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Student illustrations inspired by holiday songs showcased at Symphony, Dec. 7

goersab — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 18:37:34 +0000

Student illustrations inspired by holiday songs showcased at Symphony, Dec. 7goersab November 20, 2025

'Music in Motion' to feature pieces from 'The Polar Express,' classics like 'Sleigh Ride,' 'Sailing with Whales'

The comfort of holiday music will be paired with festive visual art at “Music in Motion,” presented by University of Wisconsin-Stout ��. Symphonic Band at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall.

The concert will feature music about various kinds of transportation, including a train ride with music from “The Polar Express,” an ocean voyage with Rossano Galante ��. “Sailing with Whales,” and a holiday favorite, “Sleigh Ride.”

Jay Holtz's illustration for "Sailing With Whales" / Erik Evensen

Each musical piece will be paired with illustrations created by �� students, projected on the screens in the Great Hall. The illustrations are a visual representation of the music, based on the composers’ theme or musical expression.

Purchase tickets at uwstout.universitytickets.com.

Kaleigh Kahl's illustration for "Sleigh Ride" / Erik Evensen

Illustrations inspired by music

The collaboration was developed by symphony Director Erika Svanoe and Professor Erik Evensen, program director of B.F.A. in illustration. The series of images were produced by illustration, animation and digital media and graphic design and interactive media students in Evensen ��. Digital Illustration class.

Featured student artists include Erin McKinley, Jay Holtz, Jenna Good, Kaleigh Kahl, Renee Smith, and Harper Leighton, whose piece is a tribute to her grandfather, a WWII veteran and �� alum.

Harper Leighton's illustration for "Moorside March" / Erik Evensen

When Leighton first listened to “Moorside March,” images of planes flying over the English moors flashed through her head. As she listened, she thought of her Great Grandpa Lee Roy Bedsted, a member of the 546th Bombardment Squadron in the United States Air Force.

“My great grandpa was the top turret gunner and engineer of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress airplane, 'Aces & Ates,'” Leighton said. The plane ��. name is reflected in her illustration. “On the last of his 28 combat missions, he was shot down over Germany. He spent 10 months as a prisoner of war, with three of those months on a 500-mile, forced march across northern Germany in the winter. If he hadn't survived his ordeal in WWII, I literally would not be here today. I am so thankful for his bravery and dedication, while serving this country.”

As a benefit of the GI Bill, Bedsted earned a Bachelor of Science in education from �� in 1950. He also met and married his wife, Beverly, a fellow student. He returned to �� to earn a master ��. in counseling in 1962.

“Lee Roy Bedsted was an incredibly kind and loving person, who did so much for his family and community. He also started a long family tradition of �� education; I will be the 11th person from my family to graduate from Stout,” said Leighton, an illustration junior from Excelsior, Minnesota.

Jenna Good's illustration for "Ride" / Erik Evensen

McKinley, a GDIM senior from Little Falls, Minnesota, chose to illustrate “Sleigh Ride” because it brings her a sense of nostalgia and comfort. “My family would listen to the song when visiting our extended family for the holidays,” she said.

Her artwork captures the joy and excitement of the winter season, even in the midst of winter flurries, rosy cheeks and foggy breath. She was inspired by the color palettes of artist and animator Mary Blair, intentionally selecting bright colors.

“Winter can be dark and gloomy. I wanted to balance the cool gray tones of the sky with magenta and warm greens,” McKinley said. “There is a joy and energy to the song. The horses emulate the energy, movement and intensity of the song. It ��. like they are dancing.”

Renee Smith's illustration for "Still Here" / Erik Evensen

Listening to “Sailing With Whales,” Holtz felt a powerful forward movement, he said, “along with the story behind the song, talking about sailing out for whale watching, specifically orcas. Somewhat inspired by ‘Treasure Planet,’ it ��. mainly an original concept from my head.

"I like the highlights from the sunrise, and the form of the clouds. I hope others can feel the movement and power of the song,” added Holtz, an illustration junior from Rhinelander.

Erin McKinley's concept art for "Sleigh Ride" / Erin McKinley

Introducing children to music

Seven members of the Symphonic Band performed for preschool students at the university ��. Child and Family Study Center recently in a short concert coordinated by Rachel Larson, an early childhood education major, with the help of Senior Instructional Specialist Marica Wolf, afternoon lead in the four-year-old classroom.

Symphony students gather at the Child and Family Study Center / Erika Svanoe

Larson, of Cameron, is in her second semester of lab experiences at the Child and Family Study Center, learning from the head teachers and teaching her own lessons, including playing her flute for the children. She also plays the alto saxophone and piano.

Symphony members played for preschoolers at the CFSC / Rachel Larson

“I hope to grow my musical talents and use them in my future classroom,” she said. “I think sharing music with the community is important, as it creates a powerful sense of connection — both within the band and beyond it. It brings us together as performers, forming our own supportive circle, while also inviting others to experience and celebrate our talents.

The small concert introduced children to different musical instruments / Rachel Larson

“I believe it ��. especially meaningful to introduce music to children early on, helping them explore their interests in a warm, inclusive environment that fosters creativity, confidence and belonging. I am incredibly grateful for Erika in devoting her time to being our conductor; she has made my experience in the �� band so fun, warm and inviting.”

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Student illustrations inspired by holiday songs showcased at Symphony, Dec. 7

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November 20, 2025

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'Music in Motion' to feature pieces from 'The Polar Express,' classics like 'Sleigh Ride,' 'Sailing with Whales' Erin McKinley, Sleigh Ride

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In 2025-2026, �� is celebrating a Year of Design to highlight the innovation, leadership and impact central to Wisconsin ��. ��. Upcoming signature events include:

Wednesday, Dec. 10, 6 p.m.: Stout Game Expo, western Wisconsin ��. largest game developer exhibition.
Thursday, Dec. 11, 1 to 3 p.m.: STEMM Student Expo will showcase more than 250 students’ research in nearly 100 projects across a dozen fields of study.
Friday, Dec. 12, 6 p.m.: School of Art & Design Senior Show, featuring the works of more than 200 graduating seniors.

Search Keywords: Illustration degree�� Symphonic Band

Hero Caption: Erin McKinley's illustration inspired by "Sleigh Ride" will be one of many featured at the Symphonic Band performance on Dec. 7.

Erika Svanoe

Dr. Erika Svanoe (b. 1976) is a conductor and composer for wind band, known for her lyrical melodies, nods to classic literature, musical deconstruction, humor, and pastiche. Her works have been performed by "The President's Own" United States Marine Band, the United States Navy Band, the National Concert Band of America, featured at the Midwest Clinic, the American Bandmasters Association National Conference, and the Boston New Music Festival, and on Wisconsin Public Radio, in Bandworld's Top 100, and the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. Her first major work, The Haunted Carousel, won the 2014 NBA Young Band Composition Contest. Her first album, "The Music of Erika Svanoe," was recorded by Andrew Boysen, Jr. and the University of New Hampshire Wind Symphony, and released in 2022.

As a conductor, Dr. Svanoe has held residencies with the Manhattan School of Music, USAF Heritage of America Band, the Atlanta Freedom Bands, and numerous universities. She has held collegiate appointments at Augsburg University, Bemidji State University, and the University of New Hampshire. She is active as a guest conductor and clinician, appearing with high school, university, All-State and festival ensembles across the United States.

She earned a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting from The Ohio State University under Russel C. Mikkelson, where she served as conductor of the OSU Collegiate Winds, assistant conductor of the OSU Wind Symphony, and taught undergraduate conducting classes. Her DMA dissertation included a critical edition of Aaron Copland's El Salón México for wind ensemble. She holds a Master of Music in Wind Conducting from Oklahoma State University and a Bachelor of Music Education from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

Her music is published through Alfred Music, G.Schirmer/AMP, and self-published through Swan Maiden Press. She is a member of the American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers (ASCAP). She is also the creator and publisher of Marrying Mr. Darcy, the Pride & Prejudice card game, and occasionally advocates and speaks on the topic of arts entrepreneurship, with appearances at the XOXO Festival and in a variety of gaming-related media. Originally from Whitewater, Wisconsin, she currently lives in Menomonie, WI with her husband, designer and graphic novelist Erik Evensen.

Full Name: Erika Svanoe

Job Title: Lecturer

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Wind Band Literature Music Conducting Music Composition Music Education Arts Entrepreneurship

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Visual & Performing Arts Department

Education:

Degree: D.M.A. Conducting

University: Ohio State University

Degree: M.M. Instrumental Conducting & Pedagogy

University: Oklahoma State University

Degree: B.M.Ed. Music Education

University: University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire

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Erik A. Evensen

Erik Evensen is Professor of Design and program director of the B.F.A. in Illustration. He teaches studio courses in illustration, design drawing, concept art, graphic design, and typography, and graduate seminars in design research and design education. In 2022, he was recognized with the College of Arts and Human Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award.

He began his career as a graphic designer and illustrator in coastal New Hampshire and the greater Boston area. His comics industry credits include the “Ghostbusters” and “Back to the Future” licensed comic series from IDW Publishing, and the original graphic novels “The Beast of Wolfe ��. Bay” and the Xeric-winning “Gods of Asgard.” He is also the art director, game artist, and co-producer for the tabletop games “Marrying Mr. Darcy” and “Distilled.” His work has variously been featured in Graphic Design USA, The Washington Post, and The New York Times.

Erik has presented at and regularly reviews for academic conferences sponsored by AIGA, IDSA, MODE, M+DEV: Midwest Game Developers Conference, the Design and Emotion Society, IASDR, KEER, and the Global Polytechnic Summit. A student of Design Research pioneer Liz Sanders, his academic research on educational board game design is a featured case study in her textbook, “Convivial Toolbox: Generative Research for the Front End of Design.” His creative work with myth and folklore frequently yields citations, appearances, and speaking engagements about history, culture, and comparative literature.

