Posted: 08/07/14
Getting to work on machines
Interactive media students have impressed bosses at JCB with their 3D animation skills and secured an opportunity for work experience at the company.
Gabriel Johnson shows Andrew Otter his 3D animation
The group of 14 students, currently studying the HND in Interactive Media were set a design project last year by Andrew Otter who is the CGI manager for JCB’s design works.
Andrew, who works at JCB’s headquarters in Rocester, Staffordshire, asked the group to produce a 3D animation of a JCB machine using a still computer-aided design. The task was designed to discover more about their animation skills with the view to providing work opportunities in the company’s design office.
Using a computer package known as LightWave 3D, the students spent 14 weeks working on their individual designs which showed every aspect of a machine’s design, and Andrew has been back to visit the students to view their finished projects.
Andrew said: “I’ve been very encouraged by the calibre of work I’ve seen and the students have clearly understood the brief and showed their creative freedoms.
“As an ex-student myself it’s great to come back to the college and give something back. I am hoping to be able to offer some of these university-level students the chance to come and see our design offices at JCB and work with our team for a period.
“They should all be very proud of their projects and I would be happy to use any of these designs to show to potential clients or showcase at one of our press events.”
Pictured is twenty-year-old student Gabriel Johnson with his 3D animation. Gabriel said: “Working on this project has given us all a great opportunity to showcase a well-known company’s work in our portfolios.
“It was good to work with Andrew and put my own style on the animation.”
