This course will introduce students to the underlying structures of the human form for application in all aspects of 3D digital design. Course content will cover 3D digital modeling, digital sculpture, posing, topology, and rendering. At the completion of this course, students will be able to identify and name major structures of the human body, visually represent these structures with attention to position, form, and proportion and will be able to draw and sculpt a human figure without reference or observation based on acquired knowledge.

This course focuses on the design and construction of three-dimensional character assets for games, visualization, and digital media. Students will study character background and personality, translating these ideas into visual decisions through sketches, model sheets, and sculpted form. Emphasis is placed on proportion, anatomy, silhouette, topology, and detail, with attention to clean modeling, stylization, and optimization for real-time and rendered pipelines. Intermediate digital sculpting techniques support evidence-based design choices and readable forms. Posing and presentation are used to evaluate characters as visual communication tools that convey personality, clarity, and artistic intent. By the end of this course, students will create fully realized character models that integrate narrative backstory, strong visual design, accurate anatomy, and production-ready structure.

The course focuses on implementing, advanced, newly developing ideas in three-dimensional computer graphics. The specific topic varies and is determined by the instructor. A specific course outline is provided each time the course is taught. Potential topics include the creation of interactive installations, game asset design, digital performances, cyber fashion, network art, locative media, scientific visualization, information visualization, event design, projection design, or any new area in digital design. This course has a subtopic and may be repeated with different subtopics; subtopics cannot be repeated.

This course examines the development of real-time rigging systems and motion design for interactive 3D characters. Students create skeletons, constraints, and deformation controls optimized for performance in game engines, then produce motion loops and state-based transitions for player-driven interaction. Topics include kinematics, retargeting, blend spaces, and procedural motion blending. Emphasis is placed on crafting responsive, expressive character movements that support gameplay clarity and user experience. Students will integrate rigging, motion logic, and engine implementation to produce fully controllable characters suitable for production environments.

3D Digital Design Independent Study will provide students with the ability to study in a specialized area with an individual faculty member. Students, with the assistance of a faculty advisor will propose a course of study. 3D Digital Design independent study students must obtain permission of an instructor and complete the Independent Study Permission Form to enroll.