Biomedical Art

3D Bioforms: Intro to 3D Modeling

Course No. BMA345/445  Credits: 3
Faculty Amanda Almon | Knut Hybinette

This course is designed to cover concepts in digital 3D organic and device model construction, whereby the virtual models designed are rendered and composited for 2D illustration purposes to solve specific visual communication problems. The subject matter within the Biomedical Art curriculum reflects the subject matter of natural science, medicine, and biotechnology. Students outside the Biomedical Art Major, are required to work with subjects appropriate to their major field of study for concept development and for long term portfolio objectives. Projects include concepts and workflow for constructing a virtual 3D surface by: (1) defining the visual problem within a concept drawing in pre-production, (2) utilizing specific introductory modeling methods to build the 3D illustration components, (3) the use of basic lighting and rendered materials, (4) export methods into Adobe Photoshop for illustrated compositing with digital illustration techniques and layout. Projects require the student to gain and improve upon research methods, visual communication skills, problem-solving in specific media (digital 2D & 3D) and technical proficiency at an introductory level in 3D modeling.

3D Texture Mapping, Lighting, and Rendering

Course No. BMA347-447
Faculty Amanda Almon | Knut Hybinette

This course is designed to cover concepts in digital application of texture maps (for virtual 3D models); 3D material qualities and characteristics, digital lighting concepts and design, and rendering methods. The importance of digital cinematography, scene arrangement and compositing of 3D elements of color, camera and light are goals of aesthetic integration The subject matter within the Biomedical Art curriculum reflects the subject matter of natural science, medicine, and educational media. Elective students may use the course to their individual major focus, but must fulfill the knowledge of concepts and project objectives. Projects include concept integration into technical production workflow for describing digital 3D surfaces and scenes; creating compositional balance of camera, texture (color) and light to illustrate a narrative scene. Projects require the student to continually improve upon conceptual problem solving, time management strategies, communication/presentation and technical skills.

Anatomy for the Artist

Course No. BMA250.1  Credits: 3
Faculty Thomas Nowacki

This course is a sophomore elective and is designed to strengthen the students understanding and use of figure anatomy within their work. Reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of biomedical art, the course will have two complementary components. These components reflect a multidisciplinary approach to muscular anatomy and figure drawing. Study in this area is designed to provide the student with a good grasp of muscular anatomy as it strongly relates to drawing the figure and its proportions. This course will provide the student the opportunity to interpret anatomy knowledge by working directly from the model and human cadaver from CWRU Anatomy Department This course is designed to provide the student with a solid basic understanding of muscular anatomy as it relates to surface anatomy, proportion and movement of the human figure. The course incorporates lectures on anatomy, figure proportion and drawing techniques linked to direct and accurate observation of the figure model and cadaver model. Offered spring. 3 credits.

BFA Thesis Research

Course No. BMA405.1  Credits: 3
Faculty Amanda Almon

This course is designed to act as a summative experience for the student.Ê The final BFA Thesis Project will be defined by the student and work with a level of professional collaboration. The requirements for the BFA Thesis will be to solve and effectively visually communicate a medical or scientific problem.Ê Integration of outside resources, research effective collaborator/expert communication, professional practices, presentation (oral and written) and documentation of the process of the specific yearlong project will be expected to determine successful BFA candidacy. Ê The choice of media and concept will be evaluated on its appropriateness for communicating the message and solving the Thesis problem.Ê The project visualization will be student driven; content needs will be determined by the student and the research/collaboration. The emphasis in this course will be on the conceptual development of the content accuracy/relevance and its realization through the design process. The process will fully address research, expert collaboration, target audience, time spent, visual communication problem and successful execution of completed production.Ê The goal will be effective visual communication with a strong, aesthetic, fully considered project, which integrates several layers of media.Ê The final work will have the following: ÊA two sentence (maximum) Thesis Statement, a designed/written proposal, research paper, business oriented documentation, a digital presentation to explain the work, artist statement/project scope statement, and the final project depicting the solution for the BFA Exhibition. Offered fall. 3 credits.

