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Media Design School Hires New Faculty

The Media Design School, New Zealand's premiere learning institution for the digital arts, announces a slate of new faculty additions that include Tom Zuber, Patrick McNabb and Richard Hicks, going into its visit to SIGGRAPH 2004 conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center from August 10-12, 2004 at booth #1958.

"Many people looking to get into computer arts wouldn't immediately think of a school in New Zealand as an option, either because they think it's cost prohibitive, or doesn't attract the teaching talent of other better-known schools," said Frances Valintine, gm, Media Design School. "The reality is, because of the cost of living and the thriving production environment here, Media Design School offers a cost-effective educational option for budding visual effects artists and animators. We attract very talented effects artists and educators such as Tom Zuber, Patrick McNabb and Richard Hicks to teach on our staff, and offer courses in all of the latest production and post tools and techniques."

3D Animation Course Leader Tom Zuber has 17 years experience in animation and gaming as an art director, animator and instructor. His teaching experience includes roles as head of animation at Vancouver School of Animation, head 3D instructor at Vancouver Film School and 'programme coordinator' at Canada's Gamer College. Zuber's production experience includes TV, film and game credits with Electronic Arts, Sextant Ent., Eidetic Inc. and Pure Illusion Ent.

Patrick McNabb graduated from Vancouver's Capilano College Digital Animation Program and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Victoria. He has been a graphic artist working in corporate communications for three years and a character animator for five years for such companies as Mainframe Ent., Bardel Ent. and Radical Games. He has taught Maya at Capilano College and the British Columbia Institute of Technology in Vancouver.

Richard Hicks joins Media Design School's gaming faculty after 20 years in the game industry working with both publishers and independent developers. Before MDS, Hicks worked as an independent consultant in the areas of wireless, console and handheld games. Prior to this, Hicks was employed by The 3DO Company in various roles, including svp, cto and product development department head, and at Electronic Arts as director of software development and manager of tools.

Media Design School provides expert training in a range of high-end disciplines including 3D computer animation, game development, visual effects and motion graphics, graphic design and digital media. For more information, visit www.mediadesign.school.nz.

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Rick DeMott
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