Final Projects

Final projects are the capstone assignments for each semester. They are long-term projects that you work on gradually while completing weekly assignments and unit work. These projects showcase your best skills at that point in the program and prepare you for future coursework.

Good final projects are:

Planned — you start early and track progress each week.
Iterative — you revise based on critique and feedback.
Documented — you save sketches, drafts, and notes.
Presented — you explain your work clearly to an audience.

Midterm: Rigged Character Model

Final: Interactive Unreal Showcase

Semester 1 Final Project (Midterm)

Rigged Character Model

Focus: 3D modeling, topology, UVs, and rigging workflows.

Task: Take your Year 1 Character Design Document and complete a game-ready character model in Blender.

Block out and refine a character mesh
Retopologize and UV unwrap for clean geometry
Rig the character with a simple armature for posing and animation

Deliverables:

Blender file with clean, rigged character
Screenshots showing wireframe, shaded, and posed versions
Short turntable render or animation test
Portfolio entry with notes on workflow and challenges

ℹ️

You are not graded on sculpting detail. What matters is clarity of form, clean topology, and a functional rig that can be animated and imported into Unreal Engine.

Semester 2 Final Project (Final)

Interactive Unreal Showcase

Focus: Environment design, asset integration, and Blueprint scripting.

Task: Create a playable showcase environment in Unreal Engine that brings together your character, props, and interactivity.

Import your rigged character and props into Unreal
Build a small environment with lighting and set dressing
Add basic interactivity (movement, triggers, pickups, or win condition) using Blueprints
Package the project and document your workflow

Deliverables:

Unreal project folder and packaged build
Screenshots or short playthrough video
Portfolio entry documenting the environment and interactivity
Reflection on design choices and lessons learned

The Midterm and Final Projects each count for 30% of your semester grade.
They are long-term projects that will take time to complete. Time management is critical in the creative industry — plan ahead, pace your work, and use weekly assignments to build toward your final deliverables.

Portfolio Requirement

By the end of Semester 2, you will submit a portfolio package that includes:

Your Semester 1 rigged character model
Your Semester 2 interactive Unreal showcase
Selected weekly assignments that show process and growth
A short reflection on your technical and creative development

The portfolio is not a one-time assignment. You will continue to update and refine it throughout the 3-year AME pathway. It becomes the showcase of your work for future classes, college, or job applications.

Grading & Structure

Final Projects count for 30% of the semester grade.
They are graded on:

Creativity & Originality — unique ideas, thoughtful design choices
Technical Skill — modeling accuracy, topology, rigging, and Blueprint use
Process — research, iterations, revisions, feedback applied
Presentation — ability to explain work and document clearly
Professionalism — meeting deadlines, correct file naming, portfolio formatting