Semester(s) Offered:
Credits: 2
Course Call Number: GAMES-GT 200
Prerequisite(s): None
Taught By: Winnie Song / Maxi Boch

Visual Lab 0 is a fundamentals course that introduces incoming MFA Game Design students to the basics of visual design and communication. Following in the tradition of Code Lab 0, which plays a similar role with game programming, Visual Lab 0 helps students gain basic understanding and skills required for the visual aspects of game creation. The course is meant to be taken alongside Studio 1, and in a sense serves as visual design tutorial for this class. However, there will also be lessons and exercises that exist independently and focus on students learning concepts that might not immediately apply to their concurrent work in other classes. The class activities consist of in-class exercises that embody fundamental visual thinking and take-home assignments that complement the work required in external classes. Through design and critique, students learn to look at and talk about the visual world. Lectures and presentations also introduce students to visual culture both inside and outside of games.

Upon completion of this course, the student will:
1) Be introduced to basic visual concepts including line, color, composition, and typography.
2) Train visual thinking and visual design skills.
3) Gain a basic literacy in visual culture, such as graphic design and typography, fine art, film and animation, and other forms of media and culture.
4) Help students become comfortable with visual design tools, including Photoshop and Illustrator.
5) Understand the role of visual design and art direction in the larger design and development process.
5) Integrate visual design thinking and visual design skills into their existing projects.