Summer Institute for Teens | Schedule + Studios

Bring your artwork to life through traditional and stop-motion animation. Create your own 2D animations using original drawings and build vivid digital environments and characters using Adobe software. You will be introduced to fundamental animation principles, learn to observe and analyze movement in everyday life, and apply this knowledge towards creating lifelike motion. Through hands-on exercises, you will gain experience with stop-motion and computer animation techniques and workflows, and create short films for your portfolio.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of this studio, you will be able to:

• Employ professional vocabulary related to animation techniques and principles
• Identify, describe and explain genres of traditional and digital animation
• Develop the creative process of conceptualizing and translating ideas to moving image projects
• Produce 2D animations through traditional and digital processes
• Develop a foundational understanding of body mechanics
• Assess animated works critically and engage in peer critique processes

Estimate cost of supplies: $90-$100

Required software:

• Cateater Stop-Motion Studio
• Adobe Animate (previously known as Adobe Flash).
• Adobe Premiere

Required hardware:

• Tablet or a smartphone to download and run Cateater.
• Computer with webcam. Computers should meet the following minimum requirements to run Adobe Animate.
• Headphones and microphone
• Suggested: Graphic tablet (Wacom, Huion or similar) to create hand-drawn illustrations directly in Adobe Animate.

Take your animation skills to the next level! Learn basic 3D character animation techniques, starting from simple objects to more complex characters. You will become familiar with the 3D animation production process and learn modeling basics, how to animate objects and apply textures. Through various exercises, you will broaden your understanding of movement, posing, timing and acting as they relate to body mechanics. By the end of the course, students will have a created a portfolio of pieces ranging from walk cycles to dialogue scenes, and acquired a solid foundation on which to build on towards creating compelling 3D character animations.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of this studio, you will be able to:

• Employ professional vocabulary related to animation principles and techniques
• Develop the creative process of conceptualizing and translating ideas to moving image projects
• Demonstrate an understanding of the production pipeline and practices used to produce 3D animations
• Apply basic modelling, animation and texturing methods and techniques to create convincing 3D animated characters
• Develop a foundational understanding of body mechanics
• Assess animated works critically and engage in peer critique processes

Estimate cost of supplies: $90-$100

Required software: To be confirmed.

Required hardware:

• Smartphone, tablet or camera with video recording capability.
• Headphones and microphone
• Computer with webcam. Computers should meet the following minimum requirements:
  • Mac:
  • Processor: Multicore Intel Process
  • macOS version 10.14 (Mojave) or 10.15 (Catalina) and later
  • 8 GB of RAM (16 GB is ideal)
  • 8 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation; SSD recommended
    
  • Windows:
  • Processor: Multicore Intel processor, Intel Pentium 5 or AMD Athlon 64 processor
  • Windows 10 (64-bit) version 1903, 1909, 2004 and later.
  • 8 GB of RAM (16 GB is ideal)
  • 8 GB of available hard-disk space for installation; additional free space required during installation; SSD recommended
• Suggested: Graphic tablet (Wacom, Huion or similar).

Investigate architecture and its surroundings through hands-on model-making, technical drawing and creative problem-solving in this practical studio course. You will consider buildings, spaces, and landscapes from a design perspective though intensive site analysis. You will become familiar with drafting tools and conventions and learn how to create plans, sections and architectural elevations as well as how to translate those drawings into scale-models. By the end of the program, you will have completed a site study and built a model for your portfolio.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of this studio, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the design process and its application to architecture design
• Employ architectural abstraction for the purposes of scale drawing, concept sketching and modeling
• Demonstrate practical knowledge of technical drafting tools, methods and techniques
• Demonstrate an increased awareness and understanding of 3D space and design
• Apply site analysis skills and demonstrate an appreciation for the contextual aspects of architecture design

Estimate cost of supplies: $130-$150

Required software: None

Required hardware:

• Tablet, smartphone or camera to document progress of your work.
• Computer with webcam to join BlueJeans or Zoom sessions.
• Headphones and microphone

Communication Design plays a large role in our everyday lives, guiding interaction and communication in both physical and digital forms. In the Communication Design Studio, you will develop visualization skills and creative thinking through a mix of experiments in various forms and media. As you learn a visual language, design principles, and thinking methods, the program also provides experiences of exploring contemporary issues and concepts and examining how designers contribute from commercial design to social awareness campaigns.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of the course, you will be able to:

• Identify and describe the key stages of the visual communication design process
• Apply basic knowledge of colour, composition and typography to all projects
• Demonstrate creative problem-solving within visual communication design projects
• Understand contemporary applications of Communication Design
• Engage in critique processes in a professional and constructive manner
• Gain technical skills in industry-standard software
• Develop pieces that communicate a message to an audience

Estimate cost of supplies: $30-$40

Required software:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator
• Adobe InDesign

Required hardware:

• Computer with webcam. Computers should meet the following minimum requirements to run Adobe CC.
• Headphones and microphone
• Tablet or a smartphone to document progress of your work.
• Suggested: Printer

Explore how you see the world around you with traditional, technical and experimental drawing processes. Through various drawing methodologies investigate and apply a variety of drawing media and approaches to elevate your work and extend your comfort zone. Learn to work with graphite, ink, conté, charcoal and pastel as you further develop your technique and style. Create a variety of large-scale representational drawings, abstract compositions and sketches for your portfolio.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of this studio, you will be able to:

• Adopt basic vocabulary related to drawing methods and techniques
• Utilize sketching and ideation strategies
• Understand how use and handle drawing tools and materials
• Engage in the process of translating ideas from sketch into a finished drawing
• Promote individual response in using drawing as a form of expression

Estimate cost of supplies: $80-$90

Required software: None.

