SIT Courses

Embark on an artistic exploration like no other, where we celebrate the diversity of creative expression through the art of drawing. Our drawing course is more than just a class; it's a community of young artists who share a passion for visual storytelling. You'll engage with like-minded peers, connect with mentors, and foster lifelong relationships with fellow creative individuals. Through hands-on assignments and personal exploration, you'll dive into a rich tapestry of traditional, technical, and experimental drawing techniques. From the subtlety of graphite to the boldness of charcoal, the vibrancy of pastels, and the versatility of mixed media, you are encouraged to explore diverse tools to bring your creative vision to life. At the heart of this course is a commitment to peer and instructor-led feedback. Learn from experts while also benefiting from the fresh perspectives of your creative peers. Together, we'll help each other grow as artists.

This course is designed for teens, whether you're new to drawing or looking to uncover new pathways to creative expression.

What is the relationship between artistic practice and medium? What defines the limits of a medium? How do artists occupy expanded understandings of drawing? Expanded Drawing introduces students to drawing as a medium to explore creative ideas, encouraging students to think critically, creatively and conceptually, while strengthening their visual and technical skills. Through traditional and experimental drawing activities, students will consider a variety of topics and media that expand and challenge their understanding of drawing and its ability to communicate narrative, thoughts, ideas and creative expression. Part studio and part seminar, course topics are explored through lectures and demonstrations, guided research, group feedback and critique, and individual assignments. Be part of an exciting community of creative inquirers! Encouraging a culture of curiosity and reflection, this course invites students to collaborate with creative peers and expert instructors in examining how drawing shapes and expresses visions for the future. By the end of the course, students will walk away with a variety of projects to include in their portfolio, and documentation methods that best present their work.

Painting is a language without words. It's your unique way of expressing thoughts, feelings, and experiences. It's not just about colors on canvas; it's a practice that encourages self-expression, creativity, and exploration of possibilities. You'll learn various painting techniques, experiment with different materials, and create your own artwork from start to finish. This course is more than learning how to paint; it's about finding your unique voice as an artist. Through guided projects and inspiring prompts, you'll learn the power of colors, shapes, and forms to craft captivating paintings that reflect your personality.

Whether representing the experience of nature, crafting abstract compositions, capturing personality in a portrait, or expressing the depths of your imagination, painting offers endless inspiration. With the expert guidance of our instructors, this course will help you discover your passion, explore your creativity, and create paintings that showcase your perspective, growth and distinctive style as an artist.

Are you passionate about telling stories through art? Illustration is a dynamic and versatile method of communication, transcending language barriers, and connecting people through visual narratives. Prepare for an immersive journey into the world of traditional hand-drawn illustration. From line drawing to shading techniques and the application of color, you'll delve into character development, scene composition, and narrative illustration, breathing life into your artwork. Your creative journey is enriched by practical, hands-on projects. Experiment with traditional illustration techniques, guided by expert instructors, and receive constructive feedback from peers, shaping your skills and your unique artistic voice.

The skills you gain are a gateway to diverse career opportunities, from graphic design and animation to concept art and beyond. Whether you dream of illustrating children's books, contributing to animated productions, or exploring a new path, this course will open doors to your creative future. Collaborate, exchange ideas, and create lasting bonds with fellow budding illustrators.

In our digital world, visual storytelling transcends traditional boundaries, reaching global audiences through websites, social media, mobile apps, animations, and video games. Learn how to apply storytelling principles to the digital canvas, turning your imagination into captivating visuals. Building on your foundation in Traditional Illustration, or as an exciting evolution of your drawing practice, you'll make a seamless transition from traditional media to industry-relevant digital tools. Explore an extensive array of brushes, textures, and effects, all while developing your skills in styles ranging from traditional to stylized and experimental. Alongside your peers, and led by expert instructors, discover new avenues of creative expression as you venture into character design, digital painting, concept art, and illustration for interactive applications.

Whether your dream is to create concept art for video games, design digital marketing materials that captivate audiences, or produce stunning digital comics, this course will set you up with the knowledge and hands-on experience to excel in the dynamic world of digital illustration.

Animation is the art of transforming static images into dynamic, captivating creations. It's a versatile and immersive medium that empowers artists and storytellers to breathe life into characters and imaginary worlds. From enchanting short films and whimsical cartoons to epic, feature-length movies and persuasive advertisements, animation has the extraordinary ability to captivate and connect with audiences of all ages. Explore the principles and techniques that have shaped the art of animation for decades. Guided by experienced animators, this course introduces students to the charm of traditional animation methods and techniques, such as hand-drawn and stop-motion. Students will explore visual storytelling techniques by drawing and painting movement frames by hand, using colour, shading and line weight. Students will experiment with developing visual narratives that effectively convey engaging stories, while challenging them to think about how movement and timing are portrayed.

Through hands-on projects, students will work in traditional animation methods, such as stop-motion, flip books and pencil tests, as well as discover how traditional techniques can be complemented by digital tools, enhancing workflow while maintaining the charm of traditional animation. Covering principles of animation, character design and storytelling, Traditional Animation provides a foundation for further studies in drawing, perspective drawing, character illustration and environment concept art. Dive into the enchanting world of traditional animation, where creativity meets craftsmanship!

