A new course is set to arrive at EvCC this summer that incorporates both illustration and design elements at a more advanced level.

In the Visual Communications and Design program, students will learn how to do true three-dimensional modeling and texture mapping in a virtual, three-dimensional space. They can also expect to learn how to build models and animate cameras or lights. All this is made possible through Maya, a professional, three-dimensional illustration and animation program that is also used in big animation companies such as Nintendo.

"Maya is a very advanced program," said digital illustration student Mitchell Ozanne, "if you really want to do it, and you have the mind set to do it, you could do it." The program is very intimidating at first, but it is worth all of the practice in the end. Many students who have achieved this degree have proceeded to DigiPen, the biggest programming and animation school in the Seattle region, and other professional design institutions.

"Gaming and animation are in their early years of development here, but they are here," said Greg Kammer, visual communications design instructor, "they're here in the form of the digital illustration degree." Ozanne says that with the way the film and gaming industries are going, an animation and design program at EvCC would "open up a couple of doors to people."

Currently, EvCC does not offer a degree in animation, but it is a possibility for the future. "We've talked about it, it just isn't official yet," said Kammer, "but the student can get a digital illustration degree and it does include this." Even though it will take a few years to get started, a more in depth animation program is not out of reach. "If the demand is high and they're really interested, we'll keep it going as long as we can," said Kammer.

The 3D illustration and animation courses were first unveiled around 1996, when EvCC had PC labs. After switching mostly to all Mac labs, the program was shelved because there was not a strong enough Mac 3D animation program at the time. When Maya was released and made available for the Mac, the program was rebooted.

Kammer says that the next step in this series is to move to digital filmmaking of short films. Over the next couple of years, Kammer wants to develop this program into a digital filmmaking degree.

All students who are interested in any of these courses should contact Greg Kammer at gkammer@everettcc.edu.