In the year 1956, the first seeds of animation were sown,in India,by animator Clair Weeks from Disney Studios. Thereafter, the first production "The Banyan Deer" came into being along with the first animator of Indian animation history Ram Mohan, who is known as the father of Indian Animation. Since then, there was no looking back, as the art of animation has grown manifold and developments have received a taste in animation by larger population in recent times. Being a dynamic profession, it demands a complete expertise in technology and creativity. Among the few institutes that claim to provide a holistic learning in animation, iPixio Design College has been quite a favourite among students and professionals. This institute has an approach,which is exactly what the industry wants; to be consistently focused, dynamic, intense and highly creative.
Headquartered in Bangalore,iPixioDesign College has completed two years of its existence and yet has been successful in grabbing the best utility required for a successful career in Animation and Production. Kevin D'souza, CEO, iPixioDesign College shares,"Through the establishment of iPixio, we are trying to bridge the skill gap between the industry and academia." It is evident that an art, which has a history of over six decades, has undergone many changes and currently faces many challenges,including its perception as a profession. "After conducting research for about a year, we setup our first center in 2014 with the prime focus in digital design and entertainment arts. The first four programs offered were Diploma programs in Media Design, 3D Production, Visual Effects and Game Arts," says Kevin.
At iPixio, the courses are divided into three major categories; university, career and certification.A unique and specialized degree program was designed as BMAD (Bachelor in Media, Animation and Design) and recently, BFAB (Bachelor in Fashion, Apparel & Branding) was introduced under the university category, each being full-time three year programs. Affiliated to the University of Mysore, these degree programs in animation and fashion a reconsidered among the best in South India. Career programs are diploma programs, which extend between 15 to 24 months and offer specializations in Media Design, 3D production, Visual Effects, Fashion Design, Interior Design and Game Arts.Entry to iPixiois through a unique creative aptitude test called iCAT, which assesses the creative ability, mental ability and aptitude of a student before admission to any program. Scholarships of up to Rs. 1 Lakh are given to prospective students based on their score in the iCAT and percentage in their pre-university exams."We accept students from all streams, with any combination of subjects in their pre-university or equivalent exams, as we believe that Digital Design is a synergy between science and arts together", says Kevin.
The learning model adopted by iPixio is to take an entrepreneurial and personal approach to education through hands-on instruction and improvised technological enhancements."We not only aim at making our students successful at their new career but also prepare them to excel in a highly competitive world," adds Kevin. iPixio is an exclusive ATC (Authorized Training Centre) for industry leading software such as Photoshop, Flash, Indesign, Illustrator, Premiere, After Effects,3Ds Max, Maya, Nuke Studio and Mari. Through state-of-the-art infrastructure and due collaboration with globally reputed organizations (Adobe, Autodesk, Foundry, Wacom), iPixio trains their students in world class processes and technologies.
Teaching Methodology
The curriculum is the prime focus of the institute as it is specially designed for production pipeline, which separates the curriculum into three important stages for the three year program - pre-production, production and post-production.In animation, the curriculum includes concepts of design, art and media design in the first year; second year follows with production involving 3D modelling, texturing, animation, lighting and third year involves camera handling, editing, visual effects, compositing and rendering. iPixio employs five methods of delivery which are theory, practise, workshops, outbound industry trips and guest lectures. Through this they are able to enhance the whole system and experience of learning.
At iPixio, faculty members are selected through certain eligibility criteria where a minimum of 10 years of teaching and professional experience is required in the relevant industry. The entire set of faculty is supported by an expert panel having expertise in graphic design, cinema- animation direction and production. The members of the panel hold positions with entities like Warner Brothers, EA Sports, TISS-Mumbai, IIT-Mumbai and many more. The institute has already enrolled over 100 students in just two years and holds a good faculty-student ratio of 1:20. The average package through campus placement for students completing the university or diploma programs is between Rs. 3 to 4 Lakhs. The packages primarily depend on the skill-set of the student, exhibited through their demo-reel done at iPixio during their course work.
iPixio currently has students from all across the country as well as international students from Sri Lanka, Maldives, Nepal, Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Saudi, UAE and Kuwait. Kevin shares that the institute will soon introduce a degree program in interior designing and plans to be among the first in the country to launch a globally recognized Master's Program in Animation Design/ Game Arts, within the next two years.
Kevin D'souza, CEO and Co-Founder
A post graduate in Engineering, Kevin is an entrepreneur and has professional experience with MNCs of the U.S, Switzerland and Middle East. With a strong interest in technology and education, he started iPixio Design College in 2014 along with management expert and co-founder Vishal Gupta.
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