Michael R. Capell—Vitae
Education
Master of Fine Arts 2002–2007
Utah State University (USU)
Phi Kappa Phi
Emphasis: Graphic Design and Animation
Bachelor of Fine Arts 1999–2002
Utah State University
Magna Cum Laude
Emphasis: Graphic Design and Interactive Design
Associates of Arts and Sciences 1995–6, 1998–9
Brigham Young University—Idaho
Emphasis: Graphic Design/Illustration
Areas of Specialization: 3D animation, web design, graphic design, stop-motion, and video
Teaching Appointments
Utah State University-Teaching Assistant/Teacher of Record 2001–6
• Taught and supervised 16–30 students per class
• Created lesson plans and supporting materials
• Critiqued and graded student projects
• Provided technical and creative instruction
ADVANCED ANIMATION
• Narrative animation
• Storyboards and motion compositions
• Advanced modeling and animation techniques
INTERMEDIATE ANIMATION
• The principles of animation and character development
• Character design
• Polygon and nurbs modeling
ADVANCED COMPUTERS AND ART
• Introduction to 3D animation
• Modeling, animation, texturing, audio, and rendering
• Introduction to web design
• Dreamweaver and Flash
INTERMEDIATE COMPUTERS AND ART
• More advanced use of Photoshop and Illustrator as tools of visual communication
• Magazine and web design explored
COMPUTERS AND ART
• A basic course, dealing with visual communication using the computer as a creative medium
• Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, and InDesign used
Workshops
Digital Video Workshop (USU) Summer 2008
A condensed workshop teaching digital video to Korean students from the Sunhwa Fine Arts High School. Students filmed and edited a short film in a one-week workshop.
Introduction to Animation (USU) Summer 2001–2, 2004–5
An introduction to 3D Animation, modeling, texturing, and basic editing taught in
a one to two week summer workshop.
Stop-Motion Animation Workshop for the Alliance for Varied Arts (AVA) Summer 2004
An introduction to animation using still video with hand-drawn, paper cutout, and
sculpting techniques.
Photoshop Workshop (USU) 2001–2
An introduction to using Photoshop as a design/creative tool. Taught on
a series of Saturdays during the Spring Semester.
Guest Lectures
Instructional Technology Fall Lunch Box Lecture Presentation: “Why Design?” 2004
Instructional Technology Spring Lunch Box Lecture Presentation: “Speaking on Animation” 2004
USU Art Department Communication Arts Seminar Presenter 2003
USU Art Department Conceptual Illustration Class “Photoshop as an Illustration Tool” 2001
Design Experience and Employment
Hazard Emergency and Accident Training (HEAT) 2006–2008:
Oversaw student employees, refining and optimizing 3D models, texture maps, characters, interface
components, DVD design, and art direction while collaborating with Instructional technology and
Computer Science students.
Center for Research on Engaging Advanced Technology for Education (CREATE) Group 2005–7, 2008:
Worked as a graduate assistant responsible for design of trademarks, web site, application interface, and various
Pedagogical Agents as Learning companions (PALs) (Interactive 3D characters used to teach math concepts).
Aerospect Precision Imaging (USU Research Foundation) 2001–2003:
Designed and animated 3D simulations, interactive media, presentations, brochures,
technical illustrations, logos, and trademarks.
Rocky Mountain Range Company 2000–2001:
Designed packages, leaflets, and various images for print and web delivery.
Freelance Clientele
NBA (Jazz, Trailblazers, and Rockets) 2005, 2008:
Art directed and produced a series of character designs, storyboards, and animations (stop-motion) to be played on their scoreboards during timeouts.
Aristotle’s Assassins (a collaborative Learning Game project) 2007–8:
Created cut scene movies, logo, character designs, package designs, and directed voice acting.
USU Energy Lab 2008:
Created pre-visualization 3D render of a proposed new facility to be presented to US Senators.
FKC Screw Press 2001–8:
Web design, animation, magazine advertisements, leaflets, and trade show posters. Web site
traffic increased 500% and it now appears in first page of most industry related searches after redesign.
Hale Centre Theatre, West Valley City, UT 2005, 2008
Projection designs and looping animations for performances of the Civil War and Ragtime Productions.
Northern Utah Spine and Posture Rehabilitation Center 2007–8:
Identity system and animated logo for web site and presentations.
Light-a-Sign, Solar Powered Signs, US and Australia 2005–8:
3D animated promotional video, encoding, logo, & DVD design.