Erik holds an M.F.A. in Design from Ohio State University, graduating Phi Kappa Phi. He received a B.A. in Studio Art from the University of New Hampshire, and a Post-baccalaureate Certificate from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University.

Full Name: Erik A. Evensen

Job Title: Professor / Program Director

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Design Drawing & Visualization Illustration Graphic Design Design Research Comics Graphic Novels

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

Program

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Curriculum Vitae: Erik A. Evensen CV (617.93 KB)

Website: Erik Evensen

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Visual Communication Design

University: The Ohio State University

Degree: P.B.C. Studio Art

University: School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University

Degree: B.A. Studio Art

University: University of New Hampshire

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Global vision, local design: �� students transform public spaces with murals

goersab — Mon, 07 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Global vision, local design: �� students transform public spaces with muralsgoersab July 7, 2025

Art installations in Italy, Minnesota bring communities together

Abbey Goers

Two �� students – Allison Seanor and Megan McDowell – recently completed two murals, half a world apart. Their public installations celebrate how art brings communities together, creating vibrant and welcoming spaces.

Seanor, an art education major from Wausau, studied abroad at Accademia Italiana in Florence, Italy, last spring. She participated in a city-wide mural festival with her artwork entitled “To Travel is to Understand.”

McDowell, an animation and digital media major from Albertville, Minnesota, was commissioned by Koala Dental Care in St. Cloud, to create a multi-wall-to-wall mural for the office ��. reception area.

Megan McDowell's mural for Koala Dental Care combines popular visuals of Minnesota with dental care objects. / Megan McDowell

‘To Travel is to Understand’

Seanor ��. mural “To Travel is to Understand” is part of Florence ��. annual Palazzuolo Strada Aperta festival, which invites national and international street artists to work with residents to revitalize the city center through art.

Allison Seanor (right) and her teacher Maria Antonietta / Allison Seanor

Her approximately 8-by-8-foot mural is painted on a retractable metal shutter at Via Palazzuolo 76 red. When shops along Via Palazzuolo close their shutters for the evening, the street turns into an art gallery. The street, close to Santa Maria Novella Square, is seeking to revive its historical artisan character and support the local economy.

Seanor ��. mural reflects on the impact of mass tourism on Florence, as seen through the eyes of an American student.

“It is a message of unity and shared respect, a reminder to travelers that to truly experience a place you must appreciate it, learn from it, connect with it, reflect on it and understand it,” Seanor said.

It is also a message to Florentines, acknowledging the challenges that tourism can bring, while offering a heartfelt reassurance: “Many of us arrive with a deep admiration for this extraordinary city and a genuine desire to honor its culture, its people and its rhythms. In Florence, we can meet not as strangers, but as human beings moved by beauty, history and respect,” Seanor added.

At the heart of the painting is a portrait of Seanor ��. Italian teacher, Maria Antonietta, who motivated Seanor to do her best inside and outside of class. “Maria was my inspiration. She is a world traveler and beautiful soul, and she symbolizes the desire to learn no matter where you go,” she said.

She was also influenced by her own observations of the city. “Others might say it ��. bold to comment on tourism within art, when you yourself are an American. However, my goal was to hopefully close the gap between tourists and locals in Florence,” Seanor said.

“I’m very happy with the results of this mural, with how colorful it is and how it turned out physically, but also with how it changed me as a person,” she added. “I believe this mural and studying abroad have helped me really push myself to try to achieve more, and that is something I am really proud of. It ��. not so easy to leave your comfort zone to try to reach your goals, but when you do, it ��. extremely rewarding.”

“To Travel is to Understand” is visible and geolocated on the Street Art of Florence map on Google Maps.

An engaging, abstract collage for kids and families

McDowell ��. Koala Dental Care mural was commissioned by the owner through McDowell ��. aunt, who is a dentist in the office. “I am very grateful I had an inside connection and was able to jumpstart a new passion of mine,” she said.

Megan McDowell's mural is an abstract collage of hidden objects, meant to engage children in the office's reception area / Megan McDowell

Within the mural design, Koala asked McDowell to combine popular visuals of Minnesota with dental care objects. “These are two completely different topics, so to combine them into one cohesive design, I had to be creative. I combined the ideas in an almost abstract way to create a collage of hidden things. I added a lot of motion and fluidity into the design, making it engaging for kids at the office to look at,” she said.

McDowell had always wanted to learn about the process behind creating a mural, and two courses at �� provided her with that knowledge. Within the Digital Illustration course, McDowell worked with a group of her peers to create a mural design for �� . School of Art and Design. It portrayed humanoid characters interacting with elements of art and design – film, ceramics, video games, music, studio art and more – in purple, blue, orange, yellow and red hues.

Their design was chosen by university leadership to be completed by students in the Graffiti and Street Art summer class in 2024. McDowell enrolled in the class and helped bring her design to life, led by Professor Cynthia Bland and Lecturer Wade Lambrigtsen, owner and proprietor of Vintage Sign Shop in Menomonie. It was the third 400-square-foot, student-designed, student-painted mural on campus, located on the east loading dock of the Applied Arts Building.

Megan McDowell helped to design and paint the third mural on campus / ��

“I was inspired by the process. These courses allowed me to get experience outside of school, and I was able to use these skills to further my career and find a new passion,” she said.

“Megan ��. Koala mural is a clear connective thread between the mural production here at Stout and setting up students to become muralists out in the real world,” Bland added.

McDowell graduated this spring and is currently doing freelance work while seeking a full-time career. She wants to continue painting murals as well. “What I love most about animation and digital media is the storytelling. Storytelling through visuals is something I greatly enjoy. I want to bring other people ��. stories to life,” she said.

In summer 2026, Murals in Menomonie, featuring the Walldogs, will transform and uplift the community through public art, helping make Menomonie a more joyful and vibrant place to live.

The animation and digital media program is part of the School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. Art education is offered through the School of Education.

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Art installations in Italy, Minnesota bring communities together Allison Seanor (right) and her teacher Maria Antonietta

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Search Keywords: animation and digital media degreeanimation degreeart education degreeMurals in Menomonie

Hero Caption: Allison Seanor's mural "To Travel is to Understand" was created as part of Florence, Italy ��. annual Palazzuolo Strada Aperta festival. Photo by Allison Seanor

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Purr-fect pair: Dunn County Humane Society collaborates on short film with animation students

goersab — Mon, 28 Apr 2025 13:00:00 +0000

Purr-fect pair: Dunn County Humane Society collaborates on short film with animation studentsgoersab April 28, 2025

‘Stray’ advocates for adoption, shows organization ��. compassion; to be premiered at SOAD Senior Show May 9

Abbey Goers

A team of animation and digital media students at �� is collaborating with a local nonprofit to develop a public service announcement as part of the Animation Production junior capstone class.

Their 72-second 2D animated film, “Stray,” was created to help advocate for pet adoption at Dunn County Humane Society. The informative short features Bow, a stray orange tabby cat rescued during Wisconsin ��. bitter winter.

Assistant Professor Jesse Woodward gives the student teams creative freedom in their narrative stories to choose to create 2D or 3D animations in many forms, including commercials, music videos, PSAs and more. “They find each other ��. strengths, and each member plays an important role within the team. They also come up with studio names for their teams and design websites and social media accounts to promote their studios,” he said.

Kaylee Sevcik, Hannah Brown, Callie Kraemer, Lee Rupp and Gale Eidam

PuppyChow Productions, the DCHS team – they’re all animal lovers and cat people, by the way – all play a role in the animation, but also have focuses within the team:

Hannah Brown, of Appleton, concept art, pre-production
Callie Kraemer, of Sturgeon Bay, director and editor
Kaylee Sevcik, of Sturgeon Bay, character lead for Bow
Lee Rupp, of Nekoosa, human character animations
Gale Eidam, of Minneapolis, human character animations

“Stray” will be posted on PuppyChow Productions’ YouTube channel and will be premiered at SOAD Senior Show, which showcases capstone projects by nearly 120 graduating School of Art and Design seniors, as well as juniors, from 6 to 9 p.m. on Friday, May 9.

Visit PuppyChow Productions’ website and follow on Instagram and TikTok.

Supporting a nonprofit through animation

Kraemer, who volunteered for a humane society as a Girl Scout, helped draw in her four classmates to join the Dunn County Humane Society project.

“‘Stray’ is a lighthearted, informative narrative to show how the rescue and adoption process at DCHS is meant to be stress-free for the animals,” she said.

PuppyChow Productions' animation of Bow, the cat

The team brainstormed several narrative ideas on how to capture DCHS ��. message through animation. One narrative followed a dog that broke off its leash while on a walk with its owner. However, when PuppyChow Productions presented its ideas to the animation class, the team learned that a cat was the favored pet of their classmates, and they began to develop Bow ��. story.

After meeting with DCHS managers to learn about the rescue and adoption process, the team decided its PSA should include what someone should do if they find a stray cat, as well as how DCHS prepares pets for adoption with microchips, medical evaluations, cleanings and vaccines.

Brown designed the PuppyChow Productions logo, and Sevcik and Rupp designed the main characters. Sevcik ��. animation of Bow had many iterations. “Bow ��. final design is sensible to animate frame by frame. His animation is concise and leaves little room for error as each team member works on him throughout the process,” Sevcik said.

Bow is named in honor of DCHS ��. tradition of placing a bow tie on the cats ready for adoption.

PuppyChow Productions' animation of a Jessie

Rupp ��. animations of the little girl and her grandma, who adopt Bow, were inspired by real people. The team named the girl “Jessie,” a twist on Woodward ��. name. Jessie ��. grandma is designed in the image of Rupp ��. own grandma, who actually lost her golden retriever on a walk. It was found and returned – a happy ending to match Bow ��. story.

The team used Toon Boom Harmony – an industry-standard 2D animation software – to create its animation. Eidam was a little familiar with the software, but for the rest of the team, Toon Boom was a new artistic realm. Learning the software ��. tools and techniques proved to be the most challenging aspect of the project. They learned its functions by working with Woodward, watching YouTube tutorials and talking with senior animation students.

