PROD342-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026

Digital Sculpting

15 points

Details:
Start Date: Monday, 16 February 2026
End Date: Sunday, 21 June 2026
Withdrawal Dates
Last Day to withdraw from this course:
  • Without financial penalty (full fee refund): Sunday, 1 March 2026
  • Without academic penalty (including no fee refund): Sunday, 10 May 2026

Description

There has been a recent movement away from traditional 3D modelling tools, where users work with paradigms based on computer graphics such as vertices and polygons, to 3D modelling tools which mimic more traditional forms of art creation such as carving from wood or sculpting from clay, as in the popular tool ZBrush. Likewise, the increasing affordability and availability of technologies such as Virtual Reality and Haptics have brought other art forms, such as painting in the case of Google’s Tilt Brush, into 3D and allowed for new forms of digital expression. In this course, students will learn about the latest methods and technologies for creating 3D art works through digital sculpting. This course covers digital sculpting through to texture mapping, retopologising into traditional polygonal models, and rigging and integration into games. Students will also learn about cutting edge technologies in VR and Haptics for creating 3D art works, and future directions and research trends in the area.

Prerequisites

Timetable 2026

Students must attend one activity from each section.

Lecture A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01 Tuesday 08:00 - 09:00 Otakaro 146 L1 Lecture Theatre
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
Computer Lab A
Activity Day Time Location Weeks
01-P1 Tuesday 13:00 - 16:00 Otakaro 104
16 Feb - 8 Mar
01-P2 Friday 12:00 - 15:00 Otakaro 104
9 Mar - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
02 Thursday 09:00 - 12:00 Otakaro 104
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May
03 Wednesday 14:00 - 17:00 Otakaro 104
16 Feb - 29 Mar
20 Apr - 31 May

Assessment

Assessment Due Date Percentage 
Design a Creature 20%
Retopologise and Rig 30%
Sculpt with ZBrush 30%
Written Reflection 20%

Indicative Fees

Domestic fee $1,190.00

International fee $6,488.00

* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.

For further information see School of Product Design on the departments and faculties page .

All PROD342 Occurrences

  • PROD342-26S1 (C) Semester One 2026