Category: Advanced and Experimental with Nigel

This week was the final session before the term break, so there was no formal lecture. Instead, Nigel was available to answer questions and discuss our progress, while most of us focused on completing other deadlines before the break. The session felt more relaxed than previous weeks and provided a good opportunity to reflect on the direction of my research.

During this time, I made the decision to move away from my original research idea and focus on a topic that aligns more closely with my Final Major Project. My current interest is exploring how directors guide audience attention in 360 animated films compared to traditional films. Unlike conventional filmmaking, where framing naturally directs the viewer’s gaze, 360 experiences give the audience much greater control over what they see, creating different challenges for storytelling and visual communication.

Having a clearer topic before the break was useful because it gave me something concrete to research independently. I plan to spend some time over the holidays looking at existing studies, case studies and examples of immersive storytelling to better understand the techniques used to direct attention within 360 environments. This should help me make a strong start on the literature review assignment when we return next term.

This week’s session focused on the differences between quoting, paraphrasing and summarising in academic writing. We discussed when each approach should be used and how they can help support an argument while avoiding plagiarism. One of the main points was that paraphrasing should be used most often, as it demonstrates an understanding of the source material while allowing the writer to maintain their own academic voice.

The lecture also explored situations where direct quotations are appropriate, such as when using definitions, statistics or specific wording that would lose meaning if rewritten. In contrast, summarising was presented as a way of giving a broad overview of a topic rather than providing detailed evidence. Although I was already familiar with these concepts, the session helped clarify the different purposes they serve within academic writing.

As I begin researching for my literature review, this session felt particularly relevant. I often find myself relying too heavily on quotations when taking notes, so it was useful to be reminded that paraphrasing is generally more effective in demonstrating understanding and building a stronger argument. Going forward, I want to focus on engaging more critically with sources rather than simply repeating what authors have said.

This week consisted of individual tutorials with Nigel to discuss our developing thesis ideas and progress towards the draft literature review. The one-to-one was useful because it allowed me to talk through my current research direction and receive more specific feedback than is possible during group sessions.

During the tutorial, I explained that I was considering moving away from my original topic on animation in advertising and projection mapping. While I still find that area interesting, I felt that it might not connect strongly enough with my Final Major Project, which is planned as a 360 animated short film. Nigel agreed that it was worth considering a topic that would better support both the written and practical components of the course.

We discussed several possible research directions related to 360 storytelling and immersive media. The conversation made me realise that there are many interesting questions surrounding audience engagement, immersion and viewer agency within 360 experiences. Although I had not settled on a final research question by the end of the tutorial, I left with a much clearer sense of direction and a stronger understanding of how my thesis could directly support the development of my Final Major Project.

This week’s session revisited many of the topics we had covered so far, including developing research questions, structuring literature reviews and identifying suitable sources. Rather than introducing a completely new topic, the lecture acted as a useful recap and provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress we had made towards defining our thesis projects.

We also looked at resources related to academic writing, including literature review structure and writing effective introductions. The discussion reinforced the importance of creating a clear connection between the research question, the literature being reviewed and the overall argument of the thesis. It was helpful to revisit these ideas as I began thinking more seriously about how my own research could be structured.

This week also made me reflect on whether my current research topic is the right fit for the practical work I want to create later in the course. Although I am still interested in animation in advertising and projection mapping, I have started considering whether my thesis should align more closely with my Final Major Project, which is currently planned as a 360 film. The idea of researching audience engagement, immersion and viewer behaviour within 360 storytelling feels more connected to the work I will be producing. At this stage I have not made a final decision, but the session encouraged me to think more carefully about how my research and practical work could support one another throughout the project.

This week’s session focused on developing a clear research question and identifying achievable objectives for the thesis. We discussed how broad interests need to be refined into focused research topics that can realistically be investigated within the scope of the project. Before the session, we were asked to submit potential research ideas to a Padlet, which provided an opportunity to see the variety of directions people were considering.

For my submission, I proposed researching the use of animation in advertising and creative campaigns, with a focus on experimental techniques such as projection mapping. I am particularly interested in how animation can move beyond traditional screens and be used in physical spaces to create more engaging experiences for audiences. Looking through other students’ ideas was also useful, as it highlighted how differently people were approaching their research and the range of topics that could be explored within animation.

One of the most encouraging parts of the session was receiving feedback from Nigel, who felt that my topic was viable and could work as a thesis project. Although the idea still needs to be refined into a more specific research question, the feedback gave me confidence that I am moving in a promising direction. It also made me realise that defining a research question is not about finding the perfect topic immediately, but about gradually narrowing down an area of interest into something focused and achievable.