This project fulfilled the team ��. field experience requirement of 80 hours, completed over the course of eight weeks. They are also volunteering at DCHS.

Design department Chair Shelley Pecha encourages collaborations with local organizations. She volunteered at DCHS last summer.

“They are a great organization full of extremely hardworking people. I wanted to find a way to help them with marketing and advertising to facilitate more adoptions, find more volunteers or gain more donations,” she said. “The design department is full of programs that can help community nonprofits in this way. It ��. great for the students to learn from these organizations, see how they can help and maybe become lifelong volunteers. Hopefully, these nonprofits can use the student work in a way that benefits their organization.”

PuppyChow Productions, animation of Jessie's grandmother

Animation Career Review rankings

Animation Career Review listed �� . animation and digital media program among public colleges:

No. 16 for top animation schools in the Midwest
No. 35 for top public animation schools in the U.S.

More than 200 schools were surveyed.

�� . game design and animation lab spaces include a state-of-the-art Vicon Motion Capture Studio, along with many other labs, studios and galleries. Woodward invites outside partners and on-campus collaborators to experience the Motion Capture Studio.

“We collaborate on live virtual performances; use virtual reality and augmented reality; detailed hand and finger animation; motion capture athletes, animals and more,” he said. “In the future, I hope to expand the system to do facial capture and camera tracking as well.”

Interested collaborators may email motioncapture@uwstout.edu for more information. The studio opened in April 2019. It is the only one of its kind in the region.

The animation and digital media program is part of the School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. It also offers bachelor ��. degrees in fashion design and development; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, as well as an M.F.A. in design. �� also has a new program in game and media studies.

Animation & Digital Media

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Student illustrations inspired by holiday songs showcased at Symphony, Dec. 7

'Music in Motion' to feature pieces from 'The Polar Express,' classics like 'Sleigh Ride,' 'Sailing with Whales'

November 20, 2025

Global vision, local design: �� students transform public spaces with murals

Art installations in Italy, Minnesota bring communities together

July 7, 2025

Purr-fect pair: Dunn County Humane Society collaborates on short film with animation students

‘Stray’ advocates for adoption, shows organization ��. compassionate care; to be premiered at SOAD Senior Show May 9

April 28, 2025

‘Stray’ advocates for adoption, shows organization ��. compassionate care; to be premiered at SOAD Senior Show May 9 Kaylee Sevcik, Hannah Brown, Callie Kraemer, Lee Rupp, Gale Eidam

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B.F.A. Animation & Digital Media

Combine your passions for art, design, and technology while enjoying collaborative and cross-disciplinary projects.

Learn More

Search Keywords: animation degreeDunn County Humane Society

Hero Caption: "Stray" will be premiered at SOAD Senior Show, Friday, May 9.

Jesse Woodward

Jesse Woodward is an assistant professor of Animation & Digital Media. He teaches various animation and 3D modeling courses, along with some design foundational courses. As the supervisor of the Vicon Motion Capture Studio, Jesse manages the graduate assistant and thrives to implement motion capture into the animation and game design programs. With experience teaching at his own high school, Jesse enjoys participating in the STEAM Summer Experience, and introducing them to industry-standard software and animation techniques. He is the faculty advisor for the student organization: Tea Time Animation Club.

Before teaching at ��, Jesse worked on several animations and visual effects projects including: “Star Trek Renegades” (Film VFX Animation), “Sonder” (Animated Short Film), “Sweet Friendship” (Animated Short Film), and “The Darkening” (Game Animation).

   Currently, Jesse is working on:
   -Director and producer of “Glow” (Animation Short Film)
  Aurora Bell Tower Studios
  Facebook
    Twitter
    Instagram
    IMDB

   -Animator & digital artist on an unannounced Sci-Fi Film with Tim Russ as director and Jon Macht as producer

Full Name: Jesse Woodward

Job Title: Assistant Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: 3D Animation 2D Animation Traditional Animation Audio & Visual Production Game Animation Motion Capture

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

Program

All Degree Programs

Curriculum Vitae: Jesse Woodward - CV (147.14 KB)

Website: Personal Website Jesse Woodward's Vimeo

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Animation & Visual Effects

University: Academy of Art University

Degree: B.S. Communication

University: Clarkson University

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�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Review

goersab — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 12:29:51 +0000

�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Reviewgoersab April 14, 2025

Side gigs at Roblox, Respawn strengthen students’ skills; Stout Game Expo on May 8

Abbey Goers

For more than a decade, �� . game design programs have consistently led state rankings and are among both national and international leaders.

Princeton Review, an education services company, recently ranked �� . undergraduate game design programs, which include the B.F.A. game design and development and B.S. computer science – game design concentration, No. 5 in the Midwest and No. 24 of the top 50 international schools, rising from No. 29 overall last year.

�� . M.F.A. in design was ranked No. 4 in the Midwest and No. 21 internationally, rising from No. 23 last year. Game design is one of eight focus areas within the master ��. program, which has a cross-disciplinary approach to help students customize the program to their interests and skillsets, including play experiences, interactivity, virtual environments, extended reality or narrative-driven storytelling.

A storyboard for character and scenery mockup by Lila Daily / Lila Daily

“This ranking shows the strength of our students’ interdisciplinary research into game design, but also interconnected areas in digital media,” said M.F.A. in design Program Director Erik Evensen. “Pursuing game design at the graduate level is interdisciplinary, interactive, and highly creative, and students continually find new ways to explore creative projects, solve problems and develop new ideas.”

Faculty stay in touch with current global game trends and technology while connecting students to opportunities such as leading student groups to attend M+Dev and the national Game Developers Conference, said School of Art and Design Director Aaron Durst.

“Students bring back those experiences and implement them in their projects, which is core to our polytechnic educational experience. We have a unique program in the state that prepares students to be a part of and lead the game industry in the upper Midwest at a world-class level,” he added.

Stout Game Expo (SGX)

Join us at the next Stout Game Expo (SGX) to explore and play student-created video games and tabletop advetures.

Rob Franek, editor-in-chief of Princeton Review, said, “The schools that made our lists have awesome programs in game design. Their faculties are superb. Their facilities are state-of-the-art, and their alumni include many of the video game industry ��. most successful designers, developers and entrepreneurs. We highly recommend them to any student considering a career in this exciting field."

He noted the exceptional experience that students at the listed schools receive:

66% of undergraduates and 80% of graduates worked on a shipped game as part of their studies
93% of undergraduates and 90% of graduates developed a plan to launch a game after graduation

In 2024, the national average starting salary of graduates with a bachelor's degree in game studies was nearly $63,000, while those with a master's degree was nearly $74,000.

The 15th annual Princeton Review rankings criteria included academics, faculty, technology and career prospects.

Shipped games and side gigs

All �� game design students publish games on itch.io, a free, online platform for digital creators to host their independent video games. Each student exhibits at the biannual Stout Game Expo.

“Our students – both the artists and the programmers – learn the importance of designing for a game ��. players at every stage in their education,” said game design Program Director Kimberly Loken. “Sophomores and juniors exhibit polished tabletop, 2D arcade-style, and exploratory and experimental games at our end-of-semester public Stout Game Expo. Seniors exhibit work-in-progress in December and continue to polish their work throughout spring, shipping a fully functional game alongside their graduation.”

Game design students also take the initiative to develop and strengthen their skills outside of the classroom. A couple of them have substantial side gigs in the games industry:

Alex Rowley, of Minneapolis, is a 3D modeler and asset developer with Roblox.
Lila Daily, of Appleton, is an independent contractor for marketing art with Respawn.

One of Rowley ��. creations can even be found on shelves at Walmart – a BONK! Hammer plushie – based on a product design he created for a friend ��. game, “Catalog Avatar Creator.”

Roblox assets and hammer plushie by Alex Rowley / Alex Rowley

Senior student-made games published on Steam and Epic Games store include Bugby, Dawn of the Falkonir, Grape Juice City, HyperPOP, Reaper ��. Isle, Ripple and Frawg: The Seasonal Song, Super Nova Stadium, The Witch ��. Garden and Wobble Warriors. Advanced students also exhibit their work annually at the Twin Cities chapter of the International Game Developers Association and at the regional M+DEV conference.

Stout Game Expo, western Wisconsin's largest game developer exhibition, will be at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 8.

Rowley at Roblox: Creating something people enjoy

In high school, Rowley never considered going to college. But now he can say, without a doubt, that his applied learning experiences at �� are worth it.

“I can’t stress enough how much better I am now at game design than I was before college, and I can thank all my art and design classes for that. I’ve learned so much about art and design – how to work harder and how to work within complicated game engines,” he said.

“I love game development because it feels really great to create something that tons of people enjoy. People could be playing your game to distract themselves from issues they're facing in real life, connect with friends or to just relax after a long day. Being able to contribute to a form of mental wellness for tons of people means a lot to me,” he added.

A character illustration by Alex Rowley / Alex Rowley

Rowley began making video games on Roblox during the pandemic. Roblox, created in 2004, is an online game platform and game creation system that allows users to program and play games created by themselves. It has nearly 80 million daily users.

Rowley had played on the platform before and was eager to be a part of the development community. He and a friend created a simple hide-and-seek-style game called “Mega Hide and Seek!”

“It took us about three months to build and began to gain traction online, which allows us to continue to update the game to this day,” he said.

Over the past four years, Rowley has continued to conceptualize ideas, develop projects and effective advertising strategies, practice his game development skills, and learned how to work with others to help lead a team to make something cohesive and fun.

“The great part about my current work is that I can choose my own hours and have more creative freedom. I much prefer it when I can make my own decisions, focus on my own time and work with those I feel close to,” he said.

Rowley is currently leading a team of six, including other �� students, on a 10-month-plus project to develop a horror game on Roblox that involves traversing through an abandoned factory with secrets to uncover and creatures to escape. They hope to release it this year.

