Program Overview

Course Overview

The course COMD 261, also known as Motion Design I, introduces basic concepts of motion design and time-based media in communication and graphic environments. Topics covered include introductory motion principles, visual design for motion, storyboarding/sequential imagery, graphic animation, as well as creative strategies and workflow. Students will apply concepts from motion design to time-based projects and outputs.

Course Details

• Dates: 6 July 2026 to 8 November 2026
• Starts: Trimester 2
• Fees:
  • NZ$1,083.45 for domestic students
  • NZ$5,235.75 for international students
• Lecture Start Times: Monday 12.40pm
• Campus: Te Aro
• Estimated Workload: Approximately 150 hours or 8.3 hours per week for 18 weeks
• Points: 15 points

Entry Restrictions

• Prerequisites: 75 pts including 30 pts from the BDI schedule
• Corequisites: None
• Restrictions: None

Taught By

The course is taught by the School of Design Innovation — Faculty of Architecture and Design Innovation.

Disclaimer

This course outline may be subject to change.

Key Dates

Important dates, including mid-trimester teaching breaks, can be found on the University's key dates calendar. Assessment dates will be communicated once the course has begun.

About This Course

Motion design is a pervasive element in today's digital landscape, used in advertisements, explainer animations, loading screens, logo animations, title sequences, and more. This course aims to equip students with the skills and understanding necessary to create and utilize motion design effectively, from the initial brief to the finished project. Students will be introduced to motion graphic principles and various approaches across different contexts. Exercises and assignments will help develop students' understanding of the motion design workflow, providing opportunities to express their intentions graphically through a time-based medium.

Course Learning Objectives

Students who pass this course should be able to:

1. Compare and contrast time-based media with other forms of media.
2. Articulate and analyze motion design principles as demonstrated through historical, cultural, and political examples.
3. Apply basic skills and techniques in the design and production of time-based media outputs.

How This Course Is Taught

The course includes lectures, studios, and tutorials that require in-person attendance. Lecture recordings will be available for subsequent revision. Teaching and learning will be delivered through one 1-hour lecture, one 1-hour tutorial, and one 1-hour studio-based session per week.

Assessment

• Project-Based Assessments: Online graded exercises (best 8 out of 11 exercises contribute towards the final course grade), ongoing throughout the course, 40%.
• Project 1: 10-slide prospective pitch presentation, including written pitch, mood boards, storyboards, and style frames, expected workload 25 hours outside of class time, 30%.
• Project 2: One complete motion design piece, including pre-production materials and deck (between 5-15 seconds), expected workload 35 hours outside of class time, 30%.

Mandatory Requirements

There are no mandatory requirements for this course.

Lecture Times and Rooms

• 6 July 2026 to 16 August 2026
• 31 August 2026 to 11 October 2026

What You'll Need to Get

No specific texts or equipment are required for this course.

Past Versions of This Course

Older versions of this course may be accessible through the course archive.

Student Feedback

Previous students' feedback on this course can be found in the student feedback database.