Overview
Graphics design is an art of visual communication that combines images, ideas, and even words to convey information to an audience, especially to produce a specific effect. This course covers various concepts of graphics design, with an emphasis on video game arts. These concepts include visual grammars of classical arts, such as lights, volume, proportions and perspectives, theory of depth, composition, gravity, movement, and artistic anatomy. In this course, you will learn how to apply the above concepts to design characters and character-centric environments in video game development.
The overall goal of this course is to engage you in the study of individual graphics design elements and enable you to practice these elements in the right context. There are six assignments and one final project to test your progress and competence in game graphics design. There is no final exam, because your learning experience cannot be measured in a written exam.
Graphics design typically results in pictures. You will use paper and pencil, as well as computer drawing software of your preference (e.g., GraphicsGale, GIMP, Illustrator, etc.).
Outline
This course comprises the following 10 units:
- Unit 1: Drawing Fundamentals
- Unit 2: Advanced Drawing Concepts
- Unit 3: The Human Figure
- Unit 4: Anatomy: Foot, Leg, and Pelvis
- Unit 5: Anatomy: Spine, Ribcage, Shoulder Girdle, and Arm
- Unit 6: Anatomy: Hand, Head and Neck, and Facial Expressions
- Unit 7: Elements of Design
- Unit 8: Character Design
- Unit 9: Environment Design
- Unit 10: Color and Digital Tools
Learning outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to
- apply basic concepts of graphics design, e.g., proportions, perspectives, volume, lights, and shadow.
- demonstrate advanced concepts of volume and lights to create illusion of depth.
- draw human figures and apply concepts of gravity and movement in visual art.
- arrange elements in an image to manipulate a scene.
- model 2D/3D characters/sprites and create model sheets.
- design a character-centric environment.
- use different drawing media and software tools.
Evaluation
To receive credit for COMP 232, students must achieve a course composite grade of at least D (50%), including a grade of D (50%) on each assignment and at least D (50%) on the final project. The weighting of these grades is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 10% |
| Assignment 2 | 10% |
| Assignment 3 | 15% |
| Assignment 4 | 10% |
| Assignment 5 | 10% |
| Assignment 6 | 15% |
| Final Project | 30% |
| Total | 100% |
To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University’s online Calendar.
Materials
Physical course materials
The following course materials are included in a course package that will be shipped to your home prior to your course’s start date:
Solarski, C. (2012). Drawing basics and video game art: Classic to cutting-edge art techniques for winning video game design. New York: Watson-Guptill.
Challenge for credit
Overview
The challenge for credit process allows you to demonstrate that you have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university-level course.
Full information about challenge for credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.
Evaluation
To receive credit for the COMP 232 challenge registration, you must complete three (3) assignments and a final project assigned to you after your registration for the challenge, and achieve a grade of at least D (50%) on each assignment and at least D (50%) on the final project.
The weighting of these grades is as follows:
| Activity | Weight |
| Assignment 1 | 20% |
| Assignment 2 | 20% |
| Assignment 3 | 20% |
| Final Project | 40% |
| Total | 100% |
Challenge for credit course registration form