This week’s session introduced research frameworks and different approaches to research design, including qualitative and quantitative methods. We discussed how research questions can influence the methods used and how different frameworks can help structure an investigation. The lecture also highlighted the importance of developing a clear research problem rather than starting with a broad area of interest.

We were also briefed on the Draft Literature Review assignment that will be submitted later in the term. The assessment requires us to propose a research question, outline our objectives and begin building a literature review supported by academic sources. Nigel also asked us to upload potential research ideas to a Padlet, which was useful as it encouraged everyone to start thinking seriously about possible thesis directions.

Alongside the lecture, Nigel shared a series of videos about research frameworks by DrJ Thesising 101. Although research design can initially feel quite abstract, these resources helped break down the purpose of frameworks and how they can be applied when developing a research project. At this stage, I was still refining my interests, but the session made it clear that choosing a topic is only the first step; the challenge is developing a structured approach that can support meaningful research.

This week’s lecture focused on developing a literature review and understanding its role within the thesis. We discussed how a literature review should do more than simply list sources, instead bringing together different authors’ perspectives to support a balanced academic argument. The concept of the “Golden Thread” was also introduced, highlighting the importance of maintaining a clear connection between the research question, literature review, methodology and final conclusions.

One practical part of the session was a demonstration of citation management software such as Zotero and Mendeley. Up until now, I had mostly relied on online citation generators whenever I needed references, which often felt inefficient and sometimes unreliable. It was useful to see how dedicated reference management software can organise sources, store PDFs and automatically generate citations and bibliographies. Considering the amount of reading and research involved in the thesis, I can see how these tools could make the process much more manageable.

The session made me realise that the literature review is not just a background section but something that helps shape and support the entire research project. Going forward, I want to start collecting and organising sources early so that I can build good research habits before beginning the main body of the thesis.

This week focused on developing a viable research topic for the thesis. We discussed what makes a strong research question and looked at examples of topics that were either too broad or too narrow. The session highlighted the importance of choosing a topic that is both interesting and realistic to research.

One thing I found useful was the emphasis on testing whether a topic can actually be supported by enough research and evidence. It made me realise that having an interesting idea is only part of the process; it also needs to be manageable and backed by reliable sources.

At this stage I was still exploring possible directions for my thesis, but the lecture gave me a better understanding of how to refine ideas into a focused research question. It also encouraged me to start thinking more critically about the relationship between my interests and what can realistically be developed into a full research project.

This week’s session focused on short narratives and visual storytelling, particularly non-dialogue animated films. As we will eventually be producing our own short film for the final project, the topic felt especially relevant. One activity I remember was contributing to a Padlet where everyone shared some of their favourite short films and animations. It was interesting to see the range of references people brought in, from well-known animated shorts to more experimental pieces.

A large part of the lecture explored how stories can be communicated without dialogue. We looked at examples such as Shaun the Sheep, Flow and Animanimals, which rely on character performance, body language and visual storytelling rather than spoken words. One point that stood out to me was how common non-dialogue films are in student animation projects. Lip-sync animation can be extremely time-consuming, so many filmmakers choose to focus on visual storytelling instead. Seeing successful examples of this approach made it clear that dialogue is not always necessary to create an engaging narrative.

Reflecting on the session, I began paying more attention to how information is communicated visually. Looking at these films made me realise how much can be conveyed through staging, movement and character acting alone. As someone who will eventually need to create a short film for this course, the lecture gave me a better understanding of how non-dialogue storytelling can be both a creative choice and a practical production decision.

This week was our first lecture of the year, although it felt a bit strange because it took place the day before the deadline for last term’s submission. The session introduced the thesis proposal brief and covered potential research topics, motivations, applications and ethical considerations. We also looked at the overall structure of the thesis and what will be expected from us over the coming months.

As my main focus at the time was finishing my previous submission, the most useful part of the lecture was Nigel’s advice on formatting. He went through details such as page numbering, chapter numbering and document structure. Although these seem like small details, it reminded me how important presentation is in academic work. After the lecture, I went back to my submission and made a few final changes before handing it in.

Looking back, I did not spend much time thinking about my thesis topic yet because my attention was on the deadline. However, the lecture gave me a better understanding of the scale of the project and what will be required. It also made me start thinking about possible areas of research that connect to my interests in animation, technology and audience interaction.