Biomedical Art: Advanced Media Concepts

Course No. BMA353.2  Credits: 3
Faculty Thomas Nowacki

This course serves as the first iteration of Advanced Problems in Biomedical Art, and builds on observational and other skills acquired from preceding Biomedical Methods courses. The course focuses on digital illustration and drawing techniques which help to explore editorial, narrative and educational communication problems. The course is also used for non-majors to develop strong skills in digital illustration / drawing techniques (Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator and InDesign) The scope of the course entails developing skills and knowledge necessary for effective visual communication of biomedical concepts and subject matter such as human anatomy, veterinary/zoology subjects, body systems and natural science subject matter. The focus will be on developing advanced visual storytelling skills. Students will learn to take complex information presented by specific biomedical art subject matter and selectively simplify it to solve visual communication problems effectively. Students will work exclusively in digital media will to develop practical competence in the rendering methodologies and learn the conventions of modern production. When appropriate, project-based learning and client relationships will be incorporated into the course for specific assignments and exercises. Students outside the Biomedical Art major will not be required to produce illustrations based on biomedical content, but instead will focus on developing visually illustrated narrative projects, of equal complexity, pertinent to their own areas of interest. Offered fall. 3 credits.

Biomedical Art: BFA Thesis

Course No. BMA406.1  Credits: 3
Faculty Amanda Almon

This course is designed to act as a summative experience for the student.Ê The final BFA Thesis Project will be a collaborative-project based learning system with requirements to solve and effectively communicate a medical or scientific problem.Ê Integration of outside resources, effective client communication, professional practices, presentation and documentation of the process will be expected.Ê The spring section of the course will serve as the means to complete the production and exhibition portion of the BFA project. The expectation will be a fully realized and completed BFA Project with the necessary supporting documentation, research paper, artist statement, project statement and any specific media (print or digital) that is needed for exhibition and installation. The choice of media will be evaluated on its appropriateness for communicating the message and solving the problem.Ê The project visualization will be student driven; content needs will be determined by the student and the research. The emphasis in this course will be on the conceptual development and its realization through a design process which fully addresses the restraints of client collaboration, audience, time and budgetary considerations.Ê Offered spring. 3 credits.

Biomedical Art: Forensic Imaging/Modeling

Course No. BMA356/456  Credits: 3
Faculty Elizabeth Halasz

This course is an introduction to Forensic Modeling and Reconstruction methods and concepts; which brings materials developed in the medical and forensic industry to the sculpture lab. Materials such as clay, plaster, alginate used in body casting, silicone molding materials, polyurethanes, and clear casting materials will be used in projects that reconstruct facial, and human body elements from skull and environmental clues. The course will utilize the Cleveland Museum of Natural History specimens, and possible visits to local Forensic Agencies for additional hands on applications. Experimentation and integration of sculpture methods to produce body and facial reconstructions will be explored. The course is open to all majors and non-majors as an elective; No previous experience necessary. 3 credits.

Biomedical Art: Interactive Narratives

Course No. BMA359.1  Credits: 3
Faculty Thomas Nowacki

This course serves as an introductory platform to investigate and discover object, environment, human and natural science 2D/web-based animation, in addition to basic interface design, to create a narrative with goals to communicate a message and/or educate and instruct the viewer. The student will use the concept of narrative to tell animated short stories of the body, environment and/or natural science through the medium of Adobe Flash (using AS 3.0) in conjunction with Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and Dreamweaver. Within the course, strong conceptual skills are emphasized and developed through professional production techniques, workflow and time-based linear media. The principles of 2D animation and web-based interface design will be used as the foundation for understanding how to communicate a message. Learning the ideas of simplistic object, environment and body motion accuracy/timing will be taught in 2D and students will be expected to create simple to complex animations (based on level and individual progress.) This course is designed to benefit all majors AND non-majors with required pre-requisites.