive design. Throughout the course, students will also develop pr ofessionalism and collaboration skills.

Course Description: This introduction to visual culture will address the history of visual communication and the changes that visual culture has undergone up until the 19th century across geographical boundaries, while providing students with the tools to understand the visual culture of the present. The class will address formal analysis, the study and history of materials, techniques, and genres. Students will also learn the semiotic language of visual culture and the socio-cultural contexts framing the history of art, both in the past and present. This course will help students understand how visual objects reflect the cultural context in which they were originally produced and consumed, and how the meaning assigned to them changes over time. This will create bridges for the students to connect to the present visual culture while understanding that images are fluid signs which help create and maintain cultural, social, and political discourses.

Course Description: How does the world influence you, and how do you influence the world? In this class, you will discover narratives and other texts that reveal the complexity of your identity. You will apply that understanding to a broader exploration of the necessity of empathy in navigating difference in today’s global society. You will be invited to turn your curiosity into a research question about a topic that captures your interest. By the end of the semester, you will have completed a personal narrative, learned how to critically analyze diverse texts, and developed research techniques that will be valuable during your academic career and beyond. You will continue to hone these skills in a specialized Thought Lab 2 course of your choosing during your second semester. A minimum grade of "C-" is required to pass this course. Prerequisite: Successful completion of ENGL090 or placement through the Writing Placement Assessment.

Course Description: These drawing courses are designed to support students in preparation for their chosen majors. Students will experiment with various materials and mediums while exploring a broad spectrum of approaches to drawing as an active form of thinking, seeing, and understanding. See the schedule of classes for course offerings and course descriptions. Students must complete 6 credits from the following course options: FNDT103,FNDT104 and FNDT105. Students may take 2 courses with the same course number if the topics are different, for example FNDT103A and FNDT103B.

Course Description: Dimensional Studies explores the tangible world, built environment, and object making. Courses are offered in a variety of mediums and investigate a range of topics including spatial analysis and thinking, material experimentation, form design, digital fabrication, hand skills, and building strategies while creating in 3 dimensional and 4-dimensional space. See the schedule of classes for course offerings and course descriptions. Students must complete 6 credits from the following course options: FNDT103,FNDT104 and FNDT105. Students may take 2 courses with the same course number if the topics are different, for example FNDT103A and FNDT103B.

Course Description: Transmedia explores strategies for visual communication. A range of cross-disciplinary studio courses investigate multi-model applications for conveying bold ideas through form. Courses invite innovative approaches to contemporary media, strengthening fluency in design principles and cultural literacy. See the schedule of classes for course offerings and course descriptions. Students must complete 6 credits from the following course options: FNDT103,FNDT104 and FNDT105. Students may take 2 courses with the same course number if the topics are different, for example FNDT103A and FNDT103B.

Course Description: The Foundation Major elective is the introductory course in each major. Courses are numbered as ANIM101, GAME101, etc. The Foundation major elective will introduce students to a range of foundational principles in the major’s field. Students will develop a way of thinking and approaching work in the field and will have the opportunity to develop a self-reflective, creative practice. Social, cultural and/or environmental issues facing the field will also be addressed.

Course Description: Planned as a continuation of Visual Culture 1, Visual Culture 2: Unpacking Art, Power & Modernity offers a transparent chronology to continue but deepen an investigation of art, design and world perspectives from roughly 1800 to 1960 -- years loosely associated with "modernisms." It explores Western and non-Western, dominant, and marginalized histories during this proposed 200-year time frame, broadening and reinforcing first-year students’ historical awareness, while de-centering dominant canons. Visual Culture 2 uses multi-cultural artifacts, readings, seminar-like discussions and experiential collaborations to explore and critically analyze key works and key themes like colonialism, structural racism, xenophobia, industrialization, technology, capitalism and consumerism from multiple perspectives. By the end of the semester, students should have the necessary critical tools to become empathic citizen-artists who can engage an equitable, trans-global, diasporic, technically creative and environmentally demanding present and future.

Course Description: Where do your curiosities in the world lead you? How can you transform general interest in a subject into specific knowledge that can fuel a creative practice? Building on concepts from Thought Lab I, Thought Lab II will allow you to take a deep dive into a themed seminar of your choosing. Seminar themes may range from environmental and social justice to narrative to technology. These courses will invite you to explore a special topic through a variety of media to deepen your understanding of key events that have shaped its history. By the end of the semester, you will complete assignments which may include an exploratory essay or a research paper, and ultimately, a creative translation of course themes. Four Potential Themes: Narrative Story & Culture Technology: From Industrial Design to AI Media: Materials and Meaning Environmental + Social Justice

Course Description: A foundational understanding of the basics of game designing for various platforms like PCs, laptops, mobiles, TVs, and tablets. The course teaches students the technical skills required for creating games, including industry pipelines to make real-time development projects, team positions, and tools.

Course Description: This 15-week Design and Drawing for Games course covers the fundamentals of game art and design, Props and Assets, character and environment design, storytelling, worldbuilding, animation, and portfolio development. Students will learn to create 2D and 3D game assets, design game characters and environments, translate game scripts, and develop a personal brand for their game design portfolio. The course includes a mid-term project, where students will create a concept art package for a game character or environment, and a final project where students will design a game level or world that includes a narrative, environment design, character design, and animation, and present it in the form of a pitch package with a playable demo or video walkthrough. By the end of the course, students will have the skills and knowledge to prepare for a career in game art and design.

Course Description: In 3D for Games and Entertainment, students will learn the basics of game art design. Using software such as Maya, Blender, Substance Painter, and Photoshop. The course includes topics such as creating and manipulating 3D models, applying textures and materials, designing game environments, and basic principles of lighting and shading. The course also covers intermediate 3D game art modeling, Unreal Engine, advanced texturing and surfacing, set dressing and lighting, and a final project that involves developing a small area of a game or game experience using Unreal Engine. Students will gain a solid foundation in game art design and CG content creation and will have the opportunity to apply their skills in creating a game art environment or game experience.