MA Motion Graphics
MA Motion Graphics
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Course Details
Location
London campus or live online
Start date
23rd September 2024
24th February 2025
Duration
1 year
Apply now
Mode of study
Full time (2.5 days per week)
Fees
London campus (UK students): £18,995
London campus (international students): £19,995
Live online: £15,995
Entry requirements
An undergraduate honours degree in a related subject or equivalent industry experience, plus a portfolio of creative work
Degree awarded by (subject to approval)
Course overview
Motion Graphics (or Motion Design) is a versatile discipline in today's creative industries, where demand for digital design has never been higher.
This masters degree has been developed with industry experts, as part of our Degree Concept Team, to meet the needs of industry. The course is highly focused, giving you advanced skills in Adobe After Effects and Cinema 4D.
Our MA Motion Graphics degree encompasses not only theory but technical and artistic approaches. Motion Graphics is multifaceted, and the course will allow you to explore different areas and skillsets so you can find your niche. You'll get a firm grounding in graphic design before immersing yourself in animation. There are projects in the core modules so you start to build a showreel of work that can help you get hired.
You’ll also get away from your screen, shooting footage and finding textures. This is about taking a break from your computer and learning to add a personal touch to motion design. Removing the “perfect look” that comes by default with computer created animation. Ideas and talent are limited without the ability to communicate and engage with peers and clients. As part of the MA Motion Graphics, you’ll be taught how to create a pitch deck, present and realise an idea from a client brief.
We’ve been teaching Motion Graphics at Escape Studios for over 10 years; our Escapees work across the industry at giants like Sky to independent studios. Taught by industry professionals, this new postgraduate degree has been designed to give you the practical skillset, academic credentials and showreel to become a Motion Graphics Designer.
Why choose this course
Industry feedback - receive industry-standard critique from an expert in their field.
Industry briefs - work on industry-standard briefs and experience real-life scenarios, just like in a professional studio
Successful alumni - you’ll join our community of thousands of Escapees, many of whom have gone on to work at some of the world’s top animation, games and visual effects studios, with Motion Graphics Escapees working at the likes of Sky and DMS.
Aftercare package - we'll help you polish your portfolio and find the right job, with access to our studios and showreel clinics for 12 months
Industry-standard facilities - study in a studio environment that mirrors current industry practice
Recognised degree - graduate with a postgraduate qualification awarded by Coventry University which will boost your employability around the world.
Course modules
Subject to approval by Coventry University.
You’ll learn the fundamental concepts of creating dynamic motion graphics using Adobe After Effects covering everything from fonts, layers, textures, camera tracking, compositing, rotoscoping and expressions. We end the module with a set project where you’ll explore mid-century graphic design and create your own animation.
Introduction to After Effects / The Basics
Introduction to After Effects
Create Your First Animation
Exporting with After Effects and Media Encoder
Font Basics
Shape Layers
Using the Graph Editor
Looping Elements in After Effects
Keyframe Types and Interpolation
Folder Structure
3D Layers and Cameras
Depth of Field and Lights in After Effects
Critical Thinking in Motion Design - Title Sequence Case Study
Typography and Critical Thinking
Animating Typefaces
Alpha and Luma Mattes
Layer Styles
Converting Text to Shapes or Masks
Textures
Interpreting Client Briefs
12 Principles of Animation
Creating Moodboards and Pitch Decks
Generating Ideas in Motion Design
Text Animators
Save your own Animation Presets
Using Adobe Premiere and Adobe Audition for Audio
Adobe Live Link Workflow
Mixed Media
Camera Tracking
Compositing
Rotoscoping with Roto Brush and Masks
Cel Animation in Photoshop
Mixed Media Techniques & Collage Style in After Effects
Expressions
Using Master Controls for Better Workflow
Improve your Speed and Confidence with Timed Animations
Project
Mid-century graphic design animation. Each student is given artwork from a well-known designer and tasked with creating an animation.
In the second module you’ll start to really master After Effects, building on the first module and digging deeper. This module is focused on giving students a firm grounding in graphic design before they immerse themselves in animation.
Design and Typography
Design principles
Typography
Logo design
Branding
Typography in motion - Animating Typefaces, Kinetic Type, Film Titles
Timing is Everything
Isometric animation
3D in After Effects
Looping GIFS
Removing the Perfect
Ideas and Storytelling
Copywriting
Editing
Mixed Media
Camera Tracking
Cel Animation in Photoshop
Industry and Pitching
Communicating with Clients / Colleagues
Industry Practices
Pitching
Audio Using Premiere / Audition
Project
Working to an industry brief, you’ll work on a mini project from the pitch deck through to the final animation. The aim is to have a finished, polished animation you can use in your portfolio.
