How would you describe the learning environment and culture at Deakin?
Mykaela Friendly and Inviting. I didn’t join any clubs or go to many events in my first year because I was too nervous. In second year someone convinced me to join the Anime Club and Pride Club and now I regret not joining sooner! I love meeting up every week. People were so welcoming when I first joined, I’ve made so many new friends now I’m one of the people welcoming new members in and having an awesome time doing it!
What has been a rewarding aspect of your course?
Mykaela: Learning to use specialized equipment at Deakin, such as the Motion Capture Lab, green screens and virtual reality software. I’ve also learnt to use so many different animation programs and worked with amazing tutors with industry experience.
Have you faced any challenges whilst studying?
Mykaela: When I first started at Deakin I didn’t really know what I wanted to study so I studied a Bachelor of Arts and tried a bit of everything. I loved my first animation unit so much that by the end of my first year I had applied for a course transfer and changed to a Bachelor of Animation and Motion Capture.
How is your course preparing you to be workready when you graduate?
Mykaela: As an animation student we do a lot of practical assignments and learn how to use programs and equipment that are common when working in the Animation industry. The animation teaching staff have been amazing, with many of them still currently freelancing and being hired for animation work, giving them valuable firsthand knowledge of the current industry.
Is there anything else you’d like to add that we haven’t covered?
Mykaela: As a student who came from a Homeschooling background, Deakin was a fun, inviting place that supported me and made my transition to university comfortable and easy. I’ve made so many friends that I will probably keep for a long time and learned so much through the units I’ve completed.
Mykaela studied the Bachelor of Creative Arts (Animation and Motion Capture) at Deakin University
*course now titled Bachelor of Design. The Bachelor of Arts also has study in Animation, Design Thinking, Film and Television Studies, Visual Communication Design, Web Design.
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