Overview
This unit provides an intermediate guide to motion graphics and visual effects theory, principles and practices. You will learn how to use a variety of tools and techniques to apply the principles of motion graphics and visual effects to create animated infographics, explainer videos, advertisements, music videos, and title sequences. You will develop the necessary skills to produce motion graphics and visual effects works for film, television and new media using industry-standard software.
Details
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites
Prerequisite: DGTL11001 Foundations of Animation
Important note: Students enrolled in a subsequent unit who failed their pre-requisite unit, should drop the subsequent unit before the census date or within 10 working days of Fail grade notification. Students who do not drop the unit in this timeframe cannot later drop the unit without academic and financial liability. See details in the Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework).
Offerings For Term 1 - 2026
Attendance Requirements
All on-campus students are expected to attend scheduled classes - in some units, these classes are identified as a mandatory (pass/fail) component and attendance is compulsory. International students, on a student visa, must maintain a full time study load and meet both attendance and academic progress requirements in each study period (satisfactory attendance for International students is defined as maintaining at least an 80% attendance record).
Recommended Student Time Commitment
Each 6-credit Undergraduate unit at CQUniversity requires an overall time commitment of an average of 12.5 hours of study per week, making a total of 150 hours for the unit.
Class Timetable
Assessment Overview
Assessment Grading
This is a graded unit: your overall grade will be calculated from the marks or grades for each assessment task, based on the relative weightings shown in the table above. You must obtain an overall mark for the unit of at least 50%, or an overall grade of 'pass' in order to pass the unit. If any 'pass/fail' tasks are shown in the table above they must also be completed successfully ('pass' grade). You must also meet any minimum mark requirements specified for a particular assessment task, as detailed in the 'assessment task' section (note that in some instances, the minimum mark for a task may be greater than 50%). Consult the University's Grades and Results Policy for more details of interim results and final grades.
All University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
You may wish to view these policies:
- Grades and Results Policy
- Assessment Policy and Procedure (Higher Education Coursework)
- Review of Grade Procedure
- Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - Domestic Students
- Monitoring Academic Progress (MAP) Policy and Procedure - International Students
- Student Refund and Credit Balance Policy and Procedure
- Student Feedback - Compliments and Complaints Policy and Procedure
- Information and Communications Technology Acceptable Use Policy and Procedure
This list is not an exhaustive list of all University policies. The full list of University policies are available on the CQUniversity Policy site.
Feedback, Recommendations and Responses
Every unit is reviewed for enhancement each year. At the most recent review, the following staff and student feedback items were identified and recommendations were made.
Feedback from Student evaluations
Video tutorials are difficult to follow both in terms of structure and due to streaming compression.
The Moodle site and resources should be restructured to ensure that students access the PDF tutorial materials in the first instance rather than the video tutorials, which are intended as additional support, not the primary resource for tutorial instructions. To make this clear, individual links to specific video content should be embedded in the PDF tutorials as a supplementary resource to illustrate specific challenging technical techniques.
- discuss the theory of motion graphics and visual effects
- define and interpret the principles of motion graphics and visual effects
- apply the principles of motion graphics and visual effects to creative works
- produce motion graphics and visual effects works using industry-standard software
Not applicable
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
| Assessment Tasks | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | ||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 40% | ||||
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
| Graduate Attributes | Learning Outcomes | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | |
| 1 - Communication | ||||
| 2 - Problem Solving | ||||
| 3 - Critical Thinking | ||||
| 4 - Information Literacy | ||||
| 5 - Team Work | ||||
| 6 - Information Technology Competence | ||||
| 7 - Cross Cultural Competence | ||||
| 8 - Ethical practice | ||||
| 9 - Social Innovation | ||||
| 10 - First Nations Knowledges | ||||
| 11 - Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Cultures | ||||
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
| Assessment Tasks | Graduate Attributes | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | |
| 1 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 2 - Practical Assessment - 30% | |||||||||||
| 3 - Practical Assessment - 40% | |||||||||||
Textbooks
There are no required textbooks.
