Throughout my time on this course I have been supporting my studies through working as both a technical teaching assistant, and a specialist technician, providing animation support to students. This has helped to provide me with an income while on the course, and has expanded my own practice and knowlsdge as an animator while gaining experience in supporting others.
My first role as a technical teaching assistant at London College of Communication began in January 2023, and is due to continue until January 2024. The role has included responsibilities such as delivering briefs to students, teaching them stop motion softwares such as Dragonframe and Stop Motion Studio and encouraging them to explore the boundaries of accessible materials such as paper and cardboard.
My specialist technician role began in February 2023 and continued through til August. I was working for the Illustration Studios at Camberwell College of Arts. It was unfortunately temporary as I was providing cover for the role. My responsibilities included providing both on-site and online support to students, delivering animation workshops relating to Dragonframe, Adobe Animate and Stop Motion Studio, specifically discussing stop motion techniques, frame by frame, motion graphics and rigging. I was also responsible for the maintenance and upkeep of specialist technical equipment such as computers, drawing tablets, cameras, lights, studio spaces, stock rooms, VR headsets and 3D printers. In my time at Camberwell I built four Prusa 3D printers, also building enclosures around them and installing add-on features such as air filtration devices, LED lights and mechanical locks on the doors to avoid tampering or student injury. I thoroughly enjoyed this role and all responsibilities given to me within it, I learnt a lot about the compassionate delivery of education and technical support and the importance of safeguarding. I was lucky enough to be able to work there while students prepared for their graduate show and I had the privelege of playing a key role in the AV set up of the screening of their animated films. I edited the showreel together, balanced the audio, coded a HTML website for an online exhibition of their films, and set up the cinema, projector, speakers, and seating for audience members to enjoy their films. I also sent out Moodle schedulers, communicated important info regarding workshops via email and provided informal 1:1 support per students requests. I 3D printed armatures for the students to utilise in workshops and as part of their own practice as it was more cost effective than ordering metal ones. I helped to manage the budget and inventory costs and worked collaboratively with other technicians to ensure the best technical support possible.
This is a role I would adore to do again! I am continuously searching on job boards such as Arts Temps and UAL Internal Jobs for similar opportunities as I think the experience is thoroughly enjoyable and one I could do alongside developing my own projects and practice as an animator.