Computer Animation Arts

Today I bring you advice from a second Funko Product Designer, Sophie Brown. Sophie shares her thoughts on developing a broad skillset, and the importance of networking. Check out Sophie's clear and well-presented portfolio at the end :)  My role at Funko is Product Development Assistant  My Education I studied Product Design at university, I'd always loved product design since school, so it was a pretty easy decision for me once it came to deciding what to do after I'd finished my A-Levels!  The course itself was quite different to what I expected it to be but turned out to be for the best. It was quite an engineering focused version of product design which I think may have benefited me when looking for jobs as it broadened my skill-set in a larger range of areas. For example, along with units based on design briefs, following through to prototyping & testing, we also had units based on materials and manufacturing processes where I lear...

Hearty - and heartfelt congratulations to the 'Class of 2018'!  What a scorcher!  I know not everyone was at the ceremony, and I know too not everyone made it up onto the balcony for the ad-hoc group photos, but this moment was yours nonetheless.  It is always a genuinely moving and uplifting day!  Well done everyone, we're all very proud of you and we look forward to your next adventures!  'Be amazing!'

As you consider your future careers, it is important to remember that many of the skills that you have learned on CAA are transferable, and you may find yourself walking a different path at some point in the future... Here Dipesh Patel, Graphic and Product Designer at Funko, talks about his journey from university to where he is now. My Education I studied Graphic Design at university so it was quite a broad course, and one of the important things I learnt was to not just rely on the skills you learn at university but go that extra mile. There were so many designers on my course who would have all been graduating at the same time and applying for jobs at the same time so I had to think of a way to differentiate myself from the other students. I taught myself video editing and animation and this has helped a lot applying for jobs. Employers tend to not only look for someone that is skilled in one area but someone that is flexible, for example one day in my current j...

Author Helen Lockley is looking for an Illustrator to illustrate her book of short stories for 6-8 year olds - here's what she has to say... 'I am looking for someone to work with who could do some illustrations for a children’s book I have written (children’s short stories written in prose). As the book is for 6-8 year olds, I am looking for drawings that are wholesome like Beatrice Potter illustrations, but with vivid colour like Disney as I am aware if I am to entice children to read my book it is the illustrations that will draw them in. Illustrator needs imagination as there are 20 diverse stories to cover, and perhaps as many as 4 drawings to do for each story.' Closing date: none specific but would like to have book in production by June 2019 Contact: helen09lockley@talktalk.net

Acacia is based in the Innovation Centre, Chatham, and has the following to offer - An opportunity has become available for a Digital Marketing Assistant internship with immediate start on a flexible basis. 'Acacia is an award-winning Kent-based brand design studio. We are one bubbling pot full of branding, strategic, creative and technological expertise. We have over 20 years of brand design expertise working with brands such as Deloitte, Mercedes-Benz, and Sony in France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. We have over 20 years of brand design expertise working with brands such as Deloitte, Mercedes-Benz, and Sony in France, Germany, Switzerland and the UK.' About the role Social media marketing: developing a distinct online presence by attracting high numbers of internet followers through social media channels such as LinkedIn, Twitter and Google+  Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)  Digital communication, web design and email marketing  Content resear...

And this news just in... Red & The Kingdom Of Sound wins 'Best Animation' in the Eurasia International Monthly Film Festival - congratulations to everyone else in the YPGTTO production team!

On Wednesday July 4th at 6.30pm it's the private view at New Designers 2018 . Traditionally, this is the moment when the CAA exhibition stand brims with current students and alumni and it's always a big busy night.  I've got a few complimentary tickets for the Wednesday night and I'm offering them up on a first come, first served basis.  If you want to join us at the Business Design Centre, email me at pgomm@uca.ac.uk with your postal address and I'll organise your ticket - but don't hang about, once they're gone, they're gone.

The technical & creative challenges of animating 'Hank the Octopus' from Finding Dory (2016) Hank the Octopus wasn't possible with the technology available 13 years ago for Finding Nemo (2003). In this interview Jeremie Talbot (Character Supervisor, Pixar)  and Brian Tong (Senior Editor, Disney) discuss how challenging Hank was to rig and animate, even with todays advancements in technology. The technical & creative challenges of simulating water effects for Moana (2016) Moana is one of Disney's most effects-filled animated movies. In this interview, Kyle Odermatt (Visual Effects Supervisor, Disney) and Brian Tong (Senior Editor, Disney) discuss how they met challenges of simulating complex water effects.

Calling all 3rd years!  'It’s Nice That' is excited to launch the tenth edition of The Graduates, its annual showcase of brilliant students graduating from a bachelors/undergraduate or equivalent degree in 2018. Deadline for entries is 25th June. Winning graduates will receive... • an interview on It’s Nice That about your work • a prime slot on the homepage on our dedicated one-day Graduates takeover  • a chance to seek helpful advice and guidance from the It’s Nice That team and become part of our network  Full details can be found  HERE

The SIGGRAPH Technical Papers program is the premier international forum for disseminating new scholarly work in computer graphics and interactive techniques. SIGGRAPH 2018 brings together thousands of professionals in the fields of computer graphics and interactive techniques. The conference takes place 12 - 16 August 2018 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. To learn more visit the website .

And here it is... out with the disco palette and in with something more austere...

This is the first PWTM post-GDPR... and in order to comply with the new regulations I sent out an 'opt-in' email for those subscribers wishing to remain on our mailing list - and I deleted everyone else! We've probably lost a few loyal readers in our great data cull, for who amongst us hasn't felt snowed under by all the recent emails asking us to 'opt-in' (and who amongst us hasn't secretly enjoyed the idea of all those endless 'sell-you-stuff' emails just going poof into thin air!). If you didn't find the PWTM in your inbox this time - and you were expecting it, and you want to continue to receive it, please do drop me a line at pgomm@uca.ac.uk and I'll sort it.  Similarly, if you're new to the PWTM and you'd like to join our new GDPR-compliant mailing list, then get in touch! Incredibly, the next edition of the Post With The Most will be our New Designers Special Edition showcasing the final iterations of our final year ...