IT Resources
- CQUniversity Student Email
- Internet
- Unit Website (Moodle)
- Adobe After Effects CC
- Adobe Illustrator CC
- Adobe Media Encoder CC
- Adobe Photoshop CC
All submissions for this unit must use the referencing style: American Psychological Association 7th Edition (APA 7th edition)
For further information, see the Assessment Tasks.
a.couzens@cqu.edu.au
Week 1
Begin Date: 09 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Unit Overview
Theory of Motion Graphics: What is Motion Graphics?
Practice of Motion Graphics: Notable Practitioners
Chapter
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 1-19, 20-43, 140-169, 336-359
Motion Design Toolkit: Principles, Practice, and Techniques: Introduction, Chapter 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 2
Begin Date: 16 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Theory of Motion Graphics: Visual Style
Practice of Motion Graphics: Visual Assets
Chapter
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 44-69, 174-205
Motion Design Toolkit: Principles, Practice, and Techniques: Chapters 1 & 3
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 3
Begin Date: 23 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Theory of Motion Graphics: Motion Design
Practice of Motion Graphics: Applying Motion
Chapter
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 102-125, 206-218
Motion Design Toolkit: Principles, Practice, and Techniques: Chapters 2, 7 & 8
Events and Submissions/Topic
Friday 27 March - Assessment 2 pitch document due for upload to Peer Review Forum
Week 4
Begin Date: 30 Mar 2026Module/Topic
Theory of Motion Graphics: Sound Design
Practice of Motion Graphics: Using Sound
Chapter
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 126-133, 170-173, 219
Motion Design Toolkit: Principles, Practice, and Techniques: Chapters 4, 10 & 11
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 5
Begin Date: 06 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Theory of Motion Graphics: Cinematography
Practice of Motion Graphics: Virtual Cameras
Chapter
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 230-273
Motion Design Toolkit: Principles, Practice, and Techniques: Chapter 5
Events and Submissions/Topic
Tuesday 7 April - Feedback for three peers' pitches due in the Peer Review Forum
Week 6
Begin Date: 13 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Theory of Motion Graphics: Development and Pre-production
Practice of Motion Graphics: Planning Tools and Techniques
Chapter
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 70-99, 274-305
Motion Graphics: Principles and Practices from the Ground Up: Chapters 6, 14 & 15
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation Week
Begin Date: 20 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 7
Begin Date: 27 Apr 2026Module/Topic
Types of Visual Effects
Chapter
No Readings OR
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 134-139, 307-329
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 8
Begin Date: 04 May 2026Module/Topic
The Visual Effects Pipeline
Chapter
No Readings OR
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 330-335
Events and Submissions/Topic
Monday 4 May - Assessment 2 animatic due for upload to Peer Review Forum
Friday 8 May - Feedback for three peers' animatics due in the Peer Review Forum
Week 9
Begin Date: 11 May 2026Module/Topic
Perceptual Realism in Visual Effects
Chapter
No Readings OR
After Effects Apprentice: Real-World Skills for the Aspiring Motion Graphics: Pages 362-395
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 10
Begin Date: 18 May 2026Module/Topic
Colour and Grading
Chapter
No Readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 11
Begin Date: 25 May 2026Module/Topic
No Lecture
Chapter
No Readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Week 12
Begin Date: 01 Jun 2026Module/Topic
No Lecture
Chapter
No Readings
Events and Submissions/Topic
Monday 1 June - Assessment 3 Motion Graphics Project due for upload to Peer Review Forum for feedback.
Friday 5 June - Feedback for three peers' Motion Graphics Projects due to Peer Review Forum.
Exam Week
Begin Date: 08 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
Vacation/Exam Week
Begin Date: 15 Jun 2026Module/Topic
Chapter
Events and Submissions/Topic
1 Practical Assessment
This assessment requires you to complete the six weekly tutorial exercises and compile them into a single video. You will also complete a self-evaluation of each tutorial exercise using the provided template. Detailed instructions are provided to guide you through the process.
Please refer to the Unit website (Moodle) for a detailed assessment description and criteria.
AI Assessment scale tool:
AI Collaboration - You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.
Week 7 Monday (27 Apr 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Two weeks following submission.
