My studies

Career objectives and fields of activity

Mountain lake, rapid river or shark tank? "I can swim. The world needs me." A good education provides a solid foundation for a successful career. This is why we provide students with intensive support and advice throughout their studies on how to plan their path and how they can get on track in the world of design after graduating.

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During our animation course at the Lucerne School of Design, Film and Art students learn far more than techniques for making animation films. They learn to manage projects, work in teams, apply discussion and criticism with a purpose and meet a common goal with clients. These are requirements that are expected in many areas, not just art-related professions. As a result, we find our graduates in a very wide variety of jobs after graduation, from independent film-makers, animators, designers and illustrators to project managers, VJ projection designers, teachers and many more. All of them rely on the fundamental skills they were taught by us. The satisfaction of our alumni speaks for itself.

The structure

One goal, many paths. Headstrong personalities, diverse talents. Our students have very different concepts of themselves, their studies and their future careers, or perhaps they don't have any conception at all and simply want to let loose. We have a good path for everyone through this programme.

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To be able to hold their own in the animation film industry, students must be able to: 

  • Narrate and manage an animation film project.
  • Visually design an animation film project.
  • Put the contents of an animation film project into motion.
  • Monitor the technological process of an animation film project. 
  • Hear the acoustic design factors of an animation film project in order to analyse/assess them and assign them.

These five areas define the core skills rooted in each module to a varying degree. The design, didactics and structure of our modules, which are set up as compulsory modules and required elective modules with both generalised and specialised orientations, foster and challenge the students on an individual level and with a focus on strengths. The students go through the following study phases in this process: 

  • Getting acquainted with animation techniques and discovering these techniques individually.
  • Expanding on fundamental skills and interfaces with related disciplines.
  • Applying the skills learned in an applied project.
  • Reinforcing their own strengths.
  • Experimenting with the skills they have acquired.
  • Applying and publishing their own skills in the final project.

During their entire studies, but especially in the first year, our students receive coaching by mentors from the lecturer team. We help and support them as they seek to make the right decisions for the course of their studies.

Course overview

Download overview or read detailed course descriptions in English.

Modules

The first year

The basis for everything to come. "Who am I, what do I want?" Idea, storyboard, making short films. Get familiar with everything. CGI, StopMotion, drawing tricks. And then, above all, animate

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The students are all in the same boat in the beginning, discovering themselves and the boundless possibilities of animation together. They draw, model and delve into materials, software and movement. Everything is on the move. Everyone is moving. Multiple short projects are born in terms of two to four students which are also set to music. In the final module of the second semester, they are familiarised with the thresholds of animation, they partake in cooperations with live action, illustration, graphic design and fine art with students of other specialisations in the IDA- modules.


The second year

Application and concentration. "I can do it, I can do more!" Applying what they have learned, identifying where the strengths and weaknesses are in client situations.

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Now our students can opt for concentrating on one technique. "What do I like, what is the most fun for me? I would like to focus more on that, I'll bring that into the team." In commissioned projects with partners outside of the university, we live through the whole process of an animation film project - finding and pitching concepts, developing characters and the production design, applying and finalising the story. Music & composition students help out with the sound, and finally it goes public.

In the fourth semester, the specialisation the students wish to move toward begins. We also work on media beyond the classic area of application of animation: media in spaces, games, apps ect. enter our consciousness. In the free project module, students again broaden their horizons in the world of art and design.

The third year

Experimentation and proof. "Look here, this is who I am." A final specialisation, additional concentration in a subject and then it's time for graduation.

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The fifth semester enables students to experiment with their known techniques once again. Accidents and destruction open up new images and narratives to us. Bringing the final project to life, which ist now in the planning phase, ideas and projects for individuals or teams are evaluated and discussed in pitches, dossiers are compiled, and their feasibility and cost-effectiveness are scrutinised in terms of technical and human resources.

And then it's time to wrap things up! Half a year of uninterrupted passion.

The master's

Now more than ever. "I still have a lot to say." Many students yearn for more, animation directing, fascinating stories, impressive applied solutions.

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No one is born a master, and after the three-year BA (and possibly one to tow gap years in the career world), many students are looking to make their big project a reality. A wide range of theories and practical input, extensive project development and production time in collaboration with external producers enable dreams to come true. More information on this can be found in the Master's in Design/Animation.

https://www.hslu.ch/de-ch/design-kunst/studium/master/details/design/animation/

Theory

It's at the root. I want to know why one thing works - and the other doesn't! Knowledge and reflection. In animation, students embark on a journey into unknown worlds, a map with directions and background knowledge enables them to better understand what brings animation together in its essence.

The artistic process is a mix of decisions based on emotion and reason: it takes both to make a project complete. We craft theory modules that show students ways to recognise the rules of animation, learning, creative fundamentals and classification in social contexts, and also to position their own work accordingly.

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Learn more about Theory modules >

+++ modules

Interdisciplinarity beyond known horizons. We are even better as a team. Boundaries melt away, but where is my home?

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The + Colabor module in the second and fourth semesters enables students from all disciplines to work together on a topic-based project over a period of six weeks.
The + Fokus modules offer insights into the modern workshops at our university.
The + ISA modules offer a wide range of courses across all departments at the HSLU, the University of Lucerne, and the PH Lucerne.

Learn more about the +Colabor Module.

Exchange programmes

Other countries, other schools, other points of view.  "The world is open to me." We maintain in international network of renowned animation schools for our students to visit. A stay abroad opens doors to new approaches, ideas and values. 

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These days, it is a given for major animation film projects to be conceived and realised internationally. The deep interlocking of European funding frameworks and global service providers enable us to implement film projects via targeted use of local strengths and funding, for which there were no development possibilities in earlier years. The professions are in turn often tied to very different locations, which requires flexibility from employees in terms of willingness to migrate. We motivate students early on to gather experience at other universities and in other countries in our European network. Students receive extensive advice and support from our lecturers in this process.