Practicum in Virtual Reality: Design and fabrication for virtual space
Instructor: Dave Fogler, Creative Director and Owner, Cinodrome Products; Artist and Filmmaker
Course Overview: The emergence of new media (virtual reality and augmented reality) made possible by real-time rendering technology, provides a rare opportunity to construct within a creative space where the possibilities of the form are actively being defined. This class will provide an introduction to design strategies and digital tools for working in virtual environments. Students will investigate best practices for creative development, learn basic workflow and digital tools for asset creation and real-time rendering, and gain insight into the state of the field from guest lectures by leaders in the industry. The class will culminate in the design and construction of a digital environment to be experienced in a VR headset.
The course is appropriate for any student interested in learning to design and create with digital tools. No previous experience in Maya, Photoshop, or Unreal Engine is required, but basic familiarity with the navigation of digital creation tools will be helpful.
Learning Goals:
- Develop critical awareness of the current state of media development as a whole and VR as an emerging medium.
- Gain practical experience utilizing the problem solving strategies, work organization methods, and creative process tools of the trade that leaders in creative industries rely upon.
- From a given creative spec, learn to visualize/iterate on design concepts via drawings and practical models.
- Develop core skills in digital 3D modeling and asset development in Maya.
- Develop core skills in digital image manipulation and asset texturing in Photoshop.
- Develop core skills in real-time rendering and VR development in Unreal Engine.
- Design and create digital assets that contribute to a real-time rendered immersive environment to be experienced in a VR headset.
Instructor Bio: Dave Fogler has been an artist in the film industry for 25+ years. He has held roles as stop motion animator and director, miniature model maker, digital model maker, asset supervisor, VFX Supervisor, and VR Director. He worked with visual effects industry leader Industrial Light + Magic for twenty years, contributing to the work of twenty-four major motion pictures including Star Wars Episode I, II, III, and VII, Transformers 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, The Matrix sequels, Pacific Rim, Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull, Starship Troopers, Galaxy Quest, and Avatar. He is a five time nominee and two time winner of the Visual Effects Society Award. For the past three years he has worked from his own VR development studio, Cinodrome. A Maine native, Dave received his BA from Bowdoin College and MFA from the University of California Berkeley.