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.

Technical Visualization

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate strong drawing skills and proficiency of technical principles, including proportion, scale, perspective, and spatial relationships.
• Apply keen observational drawing skills to accurately capture form, detail, and gesture from life and reference.
• Integrate movement, flow, and action into line work to enhance visual energy and storytelling.
• Produce sophisticated compositions and expressive characters that convey intent and emotion.
• Utilize a variety of professional and industry standard tools, including 2D imaging and 3D modeling software.

Spatial Literacy

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate the ability to conceptualize, model, and represent objects and environments with accurate scale, proportion, and spatial relationships.
• Apply an understanding of material properties, structural integrity, and functional design in both physical and digital spaces.
• Translate spatial designs effectively into 2D visual representations, maintaining accuracy and clarity.
• Utilize 3D tools and techniques to support composition, design intent, and immersive experiences.

Visual Structure

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate a professional level of understanding and execution of traditional and digital painting techniques, including mark making, brush control, and tool proficiency.
• Apply color theory, analysis, and mixing to create purposeful palettes that enhance mood, narrative, and design intent.
• Utilize value, saturation, hue, and temperature to establish depth, focus, and visual hierarchy.
• Apply lighting principles to strengthen storytelling, direct the viewer’s eye, and enhance composition.

Conceptual Process

Graduates will be able to:

• Leverage research and analysis to inform, validate, and strengthen design decisions, ensuring outcomes are both innovative and contextually grounded.
• Demonstrate an iterative design process from ideation through final execution.
• Apply creative problem-solving to make dynamic and original design choices.
• Support design decisions with clear, logical reasoning supporting storytelling.
• Demonstrate adaptability and knowledge of emerging and evolving technology.

Storytelling

Graduates will be able to:

• Conceive and execute original designs and world-building elements that effectively support a story.
• Produce cohesive design assets, such as environments, characters, and props, aligned with the story’s tone and themes.
• Create emotional connectivity with an audience through purposeful narrative strategies.

Creative Problem Solving

Graduates will be able to:

• Demonstrate problem-solving skills that lead to innovative and effective design solutions.
• Apply design fundamentals—such as balance, contrast, rhythm, and unity—to create work with clarity, interest, and cohesion.
• Evaluate and refine designs through iterative analysis, constructive critique, and application of feedback.

Communication and Teamwork

Graduates will be able to:

• Communicate design concepts clearly and persuasively through presentations, portfolios, and pitches.
• Demonstrate effective interpersonal skills to foster collaboration with peers, instructors, and multidisciplinary teams.
• Apply professional communication practices in written formats, ensuring clarity, appropriate tone, and proper etiquette in both synchronous and asynchronous contexts.
• Cultivate a constructive team culture by engaging peers with professionalism, positivity, and respect, resulting in stronger collaboration and shared success.

Professionalism

Graduates will be able to:

• Navigate peer-to-peer, instructor, and team dynamics with professionalism, adaptability, and collaboration.
• Deliver on commitments by following through with reliability, accountability, and consistency, ensuring promised work is completed to professional standards.
• Demonstrate an understanding of industry structures, workflows, and expectations relevant to their field.
• Define clear career goals and develop actionable strategies to achieve them.
• Maintain ethical standards and professional integrity in all aspects of practice.

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.