Fall 2020 Courses
All courses for Fall 2020 require instructor consent! Please complete student information form to apply!
Performance Robots
UT students enrolled in Performance Robots will collaborate with an elementary school classroom to design robots that can be controlled remotely via the internet. At key points in the semester, UT students will build real robots based on their designs and work with the students to refine controllability and expressiveness. A final performance will be streamed on the web in the first week of December 2020. This course intends to build connections between UT and the Austin community while also providing an opportunity to demonstrate a successful model of virtual collaboration to build hands-on, IoT (internet of things) connected projects based in the practice of artistic expression, design, and storytelling.
Performance Robots
Scenic Art & Environmental Rendering
The course will explore the drawing and painting of architecture, natural environments, fabric, and surface finishes for the entertainment industry. Students will gain hands-on experience through tabletop sized projects. The skills learned in this course will support work in both physically constructed and digitally created narrative environments. Applicable careers for this training include scenic art, scenic design, art direction, game design, themed attraction, concept art, and muralist. Fridays 9 am - 12 pm
We are dream builders. — Student-driven, design-centered, multidisciplinary, hands-on collaboration at The University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts.
Past Courses
Creek Monster Habitat
Fall 2019 — Creek Monster Habitat was designed and built by students for the Waterloo Greenway Creek Show in Fall of 2019 and experienced by over 60,000 people. With generous support of University of Texas Green Fund Grant
Escape Room
Fall 2019 — Students and faculty from across the University of Texas at Austin College of Fine Arts and Cockrell School of Engineering designed and built a futuristic climate-based escape room using input from scientists. Based on a concept by Sven Ortel and Michael Baker: "In the near future, four researchers are stranded on a distressed weather research station in the Gulf of Mexico during a violent hurricane. With their rescue pod disabled and the storm gaining strength by the minute, they must find a way to warn the mainland of the coming disaster and escape the station before it’s too late."
Enron Raptors
Fall 2017 — Driven by student inquiry and collaboration, 16 students constructed three “velociraptor” suits for the March 2018 production of Enron in UT’s Oscar G. Brocket theatre. Students drew upon their existing competencies and interests to self-organize into teams to determine design solutions, material choices, fabrication schedules and project mile stones.
Enron Raptors
Practical Special Effects
Fall 2018 — Working from historical story boards and films, student teams will design and fabricate a practical effect to support a narrative moment. Students will then light and film the effect in collaboration with UT film makers. All students will create “demo reel” of their completed effect. Projects are student driven. Depending on project needs, students may receive training in fabrication methods such as carpentry, welding, mold making, and machining as well as digital technologies including, 3D printing, laser cutting, and CNC machining. Final finish and surface treatments will be critical for all projects. All students will be given personal logins to all Stan Winston School of Character Arts On-Demand Training Courses and a materials budget.
Digital Fabrication
Spring 2019 — Students explored common and emerging digital fabrication technologies for artists and designers. Technologies include but are not limited to 3D printing, laser cutting, 3D routing. Students will work with diverse materials learn hands-on methods of assembly and finish. Students who successfully complete the course will know how to design and build prototypes, architectural models, and bespoke parts. Students will use these technologies to collaborate with AET 361C Physical Computing and/or AET 339 PLAI Production lab on joint projects for performance and exhibition.