A factory illustration by Alex Rowley / Alex Rowley

“The best part about my position is that it ��. super fun, and I learn something new every day. Having a wide variety of tasks allows me to see game development at a really broad angle, and I think it allows me to be versatile and prepared for future work experiences.

“It ��. also a great way to practice what I love while connecting with my friends at the same time, because we’ll sit down for hours just conceptualizing ideas, debating about how to implement something and coming together to find a good solution,” he said.

Rowley will graduate in summer 2026 and wants to pursue opportunities within small game development groups and hopes to continue practicing organic modeling in 3D design.

Daily at Respawn: You get what you put into your art

Daily explores and practices art outside of school using the skills she ��. learned in class.

“Assignments are helpful, but Stout has taught me that you really get what you put into your art. Just ‘drawing more’ isn’t a good way to improve your skills and gain experience. Challenging yourself with a variety of mediums and focusing on fundamentals is. That ��. what the game design program offers.

“I’m a pretty critical person when it comes to art, so a lot of enjoyment for me comes from improving my skills and striving to make artwork that I’m proud of,” she added. “Another big piece of the puzzle is community involvement, like interacting with my peers and the people that gather around games I’m interested in, sharing and talking about art and design and doing collaborative work.”

A character illustration by Lila Daily / Lila Daily

Daily does contract work with Respawn for a variety of 2D digital artwork, including layered digital paintings and static images. Respawn is the creator of critically acclaimed multi-platform games, such as Apex Legends, Titanfall, Star Wars™ Jedi: Fallen Order, and Medal of Honor: Above and Beyond. It has locations in Madison, Los Angeles and Vancouver.

“Respawn originally reached out to me to work on an in-game weapon skin for a set of community-created cosmetics given out for the anniversary launch of Apex Legends,” Daily said. “Every year, they’ll do a new set of items featuring new artists and creators, so not only is it a really fun opportunity for people in the community to make something for their favorite game, it ��. also a really cool opportunity as a game design student to get some experience.”

Daily will graduate in spring 2026. She plans to pursue a position in a support studio to build experience working on larger projects or on an indie project.

Professional development opportunities in game design

More than 50 students, alumni and faculty from the university ��. game design, computer science and master ��. in design programs attended the 2024 M+DEV, a national game design industry conference, held in Madison.

Professor Andrew Williams presented “Re-creating and Creating Colonial Boston: Environment Art & Historical Interpretation in the American Revolution Series,” in connection with his game Witness to the Revolution.

Students and alumni exhibited four original games: Atom ��. Embrace, Skyline Citygirl, HyperPOP and Ripple and Frawg: The Seasonal Song.

Ripple and Frawg game creators at M+Dev / Kim Loken

Animation Career Review rankings

For animation programs, Animation Career Review listed �� . animation and digital media program among public colleges:

No. 16 for top animation schools in the Midwest
No. 35 for top public animation schools in the U.S.

More than 200 schools were surveyed.

�� . game design and animation lab spaces include a state-of-the-art Vicon Motion Capture Studio, along with many other labs, studios and galleries.

The game design and development-art program is part of the School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest. It also offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, and an M.F.A. in design. �� also has a new program in game and media studies.

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Side gigs at Roblox, Respawn strengthen students’ skills; Stout Game Expo on May 8 Lila Daily, character illustration

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Hero Caption: Game design students Lila Daily, whose illustration is above, and Alex Rowley are gaining professional industry experience with side gigs at Respawn and Roblox.

Kim Loken

Kim Loken's industry experience spans civic, commercial, and residential projects. Her approach to each is further informed by a storytelling mindset cultivated in work for film and theater. In her prior architecture practice, she helmed a variety of adaptive reuse, historic preservation and new construction projects. More recent work focuses on the use of games as systems for analyzing complex problems, particularly those related to environmental issues. Teaching invigorates her practice and provides the opportunity to mentor young designers in a variety of disciplines.

Teaching Interests: Design thinking, interdisciplinary design, large-scale collaborative projects

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Going national: �� undergraduates’ research on robotics, animation, more presented at national conference

giffeyt — Thu, 10 Apr 2025 17:00:00 +0000

Going national: �� undergraduates’ research on robotics, animation, more presented at national conferencegiffeyt April 10, 2025

Blue Devils among 4,000 students sharing work at National Conference of Undergraduate Research

Tom Giffey

University of Wisconsin-Stout provides ample applied opportunities for students to grow their knowledge and skills, so it ��. only fitting that several students recently presented their research focused on growth, in one form or another, to a national audience.

From a project that explored the use of an app-controlled robot to optimize plant growth to an animated short film about a mysterious gardener on a futuristic oil rig, a dozen �� students presented their research April 7-9 at the National Conference of Undergraduate Research in Pittsburgh.

The annual event, which drew 4,000 students from institutions across the United States, promotes research, scholarship and other creative activity by undergraduates. “Attending a national conference on undergraduate research provides students with invaluable opportunities to present their work, network with peers and professionals, and gain insights that can shape their academic and career paths,” said Anne Hoeltke, director of �� . Office of Research and Sponsored Programs. “It fosters a sense of community and inspires students to pursue their passions with greater confidence and enthusiasm.”

Students Jessica Qualich, left, and Lindsey Redepenning measure kidney beans in the Jarvis Hall Greenhouse last summer. Qualich recently presented research at NCUR. / Keith Wojciechowski

Robotic study seeks optimized plant growth

Among �� . undergraduates was Jessica Qualich, who presented research she conducted last year as part of LAKES REU, an interdisciplinary research program that draws undergraduates from around the nation to �� each summer. Qualich, a junior from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, used a FarmBot, an automated robotic farming system, to grow kidney beans in the Jarvis Hall Greenhouse Lab. Her research, “Experimental Design for Optimizing Plant Growth Using a Programmable Farming Robot,” was meant to lay the groundwork for future experiments using the robotic system, which among other things can water and weed a plant bed and monitor seedling growth, said engineering Professor Devin Berg, Qualich ��. faculty mentor.

Using a programmable web app to control the robot and gather data, including through an onboard camera, Qualich spent two months tracking how different inputs impacted the growth of bean plants. “Research was not something I ever planned on doing,” acknowledged Qualich, a mechanical engineering major. “But taking the time and doing the whole process of research, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I would like to continue doing research throughout my career after I graduate from Stout.”

Berg said taking part in NCUR is a valuable experience because it allows undergraduates to demonstrate their own research contributions rather than just remain in the background providing support to graduate students and faculty. “The ability to present their work in that kind of national venue is really useful,” he said.

�� student Sarah Vicchiollo poses with her display at the NCUR conference. / Submitted photo

Examination of Alzheimer ��., dementia draws high-level praise

Another of the student researchers was Sarah Vicchiollo, a senior from Greenville majoring in video production, who shared a book she created, “Growing the Garden of Change: Sharing the Stories of Those Affected by Alzheimer ��. and Dementia.”

Vicchiollo ��. book began as an assignment in the Photojournalism and Documentary Photography course taught by Professor Keif Oss. The assignment asked students to delve deeply into a movement or an organization, challenging them not only to take photos but to make contacts and dig deeply in pursuit of a story, Oss explained.

Vicchiollo decided to focus on Alzheimer ��. because of how her grandfather ��. diagnosis with the disease had impacted her family. She began by photographing Walk to End Alzheimer ��. events in New Richmond, Minneapolis, and Eau Claire.

A girl holds a colorful flower at an Alzheimer's disease awareness event in this image from Sarah Vicchiollo's book, "Growing the Garden of Change." / Sarah Vicchiollo

“I was able to talk to a lot of people and hear about their stories,” she said. Oss encouraged Vicchiollo to go beyond simply documenting these walks, and she accepted the challenge and used the network she developed to interview and photograph families impacted by Alzheimer ��. and dementia as well as professionals who work with them.

Oss said Vicchiollo excelled at pursuing multiple angles as well as working around obstacles, such as when the widow of a man who died of dementia declined to be photographed. “I thought she was really resilient,” Oss said of his student. “She takes advice, and she doesn’t take the easier choice all the time.”

Ultimately, the project resulted in a 40-page printed book which made its way into the hands of an executive with the Alzheimer ��. Association, who was so impressed by Vicchiollo ��. work that he reached out to her and was surprised to discover she was a college student.

In addition to being accepted by NCUR, where it won a second-place award in the “Elevating the Arts” exhibit, Vicchiollo ��. work received Student Honorable Mention Award at �� . Research Day in April 2024.

“It has been an extremely rewarding experience,” Vicchiollo said. “I definitely hold a lot of respect for Dr. Oss for pushing me to continue to pursue opportunities to share my work. I think that ��. the greatest highlight of the video production major and Stout being polytechnic: It pushes you to really apply yourself and show the work that you can do.”

A poster for the student-produced animated film "Jilly & Juno." / Submitted image

Students explore efficient melding of 2D, 3D animation

While much of the research presentations at NCUR consisted of posterboard displays, a team of �� students used the conference to showcase their innovative animation efforts. Alexis Bellotti, a senior from Kaukauna, shared work that she and four other animation and digital media majors did to create an animated short, “Jilly & Juno,” for their capstone course under the mentorship of Professor Michael Heagle.

The film is a charming tale of two young sisters living on a futuristic oil rig, one of whom pushes the other down a mysterious pipe, causing her to encounter a flower-cultivating robot. Appropriately, Bellotti ��. presentation is titled “Exploring Mixed Media Pipelines for Animated Short Films.” The mixed media, in this case, is the combination of 2D and 3D animation employed by the team, which is blended to create the final product – an approach increasingly taken by professional animators in such films as “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.”

“We knew we wanted to do a big world, and drawing big worlds is very time-consuming, especially with 2D, and so is drawing robots in 2D,” explained senior Sarah Pflughoeft, of Menomonee Falls.

