The gallery above illustrates a research-based artistic interpretation of apoptosis.
Advanced digital modeling techniques, sophisticated materials, and a renderer I recently introduced were used.
Progressing through my new animation curriculum, students have won numerous awards. A recent sample are listed below:
2015, 1st Place in Moving Images Category, Images in Research, UIC. :: A university-wide research visualization competition.
2015, Harrison Award for Outstanding Achievements in Animation, International Student Conference and O.A. Parkes Symposium held at Georgia Regents University juried Salon.
2015, 2nd Place in Moving Images Category, Images in Research, UIC
2015, Finalist in Still Image Category, Images in Research, UIC.
2016 1st Place in Moving Images Category, Images in Research, UIC
2016, Honorable Mention in Still Image Category, Images in Research, UIC
2017, Citation of Merit, BioImages, BioCommunications Association :: An international visualization competition in photography, illustration, and animation.
2017, 1st Place in Moving Images Category, Images in Research, UIC.
2017, 2nd Place in Moving Images Category, Images in Research, UIC.
2018, Award of Excellence in Student Animation, Association of Medical Illustrators
2018, 1st Place in Moving Images Category
2019, Animation selected for Images From Science exhibition
Goals:
Create an animation using 3ds Max, After Effects, and Premiere on a scientific topic of their choosing. This assignment is the culmination of the semester's work and builds on their experiences from previous animation classes.
Steps in the process include:1. Research a topic and present it in a form appropriate for a target audience of their choosing.
2. Write a script referencing the primary literature.
3. Storyboard development.
4. Animated Storyboards - motion and audio is introduced in 2d using After Effects
5. Animatic - a basic representation of the animation, cameras, and motion, using simple shapes.
6. Animation - the final product created using 3ds Max and composited in After Effects
Effectively and efficiently create an image or animation of cell death using a new renderer and advanced modeling techniques.
Teaching activities leading to student work:
Review of the 12 Principles of Animation developed at Disney Studios with real-world and animated examples.
Each of the six stages above are reviewed in small groups and students are also given individual feedback.
Students are required to meet with the instructor at least once outside of class during some point in production to review their plan, discuss their topic and storyboards in more detail, and investigate the various technical aspects specific to their project.
Lectures and interactive demonstrations as well as assignments using a simple scene for experimenting with lighting and textures.
Lecture and interactive demonstrations on complex modeling methods and lighting.
Lecture and interactive demonstration on creating efficient files and renders.
Significance of the student learning as a result of the assignment.
Demonstrated proficiency with advanced tools in 3ds Max, After Effects, Premiere, and Adobe Media Encoder.
Experience using the newest rendering software becoming widely adapted in the profession. These are not being taught at other medical illustration programs and make the students uniquely qualified.
Understand the various file types, encoding, appropriate files sizes and resolutions.
Identified and utilized appropriate render passes to efficiently composite the project.
Reviewed all the steps involved in the animation workflow from topic selection to completed deliverable animation.
Visualized a scientific story accurately in which all aspects are supported by primary literature. Specific focus is placed on structural integrity, mechanism of action, and size relationships.
Continued to develop a visual style which incorporates artistic interpretation and license while remaining true to the material. All choices must be explained/justified.
All work is copyrighted by the respective student who created it.