Academy of Art University School of Visual Development

ATTENTION CURRENTLY ENROLLED AAU STUDENTS:
We’re lucky enough to once again have instructor back for the Spring 2024 semester and there’s still a few spots open in both VIS 405 OL1: Senior Portfolio and VIS 350 OL1: Live Action so if you’ve not made your course sections yet make sure to reach out to your advisor asap to see if you can add either or both of the above to your spring schedule!

REMINDER: This Monday (11/6 @ 6pm) we have AAU VIS alumni joining us at the 79 New Montgomery theater to discuss their work on the Academy Award winner for Best Animated Feature - “Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio” (and more)! Make sure to join us onsite (or online via the zoom registration link in our bio) this Monday.

Join yourVIS Dept. hosts this Monday (Nov. 6th @ 6pm) at the 79 New Mont. Theater as we welcome a special guest in Academy of Art University VIS Alumni to discuss their work on the 2023 “Best Animated Feature” Oscar winner “Guillermo Del Toro’s Pinocchio”. In addition, we will explore Gillian’s contributions to projects such as “Wendell and Wild” and “Robot Chicken”. Students will be able to submit questions live in person and via zoom webinar stream (registration link in bio!!!)

The Academy of Art University and VIS Dept. are proud to welcome Academy Award winning make-up designer for film Mr. Stephan Dupuis. We’ll be discussing Stephan’s incredible career contributing to classics such as “The Fly”, “Scanners”, and “Robocop” along with more recent films such as “Venom”, “Ant-Man” (1 & 2), and “The Matrix: Resurrections”. Please join us ONSITE (Stephan will be joining us in the theater) at the 79 NM theater on Thursday October 19th at 5:30pm PST for what’s sure to be an incredibly informative evening. (NOTE: This event will be live streamed via the zoom registration in our bio. Open to the public.)

UPDATED - VIS Alumni Roundtable: Thursday May 11th @ 6PM PST

Please join the Visual Development Department for a roundtable discussion with Academy of Art University Visual Development Artist Alumni currently working in the entertainment industry. In this discussion we will cover a number of pertinent topics including:

- Landing that First Job
- Transitioning from Student Artist to Working Professional
- Working as part of a Large
Production Pipeline
- Student Portfolio Tips
- And more!

This is a terrific opportunity for current students to ask former students about their artistic journey(s) as well as navigating the current entertainment industry.
See ya there!

(Zoom Link in Bio/Open to the public)

VIS Alumni Roundtable: Thursday May 11th @ 5PM PST

Please join the Visual Development Department for a roundtable discussion with Academy of Art University Visual Development Artist Alumni currently working in the entertainment industry. In this discussion we will cover a number of pertinent topics including:

- Landing that First Job
- Transitioning from Student Artist to Working Professional
- Working as part of a Large
Production Pipeline
- Student Portfolio Tips
- And more!

This is a terrific opportunity for current students to ask former students about their artistic journey(s) as well as navigating the current entertainment industry.
See ya there!

(Zoom Link in Bio/Open to the public)

The VIS dept. has one last film appreciation night installment this semester before we head into finals with the spotlighting of the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy “Return of the Jedi”. We have the added bonus of both a visual development presentation by resident scholar and a screening of the coveted “despecialized” edition which restores the film to its original theatrical version. Join us this “May the Fourth” @ 5pm PST either at the zoom link in our bio OR onsite in the 79 New Montgomery theater in downtown San Francisco.

REMINDER: Spring Show Submission deadline is this coming Sunday (04/23) at midnight!!!
Make sure to reach out to any of your instructors and/or our Dept. Manager Dax Santi ([email protected]) if you have any questions. Make sure to submit your best work and good luck!!!!!

In a spring semester packed with events the VIS Dept. has yet another amazing guest speaker to announce in groundbreaking designer Brendan McCarthy (Mad Max Fury Road, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 2000AD, and more). Along with being recognized as one of the UK's most gifted graphic novelists (Strange Days, Skin, Rogan Gosh) Brendan is most known for co-writing and visually designing what many consider the greatest action film every produced in "Mad Max: Fury Road". Join us via Zoom (link in bio) or for a live stream onsite (79 New Montgomery Theater) April 27th at 11AM PST as we chart Brendan's stunning artistic journey.

REMINDER HYBRID (ONSITE/ONLINE) EVENT: Tomorrow night we’ve another installment of VIS FILM APPRECIATION NIGHT with “TERMINATOR 2: JUDGMENT DAY”. VIS’s own James Cameron aficionado will be leading the charge with a presentation focusing on the visual design merits and lasting impact of this sci-fi classic. This is a HYBRID EVENT so make sure to join us either onsite at the 79 New Montgomery theater or online at the zoom webinar (link in our bio) for a short presentation followed by a screening of the film.

It’s going to be a busy post spring break week as along with our aforementioned “Design Icon Spotlight: Alex Toth” event (Tues @ 6pm PST) we’ll also be back with another installment of our world famous VIS FILM APPRECIATION series this coming THURSDAY @ 5PM PST with this weeks focus being James Cameron’s other sci-fi classic “Terminator 2: Judgment Day”. VIS’s very own James Cameron scholar will be continuing his look at the visionary design work of the director and crew so make sure to join us for this HYBRID event (onsite @ the 79 New Montgomery theater and online via zoom).
(Zoom registration link coming soon!!)