Creating certain elements in 3D allowed for a quicker workflow to create frames that could be blended with more traditional hand-drawn 2D images, she added. Pflughoeft is part of the project animation team that also includes Casey Blackwood, of Waukesha; Megan McDowell, of Albertville, Minnesota; and Emery Christian, of St. Paul.

Bellotti said she was excited to represent the team at the conference, as well as to represent and inspire other School of Art and Design students who might not think of their work as research because it doesn’t involve traditional experimentation or data collection. “I hope that we paved the way for future art and design students to know that this is something you can do,” she said of taking part in the research conference.

Four images show the evolution of the animation of a frame from "Jilly & Juno." / Submitted image

Broad spectrum of research

NCUR, the largest symposium of its kind, featured several other �� students from a variety of disciplines. These students, their projects and faculty advisers are:

Madeline Candline, of Pooler, Georgia, chemistry, “Changes in Chemical Properties of Surface Waters in Dunn County,” adviser Ana Magdalena Vande Linde.
Valacia Casper, of Taylor, applied social science, “Political Opinions Over Women ��. Health Care and its Effect on Female Voters,” advisers Tina Lee and Courtney Juelich.
Luke Denney, of Byron, Minnesota, computer science, “Kintsugi 3D Builder: User Experience Design & Implementation,” adviser Michael Tetzlaff.
Addy Lanthier, of Esko, Minnesota, professional communication and emerging media, “SMARTArt Development and Curation: Salvador Dali ��. Inferno,” adviser Mitchell Ogden.
Marshall Leininger, of Appleton, studio art, “Sing Into My Mouth: Evaluating the Intersection Between Nature and the Internet,” advisers Tamara Brantmeier and Amy Fichter.
Emery Christian, of St. Paul, applied social science, “College Students Opinions on Workers Unions, Minnesota and Wisconsin” and “The Loneliness Epidemic and Political Alignment, Exploring How Politics Influence the Social Connections of College Students,” advisers Nels Paulson, Lee and Juelich.
Nik Nelson, of Minneapolis, and Corey Brisiel, of Eau Claire, applied social science, “Off-Campus Housing in Menomonie Wisconsin,” advisers Lee and Juelich.
Cassie Sciarra, of St. Paul, applied social science, “Social Determinants of Substance Use Disorders and Addiction Treatment: Evidence From Arbor Place Professionals,” advisers Lee and Juelich.
Dane Talbott Settle, of Madison, industrial design, “Hungry: Alternative to Touchscreens in Toys,” adviser Emily Pieper.

In addition to these students, �� faculty mentors Arthur Kneeland, Kim Zagorski, Tetzlaff, and Lee, as well as Chela Cea and Hoeltke from the Office of Research and Sponsored Programs attended the conference.

University of Wisconsin-Stout provides ample applied opportunities for students to grow their knowledge and skills �� student Jessica Qualich, left, conducts research at the Jarvis Hall greenhouse.

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PHOTO ESSAY: A City Built of Art

goersab — Fri, 07 Mar 2025 15:15:00 +0000

PHOTO ESSAY: A City Built of Artgoersab March 7, 2025

Discover the far side of Chicago ��. history with students in a comics course

Abbey Goers

Photos by Erika Saindon and Mary Climes

Calvin and Hobbes. Batman. Snoopy. What comical, heroic or nostalgic characters spring into your mind with a * POW! * when you hear the word “comics?”

Does Chicago come to mind? If not, it should. Characters like Dick Tracy, Little Orphan Annie, Jimmy Corrigan and so many more were born in Chicago.

Between 1880 and 1960, the publishing industry in the Windy City played a large role in the development and transformation of comics as a legitimate art form.

To discover the rich historical and contemporary comics scene, 13 �� students ventured around the city as part of an inaugural faculty-led study away Comics in Chicago course, led by School of Art and Design Assistant Professor Mary Climes.

“My goal is for students to be immersed in the culture and history of one of the best comic cities in the world,” Climes said. “Each space we visit allows students to broaden their knowledge of comics, visual storytelling and illustration.”

Erika Saindon, of Albert Lea, Minn., has a concentration in comics and working in a Chicago gallery is her ultimate dream.

She joined her studio art peers, as well as graphic design, animation and illustration students on an eight-hour Amtrak ride from St. Paul to Chicago, spending a week in January visiting museums, cultural spaces, libraries, galleries and artist studios.

“When I first saw the city, I knew that this was the place for me,” Saindon said. “As a girl from a small town, you grow up realizing how undervalued art is.

“But in Chicago, there is art everywhere. Whether at different museums we visited, our daily outings or murals on buildings, like the nine-story mural of blues legend Muddy Waters. Chicago is entirely built of art and the artists in their communities.”

The class stayed in downtown Chicago, within walking distance of all their destinations, allowing them to take in the whole city, a new experience for Saindon.

They wandered through the Art Institute of Chicago, taking in centuries of artwork, including “Project a Black Planet: The Art and Culture of Panafrica,” exhibiting more than 350 works by artists from Africa, the Americas and Europe, spanning nearly a century of art.

In the museum ��. Prints and Drawing Study Collection, they viewed original comic pages and were lucky enough to look at some drawings unprotected by glass, as well as unfinished works before going to print.

A walk to Wicker Park led the class to a cache of bookstores, including a huge Barnes & Noble and Quimby ��., a local indie comics store – a favorite to many. They read comics set in and by Chicago cartoonists, including Chris Ware, Emil Ferris and Ivan Brunetti.

They saw lithography, relief, etching and screen print examples at Hoofprint press shop, and attended a risograph workshop at Spudnik Press, a community print studio, creating their own risograph printed comic books inspired by the city.

As a studio course, each student kept a daily diary of comic sketches and scientific illustrations. They spent time studying the wildlife exhibits and the vast collection of scientific illustrations at the Field Museum.

Saindon painted birds, bison and more with watercolors as visitors watched and walked around the museum.

The subway in the Latinx District was the most colorful subway she had ever seen. “Going to this part of Chicago was my all-time favorite part of the trip. Mostly because this is my culture, and I love it being celebrated and recognized, especially throughout art,” Saindon said.

She stayed warm basking among the tropical plants at the Garfield Park Conservatory, taking time to smell the roses and paint the bright colored flowers.

At the National Museum of Mexican Art, they visited Cecilia Beaven ��. exhibition “Semilla” (Seed). “Semilla” incorporated elements of Aztec mythology and Mexican folk art, with magical beings created through many mediums, even comics.

The class was graced in winter sunlight under the Preston Bradley Hall Tiffany Dome in the Chicago Cultural Center, formally the first Chicago Public Library. The massive translucent dome, spanning more than 1,000 square feet, is the largest Tiffany glass dome in the world. Its glass panels are cut in the shape of fish scales, adorned by the signs of the zodiac at the dome ��. peak.

They also visited the Harold Washington Library, the Newberry Library, the Museum of Contemporary Art, the Smart Museum of Art and the Renaissance Society.

Walking through Chinatown, they stopped for a bite to eat – steamed trays of dim sum piled high on the table was Saindon ��. favorite meal of the week.

They toured the neighborhoods of Hyde Park, West Town and Pilsen, visiting the Pilsen Arts and Community House.

Walking back to the hotel on the last night of their trip, the class stepped off the subway near the Chicago Theatre and strolled under the famous “CHICAGO” sign, illuminated in red and gold.

At Federal Plaza, they passed Alexander Calder ��. 53-foot-tall Flamingo sculpture – its red, elegant arcing neck sweeping downward to graze invisible shrimp off the pavement.

“Honestly, I don’t see how it would be a flamingo, but I guess it ��. up for interpretation. It was quite beautiful to see, especially at night,” said Saindon, who will graduate in spring 2027.

�� . School of Art and Design, one of the largest public art schools in the Midwest, offers bachelor ��. degrees in animation and digital media; game design and development-art; graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production, as well as an M.F.A. in design.

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Discover the far side of Chicago ��. history with students in a comics course Comics in Chicago course. Photo by Erika Saindon.

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Creature Collab: Animation, game design students bring preschoolers’ characters to life

goersab — Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:13:12 +0000

Creature Collab: Animation, game design students bring preschoolers’ characters to lifegoersab November 26, 2024

Collaborative project with kids helps build communication, 3D design skills

Abbey Goers

Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? What if you could bring that character to life as an adult?

Animation and game design students at �� met with local children recently to bring their characters and creatures to life using 3D software.

From a purple and red butterfly to a red-eyed princess in a red ballgown, a fox holding an orange, a rainbow bunny-like creature, a kitty with a pink collar, a green monster with sweeping arms, a dragon-dog-unicorn, a brown bear, a vampire holding a flower and the warden from Minecraft.

The 4K and university students met in an animation computer lab / ��

The Creature Collaboration was between Assistant Professor Karl Koehle ��. 3D Organic Modeling class and Maggie Keenan ��. 4K classroom in the university ��. Child and Family Study Center.

“One of the best parts of my classroom is that we are right on campus, so the children get to have these collaborative opportunities,” Keenan said. “It ��. so neat that the kids helped their college partners with this project. And the children were so excited to see their drawings come to life.”

First, Koehle ��. class paired off with the 17 young artists in their 4K room. While the children colored their characters, the 3D students observed, asked questions and took notes on what to include in their digital adaptations.

The children then visited their college partners in a Micheels Hall computer lab to see their character designs brought to life.

'High five!' Our drawings and 3D creatures rock! / ��

The 3D Organic Modeling class introduces students to the basics of digital sculpting tools, which mimic properties of physical clay that can be pinched, poked and pulled, Koehle explained.

“By introducing an in-person collaboration, it was my intent to give more practice to the early design process, encourage face-to-face communication with clients and offer an opportunity to embrace exploration of ideas,” he said. “It ��. an important exercise to support a stakeholder who has ideas and goals but is not as adept in visual communication skills or doesn’t use the technical terminology. It's a unique design challenge to interpret meaning, then choose and apply a cohesive style.”

