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VISUAL DEVELOPMENT

Visual Development employs art and design to build vivid worlds for feature, series-length and printed entertainment. 
a computer generated animal like figure

​Elizabeth Kachanova

An augmented illustration of android like figures

Nicole Vrabel

If you’ve ever admired the way the Spider-Verse looks or the fact that Spongebob wears square pants, you can thank a Visual Development Artist. They’re the ones who focus on the ideation and execution of art for animation, gaming, comics, toy design, publishing, advertising, and more.

Unsure whether the Entertainment Arts or Illustration Program is the right fit? Visual Development students will work primarily on 2D concepts EA Animation students do this and make their concepts come to life using 3D and time-based animation software and methods. If you love to draw and paint and know you want to work in the fields of animation or stylized games, Vis Dev may be for you. 

Through coursework and hands-on production experience, you’ll build your portfolio and gain an in-depth understanding of how entertainment industry pipelines work.

For Students

Visual Development has faculty members who are based in the heart of the animation industry, working remotely or semi-remotely. Students will learn from and work alongside professionals who’ve collaborated with Disney, Netflix and Nickelodeon, among many others.

CAREER CHOICES

Visual Development Artist
Concept Artist
Character Designer
Background Painter
Layout Artist
Prop Designer
Color Stylist
Art Director
Production Designer

'12

Chris Houghton

Creator, Disney’s Big City Greens
Disney

'11

Aaron Loftis

Visual Development Artist
Dreamworks, Netflix

'11

Kari Kipela

Character Designer, Rick and Morty

'08

Devan Law

Designer, Designer, Disney Junior’s Young Jedi Adventures
Walt Disney Animation

'11

Tyler Koberstein

Character Designer, Nickelodeon’s The Loud House
Nickelodeon

'13

Mel Bontrager

Art Director
Palooza Entertainment

'13

Kassandra Heller

Art Director
Disney Television