About R&D Days
R&D days can include (but are not limited to) the following:
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Upskilling and training (eg, practising colour grading, completing some tutorials or masterclasses)
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R & D for a specific project/client (eg trying a new animation style for a house client, adding some research time to pre-production or a sales pitch)
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General R & D on new creative techniques and ideas
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Process or project management (eg, creating animation rigs and templates, LUTs, testing workflows)
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Collaborative projects (eg animators working together or an editor and shooter teaming up for a small project)
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Full spec projects (eg product spec ads involving a producer and brief)
The most important thing to remember is that this is led by YOU!
A quick note on upskilling
If you’d like to spend an R&D Day on some upskilling, it’s important you consider the specifics of what you’d like to achieve. You’ll get much more out of your day as you will have a clear outcome in mind, and won’t need to waste time working out what you want to do on the day itself.
For example:
A not-so-great proposal: “I would like to improve my colour grading”
A good proposal: “I have some tutorials about colour grading I would like to complete”
A great proposal: “I recently finished an edit that was sent off to be colour graded. I’d like to be able to improve my colour grading in Da Vinci, so I have researched some tutorials from Black Magic that I would like to follow to try and achieve a nice colour grading look myself”
Here are some ideas:
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Decide on a specific technique or outcome in your work and follow some tutorials online.
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Pick a video that you love that someone else did and pull it apart/try to replicate some things.
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Spend a day working on a project you created to add some extra wow factor.
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Use a personal project (such as a short film) to work on a specific skill or technique.
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Test out a new plugin or piece of software.
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Review a process in your workflow and try out new techniques or processes or tools.
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Is there a job you sent to animation? could you have a crack at that now with some insights from an animator ?
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Try & create a graphics template for a client we don’t have assets for.
If you’re unsure, speak to your department lead!
How do I apply?
You’re required to submit an application form.
Applications will be assessed against the following criteria:
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Business case – what are the outcomes?
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Individual’s own attitude and performance
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Wider business needs
Completed an R&D project?
Please complete the debrief survey here.