Carrying design skills over into their careers

In the moments before the 4K class arrived in the computer lab, the 3D students quickly made edits to their designs to brighten colors or make their characters more friendly (or less friendly, depending on the child ��. original idea).

For some, it was an unexpected nerve-wracking experience. “Why am I so nervous to have children critique my work?” – “I think they’re going to love it.”

Game design major Sade Nagel shows her 4K student how to use the snake hook tool in Z Brush for added animation / ��

“Seeing their faces light up as we brought their creations to life was really heartwarming,” said animation senior Megan McDowell. “My favorite part was seeing how the 4Kers create and think of things. They have such big imaginations, and I loved watching them try to explain what they were thinking.”

McDowell ��. 4K student had known immediately what she was going to draw – a character she named Dracula.

“This project allowed me to gain experience meeting with a client who knew what they wanted but couldn’t communicate it fully,” she said. “It allowed me to gain insight into their vision while also learning to have my own creative freedom to make design choices that I believe worked. Knowing how to use these programs and communicate with a client are skills I can carry over into my career.”

Animation major Megan McDowell's 4K student colored a friendly Dracula / ��

It was a challenge to design characters that resembled the children ��. drawing, finding a balance between their vision while building something aesthetically pleasing that incorporated the elements of design.

“My favorite part was listening to their creativity flow. Kids can be so imaginative, as they don’t let the constraints of reality and color theory bring them down,” said game design student March Gutman.

Gutman ��. 4K student ��. character was Rainbow Butterfly. “It was really interesting to apply my own knowledge to the kid ��. design. I would suggest anyone who has the opportunity to try and bring a kid ��. illustration to life. It really makes you think outside of the box about the design process,” they said.

Game design major March Gutman and their 4K student work on Rainbow Butterfly / ��

For game design student Alex Rowley, learning to use the Z Brush software, with its hundreds of tools and capabilities, was the biggest hurdle in creating his 4K student ��. orange fox named Orangey.

The 3D students also used their time together to teach the children how to use some of the Z Brush tools to paint a princess crown, add green leaves to a tree or add an extra arm to their character.

“There is a lot to learn, especially when you’re working in programs that you’re unfamiliar with,” Rowley said. “Learning how to go through the process of ideating, modeling, sculpting, texturing and rendering will be a really important workflow for future assignments and work projects.

Game design major Alex Rowley shows his 4K student how to add green leaves to a forest scene / ��

“It can also be quite stressful to have a young child be your boss,” he said. “It was a good way to learn how to handle opinions that may not make sense to you as an educated artist. It was also super motivating for me, specifically because the fear of disappointing a young client encouraged me to work harder.”

CFSC Director Allison Feller thinks the collaboration is a “unique opportunity where both our young learners and college students benefit. The children were able to see their ideas brought to life, while the design students applied their skills to make those ideas a reality. As the university ��. early childhood education lab, we welcome opportunities to connect classroom theory with hands-on experience, which is at the heart of ��'s polytechnic mission.”

The collaboration was both a learning and teaching experience for the university students / ��

The 3D students’ next step was to take the characters into Painter software, which digitally paints right on the 3D model. Koehle then printed a large-scale poster combining the children ��. drawings and the 3D models, and his class presented the poster to the 4K classroom.

The collaboration marks the 10-year anniversary of a similar project between the CFSC and Professor Dave Beck ��. game design class in 2014.

The Creature Collaboration poster presented to the CFSC 4K class / ��

The Stout Game Expo will feature the works of about 250 students from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 11, in the upper level of the Memorial Student Center. It is followed by the School of Art and Design Senior Show on Friday, Dec. 13, celebrating more than 100 seniors’ and juniors’ creative and collaborative endeavors on exhibit in Applied Arts and Micheels Hall. And the STEMM Student Expo will be from 1 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 12, in the Memorial Student Center.

The Creature Collaboration poster may be displayed at SOAD Senior Show.

The game design and animation programs are part of �� . School of Art and Design. SOAD also offers bachelor ��. degrees in graphic design and interactive media; illustration; industrial and product design; interior design; studio art; arts administration and entrepreneurship; fashion design and development; and video production. It has a master ��. in design and design, entrepreneurship and sustainability.

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Hero Caption: Creature drawings by 4K students at ��'s Child and Family Study Center inspired 3D modelings by animation and game design students.

Karl Koehle

Prior to ��, Karl worked over a decade producing animated video exhibits for use in trial. Cases included a variety of topics such as accident reconstruction, patent infringement, product liability, & demonstrative medical processes. He also devoted many years to athlete development as an alpine snowboard racing coach.

Karl joined �� in 2015 as a Lecturer in the Game Design program, teaching design foundation and game design classes. In 2023, he completed his master ��. degree at ��, and accepted the position of Assistant Professor. His thesis focused on affective responses in non-conventional human-computer interactions. Exploring the concepts of delightful design resulted in the production of two functional prototypes with novel interactions.

Teaching interests:
Game Art, 3D modeling, pixel art, exploratory games, senior capstone, course development for student engagement,
interdisciplinary collaborations, and mentorship through custom projects. Advisor for the Casual Gaming Club

Research Interests:
Delightful design, engagement, constructivism, and learning through play.
Current projects include both analog and digital systems, alternate controls, and interactive designs that surprise and delight.

Full Name: Karl Koehle

Job Title: Assistant Professor

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Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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Curriculum Vitae: Karl Koehle CV (122.52 KB)

Website: Pixel Art Map

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Design

University: University of Wisconsin–Stout

Degree: B.S. Film & Video Production – Animation

University: Grand Valley State University

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�� design students collaborate to combine couture, dance, video game

goersab — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 14:48:44 +0000

�� design students collaborate to combine couture, dance, video gamegoersab April 17, 2024

Blue Devils dance team choreographs Boogie Beyond, featured at Stout Game Expo on May 2

Abbey Goers

Collaboration across disciplines is just one part of the polytechnic experience students receive at ��.

For students in the game and fashion design programs, recent collaborations even crossed over into athletics, as they worked with members of the Blue Devils dance team on two projects.

Dance team members Alayna Reps and Izzy Swanson switched from their dancewear to don motion capture suits and helped a game design team bring their game Boogie Beyond to life in �� . state-of-the-art Vicon Motion Capture Studio in Micheels Hall.

The dance team wore student-designed costumes for their winter jazz routine, 'Stand in the Light.' / Jenny Rae Photography, DanceXtreme, �� Athletics

The dance team ��. Head Coach Samantha Ziwicki worked with fashion design and development senior Reem Emerson on new costumes for a winter jazz routine.

Crossing over into Boogie Beyond

Reps and Swanson helped Tristen Rice, animation and digital media, Menomonie; Eric Gritzmacher, computer science, Hayward; Bryce VanDyke, game design and development-art, Hudson; Sarah Ziebarth, computer science and game design double major, Lake City, Minn.; and Sophia Burgess, game design, Fall Creek; along with nine other students on their creation of Boogie Beyond, a virtual reality rhythm game.

The students are looking forward to sharing Boogie Beyond at Stout Game Expo, western Wisconsin's largest game developers’ event. SGX will be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, May 2, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall.

Concept art for Heather, a character in Boogie Beyond. / Sophia Burgess

In the game, players act as investigators chasing down leads of “boogie fever” spreading throughout the city. They find themselves in the chaotic confines of Club Cosmic. Players groove their way through the mysterious nightclub looking for evidence and engaging in dance battles. They must uncover the figure behind the smoke and mirrors before they succumb to the fever themselves.

After meeting with the game design team to talk about the vibes they wanted for each character, Reps, a fashion design major from St. Charles, Minn., and Swanson, a manufacturing engineering and mechanical engineering double major from Becker, Minn., choreographed a song from the game ��. soundtrack, drawing inspiration from Just Dance.

“The �� dance team was instrumental. They not only developed multiple era-specific choreography for our characters, aiming for an early 1980s and late 1970s aesthetic and sound, but they also motion-captured the dance itself,” Ziebarth said. “The characters wouldn't have come to life nearly as much if it weren't for their talent.”

Alayna Reps and Izzy Swanson in the Motion Capture Studio. / Sarah Ziebarth

Swanson called the recording in the mo-cap studio “an experience to remember. We danced to the music, taking breaks between each part. Then the game design team worked their magic to integrate the dances into the game,” she said.

Following the Stout Game Expo, the SOAD Senior Show will feature capstone projects by nearly 120 graduating School of Art and Design seniors from 6 to 9 p.m., on Friday, May 3, in Applied Arts and Micheels Hall.

Dancewear leads to small business venture

Emerson, a freelance designer and bridal consultant in St. Paul, was contracted through University Athletics to design 20 custom, hand-sewn dance costumes for the Blue Devils.

Emerson began with several ideations for the dancewear. / Reem Emerson

The team wore the costumes for their winter jazz routine, choreographed by Ziwicki, who chose a soft but powerful composition, “Stand in the Light” by Jordan Smith, for the performance. She wanted the costumes to be light, airy and feminine.

“The process and steps it took to design, pattern and sew all the costumes was similar to how we design our collections within the fashion program. The team didn’t have a costume in light colors, so we chose a blue hue that would still represent the Blue Devils,” she said.

After ideations, Emerson created five garment prototypes and presented them to Ziwicki. They discussed revisions and changes in the applique décor and fabric choices to allow for body movement and eliminate gaping.

The final design included a high neckline and backstrap. The asymmetrical knee-length skirt allowed for two different looks and was made of stretch knit performance mesh. Applique and crystal rhinestone details and a hand-made, detachable applique clip on the waistband added a touch of winter grace.

Emerson designed 20 costumes for the Blue Devils dance team. / Noah Albricht

Emerson learned much of her hand-sewing techniques while interning last summer at Beauty By Design, in Minneapolis.

“One thing that I did not expect when going into this project was that I would come out of it as a small business owner,” she said. “Taking on the dancewear project was much more than sewing beautiful costumes. It helped give me career options that I never knew I could have. It was a fantastic experience.”

