Archive notice: This article was originally published on October 21, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
In its latest issue, the editorial team of British design magazine Computer Arts Magazine published its annual “Graduate Showcase 2009” compilation of the world’s best design work. The international competition took place for the 13th time, with a jury including renowned figures such as Jasper Goodall, David Carson, Philip Hunt, Brendan Dawes, Mike Milne and Adam Jenns. Students around the world could submit graduation projects, diploma projects or semester work. The honoured work included two projects created in the “Film & Animation” course at Georg Simon Ohm University in Nuremberg.
The university production “Let There Be Sound” was not only selected in the Animation category, but also honoured as the best work with the coveted “Excellence Award.” Juror Mike Milne, Director of Computer Animation at renowned English studio Framestore CFC, explained: “A great little film, that shows excellent art direction, lighting and modelling, ambitious storytelling and good use of camera work and shot structure. Dynamics and particle work help to enhance the animation, and the music and sound effects as well.”
Three Students on the Road to Success
The short film was conceived and produced by three design students at Georg Simon Ohm University in Nuremberg, specialising in “Film & Animation” under Prof. Jürgen Schopper: Christian Lachenschmidt, Christian Scheck and Stefan Wühr, who formed “Tom, Dick & Harry” for the project.
With the aim of telling a concise and imaginative story in a pointed way, the animated film about a gigantic, planet-like creature and its parasitic inhabitants was created over six months. They have to endure quite a lot to save themselves and the universe…
Alongside intensive consideration of the anatomy of the main characters, work on the production design and elaborate computer animation, particular emphasis was placed on sound design: the trio themselves recorded the soundtrack composed especially for it by Stefan Wühr in the university’s recording studio.
The award-winning film “Let There Be Sound” and further information are available online at http://www.tomdickharry.de
Award-Winning Diploma Project
Katharina Lebsak was also honoured for independently developing and implementing an advertisement for the fictional music portal “Blackbird Music” as her diploma film. Katharina Lebsak designed the abstract story of the eponymous heraldic bird, which floats through various visualised musical worlds and ultimately leads viewers into the music portal, as an attractive 2D and 3D animation. It placed among the world’s twelve best productions in the Animation / Film & Broadcast section.
In addition to the magazine with a special supplement, both works also appeared on the CD “Graduate Showcase 2009 — This Year’s Best New Design Talent.”
“I am delighted by this great success in this internationally respected design competition for the ‘Tom, Dick & Harry’ team and diploma graduate Katharina Lebsak, who after graduating from Ohm now works successfully at the renowned Velvet Mediendesign agency,” Prof. Schopper comments on his students’ achievement, referring to the apt competition text: “The Graduate Showcase is eagerly anticipated by the design industry and community, with both studios and agents looking to sign promising new talent. Many entrants have forged successful careers in the design industry after being featured in previous Computer Arts Graduate Showcases — it’s a great way to kick-start your design career!”
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