marnie faulkner

Similar to my first project with NCR, this project involved working on creating and animating another 3D character, for a self service kiosk study and trial.

Involved working with a team of fellow Computer Arts and Audio Design students on a group project for Tern TV. Our task was to concept a world and story for a game or motion comic based on the world of the book "But n Ben A-Go-Go" by Matthew Fitt.

Working on a very short notice project, my role lasted two intensive weeks and involved the creation of a 3D animated character for a self service kiosk to be presented to NCR; a major self-service and ATM company.

My role on this project was to research and concept how Digital Media will be accessed by users in 4-8 years for NCR; a major self-service and ATM company. The project evolved to describing the concept visually through a short video sequence, using Adobe Illustrator to create vector icons and Adobe After Effects to put the video together.

I was selected to take part in a concentrated 2 week placement at BBC Scotland in Glasgow. This involved working with 7 other Abertay students in collaboration with the BBC New Media Department. Our aim was to develop 4 interactive media prototypes focussed around current BBC priorities and present them to an audience of BBC and Abertay staff including representatives from Entertainment, R&D, TV Platforms and Strategy.

Working with a team of 5 other students we set to create a promotional app for Dare to be Digital on Android and iPhone. My key role was content management where I worked between the artist and programmer editing and preparing assets for implementation as well as working to maintain a consistent visual style for the product. This was a great learning experience working along side multiple disciplines to fulfill the needs of a client.

Working at a 2 day Video Games Workshop by Dare Protoplay; an event for youngsters of 12-16 years old aiming to introduce them to the world of video games production. Working with a fellow mentor it was my duty to oversee a group of 6 children, assisting them to devise and implement their own game designs using GIMP and a template game created in Visual Studio.

Director of Future Fossil Studios founded in November 2012 having secured prototype development funding from the University of Abertay Dundee. I am currently working as Character Artist on our first game, developed for free to free to play markets on Android and iOS. My main responsibilities on this project are modelling, retopology and optimisation, rigging, skinning and animation as well as handling exports and animation pipeline testing working directly with the engine

I finished my four year Degree at Abertay in 2011 where I have passed with Distinction throughout. For my Honours project my studies were focused around how to effectively Rig 3D creature characters for game and animation by obtaining influence from current artistic techniques of creature creation, as well as scientific methods such as the study of animal structure and palaeontology. During my Degree I have also learned skills such as modelling, texturing, animation, photo/video editing, interface/logo design, 2D digital art and traditional drawing. On top of my studies I have undertaken some great opportunities working as part of a design team on projects with major organisations such as the BBC, NCR and Tern TV (see 'Experience' for more information). Throughout these experiences I found I work especially well under pressure, in groups or on individual projects and I have a great deal of familiarity working to strict deadlines.

The key aspect of this course was the development of personal skills, interdisciplinary communication and collaboration through team work with those individuals from other areas of games development. As a class of 40, we worked in varied team sizes from 4-11 with the aim of make three games throughout the year in order to get experience working together as a replica studio; learning from each other as well as our mentors. My main role throughout the three projects I took part in was character creation; modelling- Retopology and optimisation, rigging, skinning and animation as well as handling exports and animation pipeline testing working directly with the engine. My experience over the year has been with XNA and PhyreEngine. This year of study has been an extremely valuable experience in situations that I will undoubtedly come across in the future. I believe that the Mprof has been the perfect way to prepare me for a career in the games and animation Industry.