In the third module we master 3D graphics, working with Cinema 4D to create animations and bring your designs to life.
Animation / Cloners + Generators
Cinema 4D
Animation: learn to animate a simple scene using keyframing, looping and dynamics
Mograph system: learn what cloners and generators are and how we use them in motion design
Fields / Modelling
Fields: Learn how to control effectors and other objects using fields.
Modelling - Using primitives, generators and deformers to model basic shapes
Modelling - Edit Mode: learn how to manipulate points, edges and polys to edit and sculpt polygonal geometry
Materials / Lighting
Materials 101: PBR, material types, reflectance channel. Megascans, bricks material, displacement
Materials 102: Apply materials to prims/meshes with UV wrapping, render tests and adjust render settings
Lighting: Learn the main light types, HDRI, 3-point studio lighting, plus common tricks like flags and gobos
Rendering: add camera animation and render a pre-supplied scene and/or text piece
Grading
Learn how to composite rendered animation in AE, track mattes, plus cineware extraction
Continue After Effects for 3D - grading, FX and colour correction - AOVs and finalisation of image
Project
Working to an industry brief, you’ll work on a mini project from the pitch deck through to the final animation. The aim is to have a finished, polished animation you can use in your portfolio.
For this module, you will work on a project as a group, to demonstrate your ability to choose correct techniques and approaches, and to apply them to a specified professional brief.
For this module, you will work on a final major project with feedback and guidance from your tutors and industry professionals. It will allow you to showcase your in-depth knowledge of your specialist area, ready for use in a portfolio/showreel.
More information
Adobe After Effects
Cinema 4D
To apply, complete an online application form which includes a link to submit your portfolio. Our Admissions Team will get in touch to take you through the next steps.
If you have any questions about your application, your portfolio or our entry requirements, get in touch!
Call our Admissions Team on +44 (0) 204 570 5091
Email us at admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk
As part of the application process, you will need to agree to our terms and conditions for your place on the course to be secured.
Minimum requirements
An undergraduate honours degree in a related subject or equivalent industry experience, plus a portfolio of creative work.
If you're not sure about your qualifications, get in touch.
International students
We welcome applications from qualified candidates all over the world.
Postgraduate applicants will need a good undergraduate degree in a relevant subject (or significant professional experience) and a postgraduate portfolio.
View individual country requirements. If yours are not listed, then please contact admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk
English language requirements
All our courses are taught in English. If your first language is not English, you may need to complete an English language test, such as a Pearson English language test (PTE Academic) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) test, to demonstrate you have the language skills needed to complete your degree.
| Qualification | Score required |
|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 IELTS (with a minimum of 6.0 in Reading and Writing and 5.5 in Speaking and Listening) |
| PTE | 62 including 60 in each subtest |
| Cambridge English: Advanced & Proficiency | 176 (with a minimum of 169 in Reading and Writing and 162 in Speaking and Listening) |
| Internet-based TOEFL | 90 Overall including at least 22 in Reading, 21 in Writing, 17 in Listening and 20 in Speaking |
International students will be required to hold a Secure English Language Test (SELT) at B2 in order to be able to apply for a visa to study at Escape Studios on a student visa. Visit the government website for guidance
You may be exempt from proving your English level if you are from an English-speaking country listed as recognised for visa purposes or have a degree level qualification obtained in one of these countries. The latest list is available on the UK Government website.
For students who have a SELT at B2 but who do not meet our requirements, we can also consider alternative qualifications. Please contact admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk for more information.
If you’d like to discuss your circumstances before applying, contact us at admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0) 20 4570 5091.
Fees for September 2024 and February 2025 entry
London campus:
UK students: £18,995
International students: £19,995
Live online: £15,995
Our postgraduate fees are payable within the first 18 weeks of the course, with a deposit to be paid before the start of the course. Please note, we review our fees every year.
Fees include:
Escapee Aftercare and career support, including help and advice on your CV, showreel and job applications for 12 months after the end of your course.
Free Autodesk student registration allowing access to educational versions of software such as Maya and Arnold.
18 weeks of classroom study followed by 12 weeks of remotely directed learning and a 12 to 15-week remotely directed final project. All with feedback from your lead tutor and from an industry professional.
Funding for UK students
To be eligible for funding from Student Finance England, you must be studying on an eligible course at a provider registered with the Office for Students (OfS). Escape Studios is registered with the Office for Students and our Master’s programmes are eligible for funding.
Visit www.officeforstudents.org.uk for more information.
Payment plans
We offer a range of payment plan options for all courses. Following an initial deposit at registration stage, your chosen payment plan will break down your remaining fees into up to six equal instalments, to be paid over the course length.