Required hardware:

• Computer with webcam to join BlueJeans or Zoom sessions.
• Headphones and microphone
• Tablet or a smartphone to document progress of your work.

Digital illustrations can be found in everything from webcomics to magazines. Expand your illustration abilities as you apply your sketching, drawing and composition skills in a digital environment. Learn to work with layers, shape vector art and utilize colour as you create both process-based and print-ready work using tablets and industry-standard Adobe programs. Discover how the creative process can apply to concept, product and character design within a digital arts or commercial environment.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of this studio, you will be able to:

• Identify and understand a variety of illustration styles and media
• Utilize digital and traditional tools and techniques within creative projects
• Apply illustration techniques in specified formats
• Employ drawing tablets and cameras to capture sketch work
• Develop their skills in Adobe Illustrator + Photoshop
• Prepare digital files for online and offline platforms
• Develop their own personal voice with illustration

Estimate cost of supplies: $60-$80

Required software:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Illustrator

Required hardware:

• Computer with webcam. Computers should meet the following minimum requirements to run Adobe CC.
• Graphic tablet (Wacom, Huion or similar) to create hand-drawn illustrations directly on Adobe software.
• Headphones and microphone
• Suggested: Tablet

Broaden your illustration knowledge and creative potential through a range of projects. Create detailed and stylized illustrations that communicate ideas, capture characters and envision imaginary spaces. Using pen and ink, conté, charcoal, and watercolour, you will learn to consider line, texture and tone. Future illustrators, animators, graphic novelists or fine artists are invited to learn traditional illustration techniques as they develop their individual style and grow their body of work.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of the course, students will be able to:

• Analyze visual and conceptual intentions of traditional and contemporary illustrations
• Create illustrative imagery to represent concepts or communications
• Illustrate using diverse application techniques and visual styles
• Utilize various media, tools, and materials for dynamic illustration
• Define and employ personal illustrative style for professional practices

Estimate cost of supplies: $100-$120

Required software: None.

Required hardware:

• Computer with webcam to join BlueJeans or Zoom sessions.
• Headphones and microphone
• Tablet or a smartphone to document progress of your work.

Discover how sustainable and human-centred design can positively impact the world around us. This studio introduces the core values, application and potential of Industrial Design through prototyping and case studies of product design. You will learn technical drawing, CAD software, and model-making alongside principles of accessibility, ergonomics, material innovation and ecological concerns.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of this studio, you will be able to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of the design process and its application to industrial design
• Apply fundamental technical drafting and scale drawing skills
• Experiment with and develop visual ideas in 2D
• Manipulate shapes & forms in 3D
• Employ fundamental model making techniques in a range of materials
• Understand and employ mold making and casting techniques
• Consider lighting and composition toward creating photographic documentation of models and other subjects

Estimate cost of supplies: $115-$130

Required software:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Rhinoceros 6

Required hardware:

• Computer with webcam. Computers should meet the following minimum requirements to run Adobe Photoshop, and the following minimum requirements to run Rhinoceros 6.
• Headphones and microphone
• Tablet, smartphone or camera to document progress of your work.

Push your creative boundaries and express yourself through diverse media arts techniques. In this studio, you will learn to communicate concepts, emotions and narratives in a dynamic way, using experimental approaches to photography, video, sound and multi-media installation. Field trips and classroom discussions will help you build a strong creative foundation, and introduce you to contemporary media artists. You will learn to format your final media pieces for screen and/or installation.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of this studio, you will be able to:

• Understand how to control exposure through ISO, shutter speed and aperture while considering depth of field, noise and motion blur.
• Apply compositional techniques when photographing and filming subjects
• Utilize fundamental editing techniques and adjustments for the digital image using Adobe Photoshop
• Develop fundamental skills in video production, including scriptwriting, storyboarding, cinematography, lighting, and sound
• Demonstrate an understanding of historical and contemporary image- and media-based practices
• Manage digital file formats, processing, and exporting for screen-based outputs
• Assess media works critically and participate in peer critique processes collaboratively and constructively

Estimate cost of supplies: $50-$70

Required software:

• Adobe Photoshop
• Adobe Premiere

Required hardware:

• Tablet, smartphone or camera
• Computer with webcam. Computers should meet the following minimum requirements.
• Headphones and microphone
• Suggested: Tripod
• Optional: Sound recording device

Investigate how observed and imaginary spaces and objects can be represented with acrylic paint and mixed media. Challenge yourself to take new approaches to your work as you experiment with abstraction and realism in order to further develop your personal style. Build technical skills through rigorous exercises in paint application, brush strokes, composition and colour theory. Historical and contemporary practices will be considered.

Learning outcomes:

Through successful completion of this studio, you will be able to:

• Develop a greater understanding of colour theory through research and reflecting on your personal history.
• Investigate conceptual ideas through creative writing and experimentation.
• Experiment with various mixed media, non-conventional tools and supplies.
• Develop technical skills in various mediums through gesture and materials.
• Communicate your ideas to the viewer through your work.

Estimate cost of supplies: $170-$190

Required software: None.

Required hardware:

• Computer with webcam to join BlueJeans or Zoom sessions.
• Headphones and microphone
• Tablet or a smartphone to document progress of your work.