C3 Carpets 2006–8:
Design of logo, business card, letterhead, leaflets, and website.
ifrogz iPod Covers 2006:
Pre-visualization, rendering, and 3D illustrations of product. Illustrations were used in ads that appeared in
Rolling Stone, Photoshop User, and MacWorld Magazines. It was written about here:
www.planit3d.com/source/review_files/ifrogz/ifrogz1.html
Kay Homan—Western Artist 2004–7:
Logotype, business card, web design, and e-commerce solutions.
Interactive Rides, Inc. 2005:
3D modeling and compositing for on site pre-visualization illustrations.
USU Theatre, Jacques Brel is Alive and Well 2004–5:
Designed and trained others in design and editing of video projections, DVD designs, and other animation.
Mobilitat Software 2001–4:
Animated trademark, web site development and design.
Kiwe Publishing Limited 2001–3, 2008:
Various book cover designs and interior illustrations.
Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) for Sci-Quest, the North Alabama Science Center 2002:
Storyboards, design, and motion compositions.
Utah State Magazine, USU Quarterly Alumni Publication 2001–2:
Two digital spot illustrations.
Utah Plastics Group 2001:
Package designs, trademarks, and various 3D illustrations.
Publications
PEER REVIEWED UNDER REVIEW:
Shelton, B. E., Stowell, T., Scoresby, J., Capell, M., & Coats, C. (under review). A Frankenstein approach to open-source: The construction of a 3D game engine as meaningful educational process. IEEE Transactions on Education.
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Stowell, T., Scoresby, J., Capell, M., & Shelton, B. E. (accepted). A process for utilizing readily available software libraries to create a 3D simulation game. International Journal of Gaming and Computer- Mediated Simulations.
REFEREED PROCEEDINGS
Shelton, B. E., Alvarez, M. A., Capell, M., Coats, C., Scoresby, J., & Stowell, T. (2008). Iterations of an
open-source 3D game engine: Multiplayer environments for learners. Paper presented at Meaningful Play, East Lansing, MI.
Shelton, B. E., Alvarez, M. A., Capell, M., Coats, C., Scoresby, J., & Stowell, T. (2008). The HEAT engine: A demonstration of sustainable design from an open-source 3D game engine. Paper presented at the Open Education Conference 2008: Celebrating Ten Years of Open Content, Logan, UT.
Shelton, B. E., Scoresby, J., Stowell, T., Coats, C. & Capell, M. (2008). A Frankenstein approach to open- source: The construction of a 3D game engine as meaningful educational process. Paper presented at the American Education Research Association (AERA) 2008, New York, NY.
OTHER PUBLICATIONS
Capell, Michael (accepted). Normal Maps on a Budget. PSD Photoshop Magazine.
Capell, Brita & Capell, Michael (2009) Peyo, the Original Papa of the Smurfs. GOmotion Vol.2 No.1.
Conferences
Tenth Annual Intermountain Graduate Research Symposium Poster Session, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 2007
Ninth Annual Intermountain Graduate Research Symposium Poster Session, Utah State University, Logan, UT, 2006
Leadership and Service
Global Moderator and Beta Tester, GOmotion Magazine and Online Forum, 2008
Idea Moderator and Beta Tester, .PSD Photoshop Magazine Online Forum 2008
Graphic Designer, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Utah chapter 2008
Team Leader, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International Walk to Cure Diabetes 2005–8
State Representative, National Association of Graduate and Professional Students (NAGPS) 2006–7
Executive Council Member and Webmaster, USU Graduate Student Senate 2005–7
Graduate Student Senator (GSS), College of HASS and Department of Art 2003–5
Student Organizer, USU Visual Communication Exhibition 2001
President of Art Department Club, Brigham Young University—Idaho 1998–9
Awards
GOmotion Magazine Home Page Animated Banner Design Contest 1st Place 2008
KUTA-TV Golden Eight Award Short Film Festival, Claymation, Richmond, UT 2007
10th Annual Intermountain Poster and Paper Symposium, 3rd place poster, Logan UT 2007
Ageia PhysX Rocks, 2nd Place, Independent company promotion for innovative and useful
applications awarded to HEAT project $750 unrestricted award, 2007
Distinguished Service Award for USU GSS from the Associated Students of USU 2004–5
Software/Programming Skills
Photoshop
Illustrator
Cinema 4D
BodyPaint
Maya
|
After Effects
Flash
Dreamweaver
InDesign
Sony Vegas |
Poser
DVD Architect
HTML
CSS
Acrobat |
Research Interests
Interactive learning, serious games, and the study of perception.
Professional Organizations
College Art Association (CAA)
Creative Learning Environments (CLE)
Learning Games Initiative (LGI)
Interdisciplinary Media Research Consortium (IMRC)