Next Course Start: T.B.C
Duration: 12 weeks

This module explores all aspects of the design process including identifying the essential elements for successful design, the importance of visual communication and a detailed look at the theory, key principles and achieving successful design through colour process. It also explores design history and its impact on culture and society, today’s design theory and how technology has affected current thinking, and emerging trends and directions for future design.

Logic Express & Final Cut Express

Next Course Start: April 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
To complete a true multi-sensory experience in new media, a firm understanding of digital audio and video is needed. This module covers many aspects of both fields, including the essential examination of differing file formats. It examines how audio and video are utilised in the interactive entertainment sector in areas such as narrative, soundtracks, effects and atmospherics. The audio side covers editing, sampling/recording and engineering, while the video part explores production, shooting techniques, capturing and resource management plus editing and animation.

XHTML & CSS

Next Course Start: April 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
Static websites are those on which data does not change too often, for example corporate service websites or long-standing product sites. This module details the creation of static websites with detailed techniques to create the best designs. As with Dynamic websites, static websites should be both accessible and usable to enhance the user’s visit, so the essential rules of both concepts plus those of human and computer interaction are taught.

Flash & Actionscript

Next Course Start: July 7th 2008 (3 week break during period)
July 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
The web is increasingly being used in high profile marketing campaigns with highly interactive websites sites used to sell films, TV series, and many day-to-day consumer products. In this module you will learn to create addictive and entertaining sites with advanced interaction and narrative using all the latest techniques. The fundamentals of scripting (programming in applications such as Flash) are introduced here in a fun context.

Beginner PHP/MySQL

Next Course Start: April 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
This modules concentrates on dynamic website design. These are websites on which data changes regularly, like news sites, blogs or shopping sites (with constantly updated prices and products). These constantly ebbing and flowing sites require special web programming or scripting, which is taught here in an approachable and concise way. Dynamic sites should be both accessible and highly usable to maintain high hit rates so techniques concentrating on both areas are included.

Advanced PHP/MySQL

Next Course Start: April 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
Whenever a web user enters text or numbers, makes a selection, pays for goods and even the address to have them sent to, the data entered needs to be stored. On this module students learn what happens behind the scenes on any site that needs such a data storage system, whether it be a shopping cart on an e-commerce site, an online game score system on an entertainment site.

Javascript, XML, AJAX

Next Course Start: July 7th 2008 (3 week break during period)
Duration: 12 weeks
Web designers need to be aware of the bigger picture in order to be successful – either as innovators or as part of successful company teams – in what is one of the most vibrant and forward-thinking industries. Many other areas of the new media industry impact on the way the web looks and feels so it is important to keep up to date with them, so the many applications and other technologies being developed in the many new media fields are covered in this module.

Includes Maya Fundamentals

Next Course Start: April 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
3D animation is advancing at a rapid rate and has become an essential skill in several interactive entertainment sectors. This module explores the fundamentals of the subject with an overview of simple modelling and texturing moving on to polygon modelling, character creation and environmental aspects such as navigation and lighting. A history of 3D modeling together with a look at animation in the multimedia, film, and games industries complete the module.

required: Principles of 3D

Next Course Start: April 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
This module is on the more progressive side of 3D and looks at both traditional animation principles and the latest, most advanced modelling techniques. These include cutting edge techniques for 3D character rigging, facial animation and lip-sync, and dialogue driven character animation, so that your characters become more life like than ever. Virtual environments are studied with lighting, digital texturing and painting, and compositional and cinematography for virtual 3D worlds are addressed.

required: Principles of 3D

Next Course Start: July 7th 2008 (3 week break during period)
Duration: 12 weeks
Levels within video games define the very success of the title with pace, gameplay, action and exploration being key factors in good level design. This module explores the history of level design and looks at what makes a great level using these factors and also includes details on single player vs. multi player levels, mission designs, level flow and level editors, scripting languages and object behaviours. There is also essential detail on how roles within games development teams work and how the production processes in companies operate.

Next Course Start: April 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
This module concentrates on all aspects of 2D including a basic introduction and the history of the subject which covers both vector and bitmap-based animation. The basics of drawing are also detailed as are character design, the principles of shape, style and gesture plus the 12 basic principles of animation. Key drawing techniques and styles are analysed and the subject of animation within modern society is explored.

Next Course Start: April 7th 2008
Duration: 12 weeks
This is one of the main programming modules and looks at a C++ based language in terms of how to program and compile it. Fundamental data types are examined along with variables and constants, namespace naming and commenting. Other programming techniques are examined including control structures, vectors and arrays and logical operators, and modular programming design using functions. A detailed look at testing and debugging programs is also included.

This certificate is intended for beginners in creative media technology who may be interested in progressing onto one of our Diploma programmes, but do not feel they are at that level yet. The 12-week certificate covers a wide range of subjects from basic computer use, hardware and internet history through to graphics, web technology and animation fundamentals.