DIG 260: Digital Media Capstone and Portfolio Review
A portfolio project and portfolio review for Digital Media majors
The Digital Media Capstone and Portfolio Review class offers an opportunity to analyze and develop your areas of creative strength and hone your creative work into a polished presentation for future clients and employers. The Digital Media Capstone Project provides you with a series of assignments focused on skill evaluation, multitasking, visual storytelling, interviewing and project pitching. Each assignment provides a context for developing a professional niche for your talents. Students participate in Portfolio Review in weeks 9-15 of the semester. This provides students the opportunity to gather and develop a portfolio of work and present it to faculty and classmates for feedback.
About This Course
Project-Based Learning
This multi-faceted portfolio project includes development and promotion of an multimedia character used to promote a brand in a 30 second commercial. Students will also assemble a high quality final portfolio of work for instructor review and peer feedback. Student work will be evaluated to assess the achievement of program outcomes defined for the Associate Degree in Digital Media program.
What Skills Will I Develop?
Students in this course can expect to learn to:
- Research design concepts for a digital technology client.
- Present research into relevant inspirational or competitive Web sites as references along with a written analysis and explanation of how they will contribute to your concept.
- Develop and present initial sketches and 2D images for your project, as well as a home page wireframe.
- Develop and present a written concept and storyboard for a 30 second commercial.
- Prepare thumbnails for an animation and create an animation environment and associated assets for use in a 30 second commercial.
- Prepare a simple animated 3D asset for integration in a 30 second commercial that demonstrates proficiency in texturing, lighting, and animating 3D models.
- Shoot and edit live footage for use in a 30 second commercial that demonstrates proficiency in scene framing, shot types, camera movements, pacing, transitions, and rhythm.
- Demonstrate the ability to composite all animation, footage, and assets in an After Effects workspace.
- Prepare and optimize a complete final 30 second commercial representing a good understanding of the design goals in creating a promotional short.
- Deliver a written presentation of an entire project that demonstrates critical thinking ability, professional project presentation skills, and the ability to develop/explain your creative process.
- Create a complete project that exhibits a competence in using a professional design process for digital media including competitive research, thumbnails and storyboards, 3D assets, animation, shot and edited live action footage, and composited final footage.
- Assemble a portfolio of work, identifying and describe strengths and weaknesses in your work.
- Develop a plan for portfolio development and identify a desired career direction.
- Develop a professional summary of your design capabilities.
- Present a finalized portfolio of creative work.
What Software and Supplies Do I Need?
- Computer with Internet connection (broadband recommended).
- Depending on your choice of project, Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects, Animate and Autodesk Maya.
- Experience in the above software or equivalent programs.
- An account with an ad-free Web hosting service.
Course Instructor(s)
The course is taught by the following instructor(s):
Natalie La Scala
Natalie La Scala is a Denver-based media artist with 20 years of work experience in creative direction, project management, and higher education. Recent clients include Z1CareerZone, Engage, LLC, and the Performing Arts Academy.
Course Outline
Stage One
Students will gather their work and engage in a process of self reflection to identify specific areas of strength. Students will focus on how to evolve their skills in digital media or animation and how their foundational skills in design will translate or help them in the transition.
Stage Two
Good news students: A company you want to work for is hiring a Visual Content Producer! In this stage students will identify and present projects that evidence their multitasking / cross disciplinary skills and visual storytelling.
Stage Three
Developing and pitching creative project ideas that YOU can deliver will be key to your future work in this industry. Students will focus on interview skills and project pitching during this phase.
Portfolio Guidelines
Students are expected to create a portfolio that is useful to their future creative development, and to do so with attention to quality and detail. The final student portfolio will demonstrate professional presentation techniques and a written summary of the student's design capabilities.
Final Review
Student portfolios will be evaluated to assess the achievement of program outcomes defined for the Associate Degree in Digital Media program.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How Do The Courses Work?
Our courses are project-based and instructor-led. In each course you’ll complete a series of lectures, projects, discussions, and critiques designed to stretch your creative skills. Weekly assignment deadlines keep you on track, and with no set-logins or Zoom meetings, you can build your studies around your schedule.
Who Are The Instructors?
Our courses are developed and taught by our industry-leading faculty of creative professionals. This means that you’ll learn in-demand skills, get feedback on your work, and build a portfolio of creative work. View our Student Gallery for featured student projects.
When Can I Start?
Classes start January, April, and August, and this course is completed in a 15-week term. This course is not available for individual enrollment; it can only be taken as part of a program.
Explore our Programs: Bachelor's Degree | Associate Degree | Undergraduate Certificate
How Do I Register?
This course is not available for individual enrollment; it can only be taken as part of a program. To register for a program, complete our program application.
Is Sessions College Accredited?
Yes. Since 2001, Sessions College has been accredited by the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC). The Distance Education Accrediting Commission is listed by the U.S. Department of Education as a recognized accrediting agency and is recognized by the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA).