so many layers… I won’t...
Nah! Just joking 
… All the...NTU Art degree. My verdict: 5/10
Ξ February 3rd, 2008 | → | ∇ School |
Quoted from a friend who went to ADM admission talk at Suntec:
I wasn’t expecting much, but I din expect so little.
I just want to warn advise everybody…juniors, friends and anybody who are thinking of enrolling into NTU’s School of Art, Design & Media (ADM). NTU’s ADM has earned enough flame points from my school and hardwarezone.com.sg to have a post in my blog. LOL.
I agree with this guy (http://ryanworkz.wordpress.com) that in this industry, our portfolio is more important than our grades, the talk presenter did say something right, but if you ask anyone who has been studying in art/design courses, everybody can tell you that. The big difference is which school can really assit you to build that strong portfolio which can land you your dream job.
During the talk, the presentation slides was made up of bright Red, Blue, Green and Yellow, the white text was on the yellow background. How to see the white text on the bright yellow background?! No color sense mann. After having to look at the fugly slides for so long…after bragging that they have XX numbers of PCs and MACs… after boasting that they provide the best professional education…after tio-ing shock from some(not all) of their artwork, here are some answers the presenter gave during the Q&A session at both the NYP talk and Suntec talk:
Q: What softwares do you teach? 3Ds max, Maya, or some other softwares?
A: Sorry, our animation lecturer isn’t here so we can’t answer you that.Q: Our current modules and lesson structure in NYP is somewhat similar to the modules taught at NTU. What do you think is the main difference between the two?
A: It is like the difference between a two year old kid and a five year old kid. What is taught to a two-year-old is different from what is taught to a five-year-old.Q: Can you show us your demoreel?
A: Sorry, we don’t have it now. Why not you come to the Suntec show and we’ll show it there.
(Then at the Suntec talk, they can’t show us their video clip because they claimed to have ‘technical error’ but it was so obvious that they did not even had quicktime installed in their computer.)Q: Where do you think NTU’s ADM stand among the other art schools like NAFA and Lasalle?
A: You cannot compare us like this. It is like eating an apple and orange. You wun know how it taste like until you try it yourself.
Haiz, they can’t even answer us which software they teach, just goes to show how prepared they are… and what is with the apple and orange metaphor (O.o) Also, ‘thanks’ for calling us two year old kids (=_=). Honestly, some of the year two and three student works displayed during the talk is similar to the works we did when we just year one students. In my opinion, some of my (diploma) junior’s work look much better than those 2nd/3rd year (degree) student’s works. If our animation lecturer were to grade that animated walk cycle NTU showed us during the NYP talk, he would have given them Fs (Fail and Faint). Out of the 4 years degree course, you will not be touching the computers at all in the first 2 years. Not everyone will turn out to become concept artist, some would really like to explore and hone their technical skill instead.
NTU’s fine arts work seems much more promising than their commercial art though. Then again, I’m not really into fine arts so I can’t really comment on it. Just give NTU a few more years, and probably their course would be much better by then. Nevertheless, I strongly believe there’s always the existence of hidden dragons in every art school, be it good or bad.
February 9th, 2008 at 3:27 am
found your blog when i goggle ntu, adm.
this is just a response and nothing defensive.
but frankly, as much as i agree the slides and presentation etc can be much better, pls bear in mind that the slides are neglected cos the faculty members have a heavy workload to deal with - besides promoting ntu adm to poly students. such as their teaching stuffs, consultations and handling ntu’s side.
and really, these profs are artist, designers in their own right. they can be very apt in explaining their work and imparting design skills - but they may not be very good in promoting a sch. cos, promoting a sch - is not the same as promoting an art piece, or their designs’ concepts etc.
and as much as it is true that the sch can do with a few more years to mature - but i strongly feel that the current sch cohort is pretty strong in itself. there are notably faculty members teaching and the quality of students is commendable.
afterall, art sch - as much it is abt the right portfolio and developing it, one main drive in developing your portfolio - is having the right environment - which provides you with quality criticism, which can drive you further and push yourself more.
as for the animation works - i would like to highlight that one of our student’s work - which was really just a individual assignment - is now being shown and judged in different parts of the world. i cant rember the details - cos i actually read it in the papers.
but really, touching the com = technical building?
f that is what ya thinking, lets just say - everyone can be strong technically - but it is the concept that will make your mark. you can hire someone to execute it nicely, but you cant hire someone to think for you. and for the fdn yr etc - it really breaks and challenge how you think - all in a new way.
which, all designers shld do. fresh perspective. fresh look, fresh way of thinking.
thanks
February 9th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
I totally agree. I wasn’t expecting much, but I didn’t expect so little as well.
But I think you’re a bit lenient with your scoring. I would have gave that course a 3 out of 10. They could have gotten someone better and more prepared to promote the school. If they can’t even do this right, how are they gonna attract students in.
February 9th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
In response to asher’s post, I disagree that everyone can be technically strong. Some people really dislike touching the technical software stuff or feel uncomfortable when they are doing something else other their regular concept drawings. People who are concept artist sometimes knows nuts about technical stuff, that’s why we have the technis.
‘you can hire someone to execute it nicely, but you cant hire someone to think for you’? hire someone to think for you…if you are referring to concept artist, you can hire concept artists anywhere(just go deviantart, concept artists galore), that’s what all animation companies r doing. hiring concept artist.
It’s not that ntu adm student or their course structure or their teaching method is lousy, it’s just that the first impression they gave is really suxky. The education they provide may be world-class, but if they can’t convey and show it, the audience doesn’t know that it’s world class.
February 10th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
Thx for the pingback at my post.
Yup. I agreed on the presentation slides being off colour and etc. I was at the afternoon session at suntec. Although I’m not an art dip graduate, I do love art and NTU certainly did not gave me quite a good impression but I’m willing to give it a try as other art schools, my chances will be slim.
So as to compared to the showreel that they screened in the afternoon session, if they consider that, I think my friends at SP digital media or even some of my frens at NYP in the same course as you, definitely can do much much better.
June 15th, 2008 at 5:05 pm
Same here, wasn’t quite impressed with the slides i saw in school but i will not deny everybody else’s effects in trying to build up our school. As a budding young school not back up by a strong arts school (local or overseas) but made up of a group of very individual artists in the field, there are a lot of our lecturers out there who give all out to provide the students with the kind of education that will be competitive internationally so that we will graduate as professionals.
We are not doing grafting but planting a seed. Yes it may take us some time to actually grow but without the teachers effort, the existing students AND incoming promising students, we can never make it work.
At least you do not deny ‘the existence of hidden dragons in every art school’ and i believe that not every one of their brains is as bad at decision-making in contrast to their outstanding work.
thanks.