Jamie Chua – "The course’s broad scope for research provided me with opportunities to explore diverse avenues of design..."

AUB is world-renowned as a creative hub of high-quality education for the arts. Whilst exploring prospective postgraduate courses, I learned that AUB’s Animation Production department has a strong history of equipping students effectively for their careers; as evidenced by the University’s extensive network of alumni working in the animation industry. AUB‘s MA Animation Production course offered a good balance of academic research and creative practice, providing the perfect environment for me to develop my industry-focused skill set, creative network and professionalism.

The MA course’s broad scope for research provided me with opportunities to explore diverse avenues of design, in addition to exploring ways that design can shape animated story. The resources available to me at AUB were instrumental in supporting my research. The University’s Library held a diverse range of information from analytical animation papers to style guides of animated films, and the subject librarians were also immensely helpful in supporting my research journey.

My research allowed me to critically analyse the principles and historical contexts of character design; from early illustration to modern day animated filmmaking. For me, character design is an exercise in problem-solving and empathy, as characters carry entire lives within them to be translated into line and colour. I especially enjoy designing a character’s movement through gestural poses and expressions that are unique to the specific character. Throughout the MA course, I studied the ways that design drives storytelling. Analysing the design sensibilities of artists and industry practitioners working across different mediums gave me a better grasp of my own design sensibilities, and helped focus my aspirations. Academic analysis of animated design gave me the tools to directly apply my learning to my creative practice.

My MA projects ranged from design exercises to full character design studies, all of which have further prepared me for the industry. The MA course allows students to shape their research project structure according to their personal learning styles and creative practices. The great amount of freedom I had in my course helped me implement a disciplined schedule to my creative practice and writing; further enhancing my project management skills that have served me well in my career.

The MA course and AUB’s career advice resources gave me the opportunity to enhance my professionalism. Whilst creating my portfolio website, I found AUB’s alumni network allowed me opportunities to reach out and speak with industry professionals, forming meaningful connections with fellow creatives. Through the MA, I was also able to attend guest speaker talks, portfolio reviews and studio visits.

My time at AUB has helped inform my industry journey. Through persistent skills development during my studies, my design work and professionalism improved, aiding my studio work after graduation.