Standard of completed tutorial exercises
Correct formatting of deliverables
Quality of self-evaluation
Referencing and attributions
Please refer to the Unit website (Moodle) for detailed assessment criteria.
- discuss the theory of motion graphics and visual effects
- define and interpret the principles of motion graphics and visual effects
- apply the principles of motion graphics and visual effects to creative works
- produce motion graphics and visual effects works using industry-standard software
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
2 Practical Assessment
This assessment requires you to develop a pitch and animatic for your Motion Graphics Project (Assessment 3), and complete a written review for three of your peers' pitches and animatics. The videos and document must adhere to the technical specifications and submission requirements specified in the assessment criteria. This assessment task involves milestone deadlines that must be met prior to the final due date.
Please refer to the Unit website (Moodle) for a detailed assessment description and criteria.
AI Assessment scale tool
AI Collaboration - You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.
Week 9 Monday (11 May 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Two weeks following submission.
Adherence to technical specifications and submission requirements
Motion Graphics Project Pitch
Motion Graphics Project Animatic
Peer Reviews
Please refer to the Unit website (Moodle) for detailed assessment criteria.
- discuss the theory of motion graphics and visual effects
- define and interpret the principles of motion graphics and visual effects
- apply the principles of motion graphics and visual effects to creative works
- produce motion graphics and visual effects works using industry-standard software
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
3 Practical Assessment
This assessment requires you to complete a 1 minute motion graphics project, and complete a written review for three of your peers' motion graphics projects. The video and document must adhere to the technical specifications and submission requirements specified in the assessment criteria.
Please refer to the Unit website (Moodle) for a detailed assessment description and criteria.
AI Assessment scale tool
AI Collaboration - You may use AI to assist with specific tasks such as drafting text, refining and evaluating your work. You must critically evaluate and modify any AI-generated content you use.
Exam Week Monday (8 June 2026) 11:45 pm AEST
Two weeks following submission.
Adherence to technical specifications and submission requirements
Application of principles of motion design
Application of principles of visual style
Application of sound design
Effort and engagement
Creativity and innovation
Communication (written and visual)
Please refer to the Unit website (Moodle) for detailed assessment criteria.
- discuss the theory of motion graphics and visual effects
- define and interpret the principles of motion graphics and visual effects
- apply the principles of motion graphics and visual effects to creative works
- produce motion graphics and visual effects works using industry-standard software
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Information Literacy
- Information Technology Competence
- Cross Cultural Competence
- Ethical practice
As a CQUniversity student you are expected to act honestly in all aspects of your academic work.
Any assessable work undertaken or submitted for review or assessment must be your own work. Assessable work is any type of work you do to meet the assessment requirements in the unit, including draft work submitted for review and feedback and final work to be assessed.
When you use the ideas, words or data of others in your assessment, you must thoroughly and clearly acknowledge the source of this information by using the correct referencing style for your unit. Using others’ work without proper acknowledgement may be considered a form of intellectual dishonesty.
Participating honestly, respectfully, responsibly, and fairly in your university study ensures the CQUniversity qualification you earn will be valued as a true indication of your individual academic achievement and will continue to receive the respect and recognition it deserves.
As a student, you are responsible for reading and following CQUniversity’s policies, including the Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure. This policy sets out CQUniversity’s expectations of you to act with integrity, examples of academic integrity breaches to avoid, the processes used to address alleged breaches of academic integrity, and potential penalties.
What is a breach of academic integrity?
A breach of academic integrity includes but is not limited to plagiarism, self-plagiarism, collusion, cheating, contract cheating, and academic misconduct. The Student Academic Integrity Policy and Procedure defines what these terms mean and gives examples.
Why is academic integrity important?
A breach of academic integrity may result in one or more penalties, including suspension or even expulsion from the University. It can also have negative implications for student visas and future enrolment at CQUniversity or elsewhere. Students who engage in contract cheating also risk being blackmailed by contract cheating services.
Where can I get assistance?
For academic advice and guidance, the Academic Learning Centre (ALC) can support you in becoming confident in completing assessments with integrity and of high standard.
What can you do to act with integrity?
