What Happens at our Creative Workshops?

If you have applied for a place on our 3D Animation, Games or VFX undergraduate course, for entry in September 2017, you've probably had a letter recently inviting you to attend a Creative Workshop here at Escape Studios.

You might be feeling a bit worried about what's involved.  First of all, don't panic! Our Creative Workshops are really a chance for us to get to know each other, and for you to find out more about what we do at Escape Studios.

What is Escape Studios all about?
With fifteen years behind us training artists for the VFX industry, we’ve designed our programmes to develop pioneering minds for the creative industries. While you’re with us you’ll learn the skills you need to flourish in the industry.

You’ll develop a deep understanding of your technical craft, work in teams on professional projects, and learn how to produce beautiful visual work.

How is the Creative Workshop important?
We're interviewing you, but you are also interviewing us. It's a chance for us to make sure that the course is right for you, and that you are right for the course.


How will the day work?
The day runs from 1pm to 6pm, and takes two parts: Part One is Portfolio Review. Part Two is the Creative Task.

Part One - Portfolio Review
Sitting in small groups with around four other applicants and one of our tutors, you will have 5-10 minutes to present your portfolio. This is a very informal presentation. It's a chance for you to show your work, discuss your creative process, and answer questions about your work.

The other four applicants in the group will present their work, and you will be also able to ask them questions. You’ll then change groups and go through the process again, and then have a short break before the second part of the day.

Part Two - Creative Task
Part Two is a group creative task.  You will work in small teams on a creative brief.  We give you the brief, and you will come up with ideas, bring them to life, and present them at the end of the day for feedback.

This task has been devised by one of our industry partners, and is the kind of challenge you would get in a real VFX/Animation/Games studio.

What shall I bring?
You should bring your Portfolio. You can present this either digitally on a laptop, tablet, pen drive, or printed. Digital artwork is preferred. You should have at least two different pieces of work that you can talk about.

What should go in my portfolio?
Artwork. This can be drawings, sketches, sketchbooks, 3D Digital art - any artwork you have done that you are proud of. To see more about what might go in your portfolio, follow this link.

What if my portfolio isn't done yet?
Don't worry - we don’t expect you to be an amazing digital artist already, that’s what this programme is for.  So you can include anything: drawings, paintings, photographs, life drawing, sketches, scribbles, design work, game tests, websites, etc.

We want to see signs of creativity and visual invention. So a sketchbook or blog full of ideas is a plus.

The process is more important than the finished item: what were you aiming to achieve, how did you go about that, what were you influenced by, how successful do you think it was?

Basically, if you're proud of a piece and it says something about you, then include it in your portfolio.


We do things a bit differently here to other universities. 
We’ve developed a new way of teaching that prepares you better for the workplace. So you need to be willing to jump in, be creative, and communicate well with others.

What should I wear?
Escape Studios isn’t an office, it’s a creative studio. You’ll be on your feet for a lot of the day so wear comfy clothes and trainers. However, it is a professional space, so nothing too tatty or casual. Basically, leave your suit at home.

What if I can’t make it in?
We can arrange Skype interviews if you’re struggling to make one of the Creative Workshops. But we’d prefer it if you came in and participated.

What if I don’t have a portfolio?
If you don't have a portfolio, try to pull together your creative work from the last couple of years into a digital or physical portfolio.

That’s it. Good luck and we’ll see you in London soon!

----Alex

The Escape Studios Animation Blog offers a personal view on the art of animation and visual effects. To find out more about our new BA/MArt now recruiting for September 2017, follow this link.   To apply, visit the official page here.