We’ve got a packed schedule of events for the remainder of the spring semester starting with next weeks first installment of a new series of “Design Icon”spotlights where we’ll examine some of the seminal artists of entertainment design. Join us this coming TUESDAY APRIL 11th @ 6PM PST for a Zoom Webinar discussion (registration required/link in bio) as we examine one of the true “Artist’s Artist” of the entertainment industry in legendary illustrator and designer for animation, Alex Toth (Hana-Barbera, DC Comics, Disney). Toth’s work continues to inspire generations of designers from animation, film, and sequential art and with the help of not just one but TWO special guest Toth aficionados, Paul Fricke (“Alex Toth in Depth”) and Grant Alexander (Pixar Animation Character Designer), we’ll look to unlock what makes the artist’s work continue to resonate with both audiences and professionals.

Film Appreciation: The Third Man
Join your VIS FILM Appreciation hosts as they examine what’s been called the greatest British film ever produced in Carol Reeds “The Third Man”. We’ll be discussing the films place in the Film Noir catalog as well as its German expressionist roots. The inventive use of prop design and the Dutch angle. Insights from Third Man scholar Charles Drazin author of “In search of the Third Man”.
Zoom Webinar Registration:
https://art.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oYQcg7ICRdmok9I2y3FYyA

REMINDER! HYBRID EVENT!

TONIGHT @ 6PM PST
The VIS Dept. is back with another installment of our Film Appreciation Night series and once again we’re in a HYBRID FORMAT with the online webinar and onsite at the 79 New Montgomery theater in downtown SF. This time we're taking a trip to Arrakis for the incredible first part of Denis Villeneuve's 2021 adaptation of the Frank Herbert classic DUNE. VIS Online Coordinator and resident DUNE expert Jeremy Saliba will be providing an overview of the films groundbreaking visual design prior to a screening. So, make sure to register at the link in our bio and/or feel free to join us at the 79 New Montgomery Theater tonight!

The VIS Dept. is back with another night of Film Appreciation this Friday MARCH 17th @ 6PM PST and once again in a HYBRID FORMAT with the online webinar and onsite at the 79 New Montgomery theater in downtown SF. This time we're diving into a recent film with the incredible first part of Denis Villeneuve's 2021 adaptation of the Frank Herbert classic "DUNE" with VIS’s own resident expert Jeremy Saliba (who also painted up the cool custom poster seen above) providing an overview of the films groundbreaking visual design prior to a screening of the film. So, make sure to register at the link in our bio to book your trip to Arrakis with the VIS Film crew!!!

First VIS event of the Spring 2023 semester and we’re starting things off with a 💥 💥! We've another installment of our Film Appreciation Night planned this time spotlighting the 80's satirical cyberpunk classic "Robocop". As a bonus the School of Visual Development welcomes a very special guest in makeup FX artist extraordinaire Bart Mixon to discuss his incredible work on “Robocop” as well as his extensive career on films such as Avengers: Endgame, Thor: Love and Thunder, Men in Black, Obi-wan, Pirates of the Caribbean and many more. This will be a HYBRID EVENT as we’ll be utilizing the 79 New Montgomery Theater in downtown San Francisco as well as our regular online zoom format so you can either join us onsite or remotely. We’ll see everyone next week! Zoom Webinar registration required (link in bio)

An excellent ✍️ up of our recent event with Concept Design Superstar Dermot Power has been made available at and artunews.com

(Cont.) As we move into 2023 it’s time to spotlight some of the incredible VIS student work from the Academy of Art Spring Show 2022!
Next up is another excellent example of prop design from the “VIS 300: Environment Design” class by the isometricly talented .art .

(Cont.) As we move into 2023 it’s time to spotlight some of the incredible VIS student work from the Academy of Art Spring Show 2022!
Next up is a spooky interior story moment from “VIS 660: Fundamentals of Environment & Prop Design” by Daneal Jackson (please tag in the comments:).

(Cont.) As we move into 2023 it’s time to spotlight some of the incredible VIS student work from the Academy of Art Spring Show 2022!
Next up is an great example of character design by the great who happened to also win “Best in Show” at the 2022 Spring Show.

(Cont.) As we move into 2023 it’s time to spotlight some of the incredible VIS student work from the Academy of Art Spring Show 2022!
Next up is an great example of a cinematic story moment for animation by the talented from the “VIS 611: Visual Elements of Story” course.

(Cont.) As we move into 2023 it’s time to spotlight some of the incredible VIS student work from the Academy of Art Spring Show 2022!
Next up is an great example of a “graphic” style of story moment by the talented from the “VIS 400: Styles” course.

The (Game Developers Conference) is back onsite in downtown San Francisco (yay!) this March 20-24 and they have some great affordable options for students looking to attend. Both the “Conference Associates” option as well as the “Equal Opportunity Attendance Program” (applications due by Jan 22!!) provide all access passes for the event. Make sure to visit there site for applications and additional details at gcdonf.com

(Cont.) As we move into 2023 it’s time to spotlight some of the incredible VIS student work from the Academy of Art Spring Show 2022!
Next up is an terrific post apocalyptic vehicle design design by excellent .jo

(Cont.) As we move into 2023 it’s time to spotlight some of the incredible VIS student work from the Academy of Art Spring Show 2022!
Next up is an fantastic interior set design (check out the staggering amount of detail) by who happened to also win “Best in Show” at the 2022 Spring Show.

(Cont.) As we move into 2023 it’s time to spotlight some of the incredible VIS student work from the Academy of Art Spring Show 2022!
Next up is an varied set of small prop designs from the “VIS 660: Fundamentals of Environment & Prop Design” class by Yiwen Sun (if anyone has their handle 🙏 tag in the comments).