Ten fashion design seniors, including Emerson, will model 45 pieces in their capstone clothing collections at the WEAR Fashion Show at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 27, in the Memorial Student Center Great Hall. Tickets are required and are available to purchase online.

WEAR is part of �� . Spring Showcase of student-centered events in April and May. It is hosted by the WEAR Fashion Association student organization.

Emerson, center, will showcase her bridalwear collection at WEAR Fashion Show on April 27 / ��

Emerson, who also has a degree in industrial design from ��, will graduate on Saturday, May 4. She is interviewing for full-time positions where she can help companies bring ideas to life.

The Blue Devils dance team competed in the Dance Xtreme Americup Championship in Minneapolis in February, receiving many recognitions, including the Andrew Lawrence Sportsmanship award. They won second place in the collegiate contemporary division for Stand in the Light, which was recognized for its positive message and the performers’ stage presence.

The team will host tryouts on Saturday, April 20, and Sunday, April 21, in Johnson Fieldhouse. Tryouts are open to all 2024 high school graduates or older, and auditionees must be considering or committed to �� for fall 2024.

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Blue Devils dance team choreographs Boogie Beyond, featured at Stout Game Expo on May 2 Stout Dance Team

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PHOTO ESSAY: I See Trees of Green…

hugginsm — Fri, 22 Sep 2023 14:32:26 +0000

PHOTO ESSAY: I See Trees of Green…hugginsm September 22, 2023

Stout Students Do More on Day One in Environmental Science

Abbey Goers Zach Porter Rachel Hallgrimson

Down a hall in the Jarvis Hall Science Wing, 20 first- to fourth-year students and two community members gather around tables in a white-washed biology lab. A poster illustrates the “Life Cycle of a Tree,” and the “Nature Alphabet” is depicted through photographs of the intricate pattern of a blue butterfly wing, the flamboyant pink s-shape of a flamingo ��. neck and the hypnotic coil of a snail shell. Large plastic models featuring the anatomical parts of a flower line the tops of several cabinets.

At the head of the lab stands Senior Lecturer Arthur Kneeland. He ��. preparing his students in his general education class, Plants and People, for an outing around campus to practice tree identification.

“The goal of the class is for students to begin to see the differences in plants; to not just see nature as a sea of green, but to recognize the individual pieces of it,” Kneeland said. “These are life skills. We introduce them to the scientific method and to the dichotomous key to identify native and cultivated plants.”

Working in small groups, students familiarize themselves with the key – a handout – a scientific tool used to identify organisms based on observable traits. The key consists of a series of statements with two choices per step, a decision-tree diagram, to lead the students to the correct identification of each tree they observe.

“Let ��. go outside and look at plants!” Kneeland jumps up and ushers his students out the door.

The sky is overcast, and a cool breeze rustles the leaves on trees that have yet to turn their autumn colors.

The class gathers around Kneeland under the branches of a large tree standing between Jarvis Hall and the Memorial Student Center, towering over a stone and concrete sculpture.

Kneeland plucks a leaf from a low branch and walks his students through reading the key and identifying the tree. They note the lobed, toothed leaf and the pattern of the leaves on each branch, eventually identifying the red maple, its leaves still a bright summer green.

Molly Hongslo, an animation and digital media junior from Lakeville, Minn., is taking the class because a couple of her friends recommended it. “It ��. neat that we get to go outside and look at plants,” she said. “I’m excited to start growing and propagating our own plants, and we get to visit the conservatory at Como Zoo.”

Leading the group across 10th Avenue toward Heritage Hall, Kneeland stops under another tree near the building ��. main entrance and places his palm on the trunk, peering up into the sprawling branches.

“I have a weird emotional connection to this tree,” he said, explaining how he helped save the sapling when he worked on the grounds crew during his undergrad at �� in the early 2000s. He and other crew members continuously watered the sapling to leach out the lime from newly poured concrete near the young tree ��. roots.

Kneeland asks a student to reach up and pluck one of the large seeds dangling from a low-hanging branch. He slices the seed open with a pocketknife, revealing the smooth, creamy inner nut of the bur oak. Its acorn ��. frilly cap is one of the tree ��. key characteristics.

“It ��. edible, but a bitter fruit,” he said. “You can mash it, pat it, bake it into a crust.”

Heading up the sidewalk, Kneeland shares lessons on buckthorn and invasive species removal, and on respecting trees, pointing out a young black oak with a damaged trunk. The class works to identify a linden tree, whose heart-shaped leaves have been damaged by a recent hailstorm.

Ben Phipps, a fourth-year animation and digital media student from Inver Grove Heights, Minn., enjoys the hands-on applied learning that Stout offers. “Every class you take at Stout is hands-on. So, with every class being super interactive, time management is important,” he said. “You have to make sure you have a schedule and not prioritize just one class. You have to devote time to each class, even outside of the classroom.”

Back across the street, behind the Applied Arts Building, the students step in among the vibrant, soft boughs of an evergreen. A layer of dried needles crunches underfoot. The low shrubs and tangle of trees rival the splash of color of the neighboring Art & Design mural.

Kneeland approaches a lone evergreen. Small pine cones sprinkle the ground. He explains the Jack pine ��. strategy of inducing seeds to germinate, requiring the intense, brief heat of a wildfire

“Complications of wildfire management and the restriction of natural wildfires for the sake of property protection can change the diversity of a region and inhibit the growth of new trees,” he said. “Plants and people can have a complicated relationship.”

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Discover what Environmental Science students do on day one in their Plants and People class. Plants and People Day One

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��'s Jarvis Hall Science Wing houses laboratories and classrooms for applied biochemistry, molecular biology, environmental science and applied science.

Amanda Little

Teaching Interests: Ecology, plant taxonomy, wetland ecology, restoration ecology, non-majors biology

Research Interests: My research program currently focuses on the metacommunity dynamics of ephemeral ponds. Historically, my research agenda has been very broad and interdisciplinary, including research on invasive plant species, prairie restoration, geographic information systems (GIS) applications to natural resource problems, wetland vegetation dynamics, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Full Name: Dr. Amanda M. Little

Job Title: Professor / Program Director

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College: College of Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics & Management

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Curriculum Vitae: Dr. Amanda M. Little CV (513.4 KB)

Education:

Degree: Ph.D. Botany

University: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree: M.S. Botany and Landscape Architecture

University: University of Wisconsin-Madison

Degree: B.S. Natural Resource Management and Biology

University: University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point

Degree: M.L.A. Candidate Landscape Architecture

University: University of Michigan

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Making cinematic magic: �� students, faculty collaborate on short films for Unspooled Festival, May 12-14

goersab — Thu, 04 May 2023 18:11:05 +0000

Making cinematic magic: �� students, faculty collaborate on short films for Unspooled Festival, May 12-14goersab May 4, 2023

A family documentary, peculiar creatures, alien chases, murder mystery and more captured in short films, stop-motion animation

Abbey Goers

Video production and animation students at �� are gearing up for a three-day festival as they promote the event, their university and the city of Menomonie. And within their related interviews and ads, they’re giving future festival goers a taste of their talents.

The Unspooled Film and Animation Festival will run Friday, May 12, to Sunday, May 14, screened in �� . historic Harvey Hall Theatre, as well as other local destinations.

Unspooled will showcase films and animations, documentaries, narratives, commercial projects and experimental films from regional and international independent storytellers, as well as the talents of university students.

‘Love for the craft’ – New Unspooled film fest hosted by �� will feature independent, student storytellers

Film and animation event debut invites community May 12-14; submissions close April 28

Ticket sales are open. Audience members may purchase tickets for specific screenings or a pass for all screenings:

May 12, 4 to 9 p.m.: Student films and keynote speaker. Harvey Hall Theatre
May 13, Noon to 10 p.m.: Professional independent films and keynote speaker Andrew Hunt. Harvey Hall Theatre and Brewery Nonic
May 14, 3 to 6 p.m.: Animation films and keynote speaker Mike Owens. Harvey Hall Theatre
May 14, 8:30 to 10 p.m.: Films free for all ages. Wilson Park, with Harvey Hall Theatre as the rain site.

“Immerse yourself in a world of film and animation from both established and emerging voices,” said festival Director Jonathan Wheeler, lecturer of video production.

Collaboration ‘creates magic’

Video production students Dayton Feldt, of Beloit, and Joey Lange, of Harmony, Minn., have created promotional videos for Unspooled, interviewing fellow students whose short films have been selected for the festival.

In her short film “Being Mr. Vicchiollo,” Sarah Vicchiollo, of Greenville, captures the story and experiences of her dad.

Sarah Vicchiollo shares her father's experiences in her short film “Being Mr. Vicchiollo" / Dayton Feldt and Joey Lange

“I have always admired my dad, especially since he took 13 years away from his own career to raise my siblings and me,” Vicchiollo said. “I wanted to share his story, since being a stay-at-home dad in the early 2000s was not common and, as a result, he experienced discrimination for just trying to be a parent.”

In Feldt and Lange ��. interview with Delaney Hoffman, director of “Radio Head,” Hoffman said, “The most rewarding part of creating ‘Radio Head’ is probably getting to work with so many different kinds of people. Being able to create another community that ��. not just in my major – it ��. really unique how we all could bond over this film.”

“Radio Head” is a 15-minute stop-motion and live action film that follows a young girl named Hazel, who finds herself stuck inside of a radio filled with wonder and peculiar creatures.

Delaney Hoffman collaborated with more than 75 students in the creation of "Radio Head" / Dayton Feldt and Joey Lange

“There are more than 75 members who took a role in the making of the film,” said Hoffman, of Dorchester. “I think the thing that brought us all together was the desire to be a part of something bigger. To reach beyond the limitations of school and to use our passions to create something we've never done before. To create a community of artists and creatives in all different fields to do one thing: create magic.”

Zach Hoffmire, of Kenosha, and Nicos Wiard, of Minneapolis, collaborated on “No Such Thing,” inspired by alien media.

