Entertainment Design

Mission Statement

The Entertainment Design - Animation Track prepares graduates who will embody animation principles, storytelling, communication, 2D/3D skills, teamwork, and pipeline mastery, joining a community of inspiring storytellers, innovators, and visionaries, dedicated to transforming the world through the magic of animation.

Principles of Animation

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate a deep understanding of the fundamental principles of animation.

Principles of Storytelling

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate fluency in the principles of effective storytelling through the medium of animation.

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to clearly convey creative concepts with an ability to adapt based on target audience.

2D Skills

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate strong drawing and painting skills.

3D Skills

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate a mastery of skills as a generalist or specialist of disciplines within the 3D animation process.

Teamwork

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to collaborate effectively within multidisciplinary teams, contributing to their success.

Animation Pipeline Mastery

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to exhibit a comprehensive understanding of the entire animation pipeline from pre-production to production to post-production acquired through hands-on experience.

Mission Statement

The Entertainment Design - Concept Track prepares students to be the next generation of entertainment designers by teaching creative and technological skills needed to bring stories to life, creating conceptual worlds, memorable animated characters, and immersive gaming experiences.

Thinking Process & Conceptual Methodology

Graduates will be able to:

• Understand and demonstrate proficiency in story creation, interpretation, production design methodologies and presentation, and balance real-world constraints with imaginative needs.

Storytelling

Graduates will be able to:

• Be fluent in narrative structures (films and written material), non-narrative structures (games or VR experiences), and other information/language structures in relating content, understanding audiences, and world-building, while being able to both interpret and expand one’s own stories, and those of others.

Communication Skills

Graduates will be able to:

• Achieve mastery of both traditional and digital media that is relevant to the student’s chosen track as well as clearly and professionally express themselves visually, verbally, and interpersonally.

2D Proficiency

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate fluency in identifying and applying the principles of design with 2D artwork as well as mastery in the use of pipelines to create the artwork.

3D Proficiency

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate fluency in identifying and applying the principles of design with 2D artwork as well as mastery in the use of pipelines to create the artwork.

Painting Understanding

Graduates will be able to:

• Develop traditional painting mastery as well as digital painting mastery. Observe and absorb real-world realities to influence conceptual creation and master the powerful use of lighting, composition, and color for storytelling.

Lighting Understanding

Graduates will be able to:

• Master the powerful use of lighting for storytelling and to direct the viewers' focus.

Design Knowledge & Critical Thinking

Graduates will be able to:

• Recognize challenges and have a systematic approach to exploring multiple solutions. Find solutions that are repeatable, adjustable, and professionally deployable. Confidently create personalized problem-solving processes to be able to solve clients’ visual storytelling challenges.

Professional Awareness

Graduates will be able to:

• Understand and implement practical employment skills/knowledge. Develop curiosity as life-long learners by identifying core strengths to build upon while also challenging themselves outside their comfort zone. Interact thoughtfully with people and cultures to cultivate originality and responsibility. Learn to navigate peer-to-peer, client, and team dynamics with collaboration and competence. Understand the pipelines of production in their respective fields of entertainment design.

Mission Statement

The Entertainment Design – Game Design Track prepares students to be the next generation of game designers by teaching the creative and technological skills needed to bring stories to life and create immersive gaming experiences.

Game Design Process & Systems Thinking

Graduates will be able to:

• Apply iterative design methods from ideation to implementation and evaluation.
• Analyze and develop game systems, mechanics, and dynamics with clarity and intent.
• Move fluidly between macro (systems) and micro (details) in the design process.
• Use critical thinking to refine and evolve design concepts based on feedback and testing.

Innovation & Problem Solving

Graduates will be able to:

• Generate original game concepts that demonstrate creative risk-taking and novelty.
• Use critical thinking to solve design and development challenges using inventive and adaptive approaches.
• Integrate storytelling, aesthetics, and mechanics in unique and engaging ways.
• Reflect on iteration and failure as essential components of the creative process.

Storytelling

Graduates will be able to:

• Create immersive stories, worlds, and characters that support gameplay and player engagement.
• Design narrative structures that align with game mechanics and interaction models.
• Expand, interpret, or adapt existing intellectual properties into new formats.
• Apply consistent thematic and aesthetic scope across environments, characters, and systems.

Collaboration & Team Building

Graduates will be able to:

• Work effectively in interdisciplinary teams across art, design, and programming domains.
• Practice productive communication, constructive critique, and shared decision-making.
• Manage roles, responsibilities, and timelines in collaborative development environments.
• Contribute to team culture that values inclusion, equity, and psychological safety.

Player-Centered Design Thinking

Graduates will be able to:

• Design with empathy for diverse players’ needs, abilities, and motivations.
• Conduct user research and playtesting to inform design decisions.
• Iterate on feedback to improve accessibility, clarity, and engagement.
• Balance challenge, narrative, and interaction for satisfying player experience.

Technical & Production Proficiency

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate proficiency in tools and technologies relevant to game development (e.g., Unity, Unreal, version control).
• Create working prototypes to communicate, test, and refine design ideas.
• Apply best practices in digital art, scripting, or system architecture.
• Understand production pipelines and contribute to shipping-ready game assets or systems.

Professionalism

Graduates will be able to:

• Build a portfolio that reflects personal vision, technical skill, and growth.
• Communicate ideas clearly through pitching, documentation, and presentations.
• Demonstrate adaptability, resilience, and continuous learning in response to evolving industry trends.
• Act with professionalism, ethics, and awareness of the broader impact of games on culture and society.