Contact our Admissions Team on admissions@escapestudios.ac.uk or +44 (0)204 570 5091 or visit our admissions page for any questions about fees, funding, payment plans and scholarships.
The assessment methods employed in this programme have been developed to mirror industry practice as far as possible. We balance feedback from tutors and industry experts. It is crucial that, as a student, you learn how to accept and work with feedback from your superiors and peers, as this will be the norm when you work in industry. You also need to develop a keen self-critical eye, to be able to step back from your work and see what you could improve, and to have the ability to look at yourself and your working practices and make changes where necessary.
Formative assessment
This is one of the most important aspects of your work. You will receive regular feedback from your tutor, studio assistants and peers during your modules. This will often be oral feedback on your work, sometimes on a one-to-one basis, sometimes in a group feedback session or daily. All of this should help you build on your strengths and develop your skills as you progress through the course.
Summative assessment
This will be specifically designed to measure how well you meet the learning outcomes of the module. They will usually involve a task to meet a brief set by your tutor and will allow you to demonstrate the knowledge and skills that you have learned during the module. You’ll need to decide exactly how to complete the task, choosing particular techniques and approaches, and making decisions on the aesthetics and style to meet the given requirements.
Each module will have a practical element (usually a practical project, where you make something) and a written element (usually a journal or blog, where you reflect on what you’ve made). Sometimes you will also have to give a presentation to demonstrate your work. All these elements are essential to your development, by showing that you can deliver to a required level and that you understand why you can and how you could improve.
Summative assessment breakdown
Craft module:
Individual project - 75%
Presentation - 25%
Specialism project module:
Specialism project - 75%
Specialism presentation - 25%
Production module
Production project - 60%
Production logbook - 40%
Your overall workload will be divided between teaching sessions (2.5 days per week) and independent learning.
During your course, you’ll be able to develop your knowledge and skills in a number of ways. Some learning time will be closely directed and supervised by your tutors, at other times you’ll be free to organise your own study with guidance. All your scheduled studio time, except for some information sessions and presentations, will be in smaller groups based on specialism.
For your team project, you’ll be working with a smaller team, collaborating to meet a shared brief. This will give you ample opportunity to get the support and assistance that you need.
The first three modules have a high contact time (180 hours for each module), as this is where you will learn the knowledge and skills associated with your chosen subject, directed and informed by your tutors’ expertise and experience. These will normally involve a large part of each day with your tutor and studio assistant, following demonstrations and working on set exercises to help you develop your craft.
The Studio Project and Production Project modules will have a lower contact time (15 hours and 30 hours respectively), with your tutors taking on the roles of supervisors or studio leads. You’ll meet with them regularly to get feedback and help you stay on the right path, but these modules are much more about you managing the learning experience to meet your objectives. You’ll be free to organise your work either as a team or an individual to best suit your project requirements.
Each module has its own area on our Online Learning Environment (OLE) where you will find information about the module and the resources that are provided to support your learning. Some of this information will be dedicated to the module, other elements may be shared across different modules and some may be external assets that can help with your further study. There may be links to videos, online journals and e-books, and you should take advantage of these to enhance your development and take it beyond the studio experience. Tutors may highlight some of these during their sessions.
Students with additional needs or disabilities are supported by our Student Services team.
Overall workload
This programme has two entry points each year. It is divided into two stages. Stage 1 comprises modules to a total of 120 credits and stage 2 comprises a 60-credit Production Project module. You must successfully complete each module in order to be awarded the specified number of credits for that module. One credit corresponds to approximately ten hours of 'learning time' (including all classes and all private study and research). Obtaining 180 credits in an academic year requires 1,800 hours of overall learning time.
The first three modules are taught in intensive blocks of eight weeks each, giving a total of 24 weeks. During each of these modules, you will spend around 30 hours per week studying in tutor-led sessions or practice supported by studio assistants. The final two modules are more self-directed. The Studio Project will take around 8 weeks, during which you will have around 15 hours of feedback sessions with your tutor. Finally, you will spend around 16 weeks on the Production Project, including around 30 hours of feedback sessions with your tutor.
Each 30-credit module on the course requires you to commit 300 hours of study, with one 60-credit module which requires 600 hours of study. Some of these hours will be formally supervised in the learning environment and others will involve private study.
For more details about modules, credits and workload, see full programme specifications.
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Meet our industry-experienced tutors
Our tutors have industry experience and are experts in their fields, including certified trainers for Unreal Engine, Autodesk and Houdini. They've worked at studios such as Walt Disney, EA and Framestore, on credits including Doctor Strange, Kingsman and Bond: Spectre.
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