“We have this vision for what we want this project to look like,” Hoffmire said in his interview. “Making what we set out to make is probably the most rewarding part. It actually turned out the way we wanted it to, and in some cases, even better.

“We really wanted to push the realism and make the world of the story rich and grounded even though the concept was quite out of this world,” Hoffmire added. “We loved acting in our own project not only because it was convenient with scheduling but also because we could translate our friendship and chemistry in real life to the screen.”

Zach Hoffmire and Nicos Wiard translated their friendship to the screen in "No Such Thing" / Dayton Feldt and Joey Lange

But the filming process was not without setbacks, either by human error or environmental forces. In the chase scene, Hoffmire ��. character is leaning out the window of the van, filming an alien spaceship. During one of the takes, his hat flew off.

“I managed to catch it with my left hand, which I was initially impressed by, but I quickly realized that I was now not holding onto anything and could very well fall out of the moving van. Luckily, Nicos was holding my leg, and all was fine,” he said.

“We leaned into mistakes and flaws. We ended up loving this take, as it felt the most authentic because of the mistakes,” Hoffmire added. “All of those unplanned moments that ended up working perfectly are the reason this short film turned out as well as it did.”

And when they shot the final scene, it was freezing and windy. “Poor Zach was wearing a white tank top and falling around in the snow. I had my hands covered in fake blood. I learned that fake blood freezes at a higher temperature than water, so my hands started freezing,” Wiard said. “After the scenes were done, Zach drove home shaking, and I drove home with paper towels stuck to my hands so I wouldn't get fake blood on my steering wheel.”

While students collaborate across campus to create cinematic magic, faculty also enjoy stepping in to collaborate on their projects.

Lucas Falkavage, of Stevens Point, explained in his interview how Wheeler was excited about Falkavage ��. murder mystery, “Shared Space,” and helped with a rough version.

Falkavage thinks that what makes �� unique is the “genuine passion that goes into our projects. And that ��. not just from the students, it ��. from the professors as well. Our professors are always willing to go above and beyond the role of teacher to bring our creations to life.”

While Wheeler helped Falkavage with the writing, one of the primary roles in his film is voiced by Lecturer Co O’Neill. “You can tell that they are just as excited as us to make awesome videos,” Falkavage said.

Lucas Falfavage collaborated with Lecturer Jonathan Wheeler in writing "Shared Space" / Dayton Feldt and Joey Lange

“As an instructor, it's hard not to get really interested in the projects of the students,” Wheeler said. “Their work is often so creative and unexpected. I feel very fortunate to be able to see and help the realization of students' vision on screen.”

Unspooled promotional films by students also include ads that bring students’ animations to life; highlights of the Menomonie area, like historic downtown and natural sites, like the Devil ��. Punchbowl; and satirical sketches.

Unspooled is supported by the School of Art and Design and Continuing Education and Conferences.

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AI-Assisted Film and Video Production class to open summer 2026

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A family documentary, peculiar creatures, alien chases, murder mystery and more captured in short films, stop-motion animation Zach Hoffmire and Nicos Wiard

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Jonathan Paul Wheeler

Jonny has a diverse and extensive background in stop-motion animation, photography, video production, graphic design, sculpture, and art/design education. Over the years, he has honed his skills across multiple disciplines, blending traditional techniques with contemporary technologies to create visually compelling and thought-provoking works. His work in sculpture, in particular, has given him a unique perspective on the intersection of physical and digital media, enabling him to explore how tactile, three-dimensional forms can enhance narrative storytelling in film and animation.

Jonny's formal education includes a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design, where he developed his foundational skills in the arts. He later earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) in Education, equipping him with the tools to teach and inspire others in the creative fields. His academic journey culminated in a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in Design from the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where he further refined his expertise in design and creative processes.

In addition to his academic achievements, Jonny has dedicated much of his career to education, designing and hosting cinema workshops for secondary students, where he nurtures the next generation of filmmakers by guiding them through the creative and technical processes of filmmaking. He has also taught summer video production camps on campus, helping young students explore video production techniques and the power of storytelling through film. His ability to make complex concepts accessible and engaging has earned him praise from both students and peers. He has also contributed to the Visioneers Design Challenge at the Peck School of the Arts, where he mentors students to develop innovative design solutions, fostering a collaborative environment that encourages creativity and problem-solving.

Jonny ��. educational journey also includes a transformative study abroad trip to Iceland, where he taught photography. Immersed in the unique landscapes of Iceland, he shared his expertise with students while also drawing inspiration from the country ��. dramatic natural beauty. This experience deepened his understanding of visual storytelling and enriched his approach to teaching and creating art.

Currently, Jonny ��. research is focused on the development of narrative cinema, with an emphasis on virtual production—a rapidly growing field that integrates real-time digital environments with live-action performance. He is particularly interested in how new technologies, including AI, can enhance storytelling, automate certain aspects of production, and open up new creative possibilities for filmmakers and animators alike. His work explores the intersection of human creativity and technological innovation, with a keen eye on the future of the film industry.

In addition to his research, Jonny is actively involved in the development of the Unspooled Film and Animation Festival. This festival aims to bring together emerging and established filmmakers, animators, and creators who are pushing the boundaries of storytelling through both traditional and digital media. By embracing AI-driven creativity, innovative techniques, and cutting-edge production methods, the Unspooled Film and Animation Festival celebrates the evolving landscape of film, animation, and sculpture while fostering a space for collaboration and experimentation in the arts. Through this festival, Jonny hopes to inspire a new generation of creators to explore the limitless potential of storytelling in the digital age, encouraging the integration of multiple artistic forms, including sculpture, into cinematic experiences.

Full Name: Jonathan Paul Wheeler

Job Title: Assistant Professor

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Photography Video Production Digital Cinema Fine Arts Curriculum Design

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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Website: Jonathan Paul Wheeler

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Design

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: B.F.A.

University: Milwaukee Institute of Art & Design

Degree: B.S. Art Education

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

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Keif Oss

Keif has an M.S. in Career and Technical Education and an MFA in Digital Filmmaking. He is an Assistant Professor of video production and serving as Program Director for the B.S. Video Production degree. Keif teaches a variety of courses in video production and photography with both narrative and commercial aspects.

Keif has worked on a range of professional and commercial video projects as a senior video producer and owner/independent contractor of A Creative Advocate, LLC. His work includes television/web advertising, documentary, motion graphics and a variety of marketing-oriented materials. Keif ��. expertise and creative contributions include work for 100+ clients including Mayo Clinic, Seventh Generation, State Farm Insurance, Royal Credit Union and others.

Keif has also worked on short and feature film projects in various capacities including writing, producing, directing, camera operation and post-production/VFX.

Full Name: Keif T. Oss

Job Title: Assistant Professor / Program Director

Include in Directory: Yes

Area of Expertise: Video Production Cinema Production Photography Graphic Communications Cross-Media Graphics Technologies

College: College of Arts & Human Sciences

Department: School of Art & Design Design Department

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B.S. Video Production

Curriculum Vitae: Keif T. Oss CV (408.56 KB)

Education:

Degree: M.F.A. Digital Filmmaking

University: Anaheim University Akira Kurosawa School of Filmmaking

Degree: M.S. Career & Technical Education

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

Degree: B.S. Graphic Communications Management

University: University of Wisconsin-Stout

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News

Student illustrations inspired by holiday songs showcased at Symphony, Dec. 7

Illustrations inspired by music

Introducing children to music

Global vision, local design: �������� students transform public spaces with murals

‘To Travel is to Understand’

An engaging, abstract collage for kids and families

Creature Collab: Animation, game design students bring preschoolers’ characters to life

Runway to imagination: �������� ��������. sold-out Fashion Without Fabric unfolds fears with theme of Philias and Phobias

Purr-fect pair: Dunn County Humane Society collaborates on short film with animation students

Supporting a nonprofit through animation

Animation Career Review rankings

B.F.A. Animation & Digital Media

�������� ��������. game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Review

Stout Game Expo (SGX)

Shipped games and side gigs

Rowley at Roblox: Creating something people enjoy

Daily at Respawn: You get what you put into your art

Professional development opportunities in game design

Animation Career Review rankings

B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

M.F.A. Design

Going national: �������� undergraduates’ research on robotics, animation, more presented at national conference

Robotic study seeks optimized plant growth

Examination of Alzheimer ��������., dementia draws high-level praise

Students explore efficient melding of 2D, 3D animation

Broad spectrum of research

Office of Research & Sponsored Programs

PHOTO ESSAY: A City Built of Art

Study Abroad

Full STEAM ahead: K-12 summer camps invite students to discover careers, build friendships

Creature Collab: Animation, game design students bring preschoolers’ characters to life

Carrying design skills over into their careers

B.F.A. Animation & Digital Media

B.F.A. Game Design & Development - Art

�������� design students collaborate to combine couture, dance, video game

Crossing over into Boogie Beyond

Dancewear leads to small business venture

Stout Game Expo (SGX)

PHOTO ESSAY: I See Trees of Green…

B.S. Environmental Science

Jarvis Hall Science Wing

Making cinematic magic: �������� students, faculty collaborate on short films for Unspooled Festival, May 12-14

‘Love for the craft’ – New Unspooled film fest hosted by �������� will feature independent, student storytellers

Collaboration ‘creates magic’

B.S. Video Production

B.F.A. Animation & Digital Media

Global vision, local design: �� students transform public spaces with murals

Runway to imagination: �� . sold-out Fashion Without Fabric unfolds fears with theme of Philias and Phobias

�� . game design programs ranked among international best by Princeton Review

Going national: �� undergraduates’ research on robotics, animation, more presented at national conference

Examination of Alzheimer ��., dementia draws high-level praise

�� design students collaborate to combine couture, dance, video game

Making cinematic magic: �� students, faculty collaborate on short films for Unspooled Festival, May 12-14

‘Love for the craft’ – New Unspooled film fest hosted by �� will feature independent, student storytellers