Animation is the art of transforming static images into dynamic, captivating creations. It's a versatile and immersive medium that empowers artists and storytellers to breathe life into characters and imaginary worlds. From enchanting short films and whimsical cartoons to epic feature-length movies and persuasive advertisements, animation has the extraordinary ability to captivate and connect with audiences of all ages.

Guided by experienced animators, you and your peers will embark on an exciting journey into the principles of digital animation. Explore movement, timing, and character development through a blend of hands-on projects and interactive lessons. Dive into the foundations of digital animation, laying the groundwork for a variety of creative passions and career pathways, from film and advertising to game design and beyond. Exploring the dynamic realm of 2D digital animation, this course caters to all levels of experience. Whether you aspire to become an animator, a concept artist, or are curious about new mediums of expression, this course opens the doors to the world of animation.

Graphic design is the visual language that shapes the world around us. From logos to digital media, it's the art of storytelling through images and typography. Starting with design principles, typography, and layout, join a community of young designers to explore the creation of impactful logos, eye-catching posters, and engaging digital graphics. Learn how to effectively convey ideas through visual design, whether you're interested in commercial branding or social awareness campaigns. Beyond the basics, you'll have the opportunity to delve into specialized areas of graphic design such as user experience (UX) design, motion graphics, and branding. Practical design projects, guided by experienced instructors, will deepen your understanding of design concepts.

Connect with fellow designers, build your skills, receive constructive feedback, and discover your unique design voice. Whether you're just beginning your design journey or looking to take your skills to the next level, this course is your stepping stone to a world of creative possibilities.

Ever wondered how your favourite gadgets, furniture, or the coolest sneakers are brought to life? If you're a teen with a passion for creating, problem-solving, and shaping the future, industrial design may be in your future. Industrial designers can make a real difference, creating eco-friendly products or crafting solutions to real-world problems and the experiences of tomorrow. Learn the core principles of industrial design, including product aesthetics, ergonomics, materials, design challenges and prototyping. Explore the process of taking an idea from concept to a physical, functional design. Venture into topics such as sustainable design, 3D modeling, and user-centered design. Innovate and experiment with new ideas! From concept to reality, you'll learn to make the things you imagine come to life, transforming your creativity into tangible solutions. The future is yours to shape, and this course - along with our expert instructors - will guide you towards it.

Immerse yourself in the world of design and its exciting exploration of creativity and innovation, where play, art and technology converge to create engaging and enjoyable interactive experiences. Introducing the fundamentals of user experience (UX) and interaction design (IxD), students will investigate how playful elements can enhance digital and physical interactions, making them more intuitive and enjoyable for all users. Through hands-on activities and analysis of everyday interactive experiences, students will generate creative concepts and design interactive projects, encouraging exploration and collaboration. By the end of the course, students will have developed a foundational understanding of UX and IxD principles, built an interactive prototype, and assembled a collection of work showcasing their creative development. If you're an aspiring young designer wanting to merge creativity with technology and learn how to design functional and delightful experiences, this course is for you!

In an increasingly digital world, AI offers exciting new ways to solve creative problems, approaches to the design process, and push the boundaries of what we can create whether it be visual art, writing, music or video. With an emphasis on design thinking, design principles and the artistic process, this course provides students with an introduction to the creative potential of engaging generative AI in art and design. Innovate and experiment with fellow creative peers! Under the guidance of our experienced instructors, students are invited to explore how AI-generated content can be merged with traditional, creative approaches to art and design.

Learning practical skills with AI tools, students will be introduced to fundamental principles of design thinking alongside AI and some of the ethical issues that come with its use. The course emphasizes hands-on experimentation, encouraging students to test ideas and techniques, collaborating with fellow creative peers in group discussions and activities. By the end, students will walk away with a basic understanding of foundational design principles, a deeper understanding of the integration of AI in creative processes, and be able to critically reflect on its impact in art and design. If you’re interested in learning about AI’s role in shaping the future of creativity, while developing your creative and critical thinking skills, this course is for you!

Please review ECU’s Guidelines for Generative Artificial Intelligence for additional information regarding the use of AI at ECU.

This engaging and dynamic project-based course is intended for creative youth passionate about learning how to use design to shape the world of tomorrow. In addition to developing a thorough understanding of various design disciplines (such as product, user experience (UX), user interface (UI), and systems design), students will learn how to apply design methods to real-world challenges, including sustainability, accessibility, and technology integration. Innovations in Design gives students a preview of a university-level design education by engaging in practical design projects that promote critical thinking, creative problem-solving, and the ability to translate creative ideas into feasible solutions. Design requires collaboration, and this course will teach students how to work well with others to improve their leadership, problem-solving and communication skills. Throughout the course, students will create a portfolio demonstrating their ability to ideate, prototype, and refine projects. Under the guidance of our experienced instructors, students will receive personalized feedback to help them understand their strengths and areas for improvement. The course aims to develop an innovative mindset and the confidence necessary for the next steps in students’ educational journey.