Notes for teaching Live Visuals 101

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of ordering information using non-linear, interactive timelines.

Students will create, acquire, manipulate, animate, choreograph and distribute digital and analog content using various techniques, finally performed live.

Students will learn the basic and fundamental principles of editing, animation and motion design, and interactivity.

Students will have a basic proficiency in the tools needed to create time-based work and will understand ideas of order and interaction. In a world where everything is moving and interactive, these skills and concepts are essential for all artists and designers.

Organization

This course is organized around introducing students to a wide range of methods in constructing screen and projection based media. A class will typically commence with an introduction and discussion of a concept and its related applications followed by a group exercise in learning a new technology, tool, or methodology.

Weekly assignments will be given. They will typically relate to a worksop and will usually extend into longer projects. Critiques will take place at the end of every project, and students’ active engagement forum discussion will play a vital role in establishing an atmosphere of collaboration and shared learning.

Scheduling

  • The 15 lessons for this course can divided up as needed to match the class schedule. For example, once a week for 15 weeks, or twice a week for 8 weeks, or three times a week for five weeks.
  • Typically a 16th session is recommended for final project presentations / final project performances.

In class Activities

  • Along with the history, theory, and demonstration portions of each lesson, it is recommended to allocate a portion of class time for letting students practice what they are learning. For example, having a prepared setup connected to a projector that students can take turns performing with.
  • Have music playlists for each lesson prepared in advance, where applicable.

Homework and Final Project

  • Each lesson includes homework assignments; how to factor these into grading is up to you.
  • Each homework assignment includes discussion topics and questions; it is recommended to set up an online forum, or chat channel, where answers can be shared.
  • The parameters for the 'final project' can be adjusted to fit the goals of your class. For example, it can be a live performance, with a live DJ, where the students are responsible for setting up their equipment and taking turns VJing, or it could take the form of pre-recorded studio sessions.

Learning Outcomes

  • Compose time-based projects through the capturing, creating, ordering and editing, and distribution of digital material.
  • Students will demonstrate a working knowledge of basic still and dynamic design concepts, imaging methodologies, and fundamental principles of time-based media.
  • Students will demonstrate proficiency in the basic creation and manipulation of bitmap and vector imaging and work with multiple layers, masks, and transparencies to compose still and moving images.
  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of the literal and abstract relationships between sound and image.
  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of cultural and historical context of time based work in art and design.
  • Students will demonstrate knowledge of input and output integration, as well as their aesthetic influence.
  • Students will demonstrate ability to create “reactive” visuals to sound using a variety of controls.

Course Goals

  • Students will understand the perceptual and technical underpinnings of the moving image and be able to author work with vector, pixel and frame animation in response to sound compositions.
  • Students will apply their understanding of resolution and compression to work with source material effectively and to create work across a variety of platforms.
  • Students will learn to create dynamic motion design, which enables understanding and implementation of the x y z axis and t (time) as it applies and augments fundamental art and design practices and techniques.
  • Students will conceptualize and create choreographed relationships between multi-layered sound and image using a range of sources. They will develop timing and spacing skills, extending their understanding of visual design in relationship to dynamic form.
  • Students will appreciate the different aesthetic attributes of procedural and generative animation, as well as interactive applications.

Finally, students will be able to apply any or all of these learned practices to an independent project, proving conceptual and technical prowess moving forward in live performance design.

Course Requirements

Visit the Course Requirements page for a list of equipment, software and other resources that are needed to complete this course.