Art Educator Symposium: Character Design Lab (In Person) | Minneapolis College of Art and Design

Art Educator Symposium: Character Design Lab (In Person)

Join us for an immersive art educators symposium on Thursday, June 18, from 12:00–5:30 p.m. Enjoy admissions presentations, campus tours, and lunch. Register for a dynamic hands-on workshop in one of MCAD's distinctive artmaking spaces from 1:00-4:00 p.m., and conclude with a happy hour event at MCAD’s onsite events space, The Buzz.

Course description

Characters are essential to making a successful story and encompasses a variety of drawing and illustration approaches.

This workshop focuses on developing course curriculum that engages and leads students to create a visual character overview, which will translate to the production of a comic, video game, animation, or film. Working from narrative examples, learn how students can develop visual media assets and artwork like character, object, and environment designs, as well as storyboards and style frames.

Instruction focuses on techniques using traditional material with an option to explore digital painting methods. Learn to support students with fundamental techniques and tools while allowing exploration of concepts and personal development in approach and voice. Discover what makes a strong portfolio piece for the college application process.

Open to students ages 18 and above. Review complete policies before completing your registration. This course cancellation policy is 100% refund until June 1; no refund after June 1.

Class meeting details

This course meets in person on MCAD’s campus.

Prerequisites

No prerequisites for students working with traditional materials. Students working digitally must have prior experience in Adobe Photoshop; the workshop offers no software instruction.

Required materials

Supplies

  • Pen or pencil
  • Notebook or sketchbook

All other supplies will be provided

What to wear
Clothes appropriate for messy creativity.

Class savings

Art Educator Symposium are not eligible for the early or multiple class registration discounts.

Questions?

Contact MCAD Continuing Education at continuing_education@mcad.edu or call 612.874.3765.

Register

Title
Non-credit Tuition
$25.00
Student Birthdate
  • Date:
    -
  • Time:
    1:00–4:00 p.m.
  • Day(s) of the week:
    Thursday
  • Ages:
    Open to students ages 18 and above.
  • Term:
    Summer 2026
  • Instructor: Lafe Smith
  • Location:
    In Person
  • SKU:
    AES 9001 01 SU26

Prerequisites:

No prerequisites for students working with traditional materials. Students working digitally must have prior experience in Adobe Photoshop; the workshop offers no software instruction.

Address

2501 Stevens Avenue
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Contact Us

612.874.3700
800.874.MCAD (6223)
Fax: 612.874.3701

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Land Acknowledgement

The Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) acknowledges it is located on traditional, ancestral, and contemporary lands of Indigenous people. This is the ancestral homeland of the Dakota and Ojibwe people, who were forcibly exiled from the land because of aggressive and persistent settler colonialism. We recognize that this place has a complex and layered history. As a community dedicated to creativity, MCAD is committed to ongoing efforts to support and advocate for American Indian Nations and peoples.


Nondiscrimination Policy

MCAD admits students of any race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, or marital status to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, creed, religion, ancestry, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, or marital status in the administration of its educational policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school-administered programs.