DGTL12011 - 3D Character Design

Showing: 2026 HE Term 1
General Information

Unit Synopsis

This unit of study will advance your understanding of three-dimensional (3D) computer graphics, particularly in the area of 3D character design. You will learn how to use a variety of tools and techniques to create a 3D character for use in real-time rendering platforms. You will develop the necessary skills to produce 3D characters for animation, visual effects and games using industry-standard software.

Details

Level Undergraduate
Unit Level 2
Credit Points 6
Student Contribution Band SCA Band 2
Fraction of Full-Time Student Load 0.125
Pre-requisites or Co-requisites

Prerequisite: MMST12019 3D Computer Graphics

Antirequisite: Students who have completed DGTL13004 Advanced 3D Animation and Character Development may not enrol in this unit.

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).

Class Timetable View Unit Timetable
Residential School No Residential School

Unit Availabilities from 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).

Assessment Overview

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.

Assessment Tasks

Assessment Task Weighting
1. Practical Assessment 40%
2. Practical Assessment 60%

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

Past Exams

Previous Feedback

Term 2 - 2020 : The overall satisfaction for students in the last offering of this course was 75.00% (`Agree` and `Strongly Agree` responses), based on a 34.78% response rate.

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.

Source: Moodle
Feedback:
 Some students feel that the unit content is extensively loaded, and the time frame is stressful.

Recommendation:
 The unit will be split into two new units from next year which will, to a certain extent solve the problem reflected by the students.

Action Taken:
 The content of the unit has been updated and the workload has been reduced to a more manageable level. Certain aspects of character development are now covered in the new unit DGTL12016 3D Character Animation.
Source: Moodle
Feedback:
 Some of the students want more video tutorials on facial rigging.

Recommendation:
 The rigging part teaching will be focused on the new 3D animation unit.

Action Taken:
 The new unit DGTL12016 3D Character Animation now addresses the topics of rigging and character animation.
Source: Moodle
Feedback:
 Students found the unit lecturers are very helpful and insightful to work with.

Recommendation:
 Glad to hear that and will keep up the good approach.

Action Taken:
 Teaching staff continue to provide student support.
Source: Moodle feedback
Feedback:
 Some students would like the Unit Coordinator to provide video tutorials about sculpting character heads and bodies at the beginning of the unit.

Recommendation:
 The Unit Coordinator will provide video tutorials about sculpting character heads and bodies at the beginning of the unit.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Source: Moodle feedback
Feedback:
 Some students have asked to view examples of past assignment solutions for guidance.

Recommendation:
 Example assignment solutions will be provided through the unit website.

Action Taken:
 In Progress
Unit Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit, you will be able to:

  1. Apply the principles of design to 3D character creation
  2. Apply an understanding of human anatomy to 3D character creation
  3. Produce a 3D character model suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
  4. Produce character texture maps suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software
  5. Produce complex materials suitable for real-time rendering using industry-standard software.

Not applicable

Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Learning Outcomes
Assessment Tasks Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Practical Assessment • • •
2 - Practical Assessment • • • • •
Alignment of Graduate Attributes to Learning Outcomes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Graduate Attributes Learning Outcomes
1 2 3 4 5
1 - Communication • • • • •
2 - Problem Solving • • • • •
3 - Critical Thinking • • • • •
4 - Information Literacy • • • • •
6 - Information Technology Competence • • • • •
7 - Cross Cultural Competence •
8 - Ethical practice •
Alignment of Assessment Tasks to Graduate Attributes
• Introductory Level
• Intermediate Level
• Graduate Level
Assessment Tasks Graduate Attributes
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 10
1 - Practical Assessment • • • • • • •
2 - Practical Assessment • • • • • • •