Rate My Professor Danny Ward

Mr. Danny Ward serves as a Lecturer in the School of Art and Design, College of Creative Arts, Design and Humanities at Adelaide University. He possesses extensive involvement in the creation and teaching of production and post-production across 2D and 3D formats for film and television production. Ward is experienced with major commercial software packages, including Maya for 3D modeling and animation, Houdini, Unreal Engine, Adobe Creative Suite, Nuke for digital compositing and 3D tracking, Avid Media Composer, and DaVinci Resolve for editing and colour correction. He has developed extensive learning materials and courses for higher education, focusing on professional practices in visual effects and digital media.

Ward's teaching portfolio encompasses a broad array of specialized courses in visual effects, animation, compositing, and simulation techniques. These include Character Performance (COMM 2083, 2025, 2024), which introduces animation theory and practice for 3D character performances; Dynamic Effects (COMM 3068, 2025, 2024), covering hair dynamics, constraints, and realistic environmental interactions; Visual Effects Project: Dynamic Effects and Lighting (COMM 3069, 2025); Visual Effects Placement: Compositing and Tracking (COMM 3082, 2025); Compositing Production Project (COMM 5070, 2025); Plate Preparation Techniques (COMM 5071, 2025); Introduction to 3D Tracking (COMM 5072, 2025); Visual Effects Professional Practice (COMM 5073, 2025); Effects Skills Development (COMM 5074, 2025); Effects Element Development (COMM 5075, 2025); Look Development and Lighting (COMM 5076, 2025); Introduction to CGI (COMM 1067, 2024); and Digital Compositing (COMM 2094, 2024). Courses such as Creature Effects Project (COMP 5014) are delivered on-campus at Rising Sun Pictures, providing immersive industry-based learning where students devise and deliver original, industry-standard creature effects projects, applying tools for photorealistic simulations, professional pipelines, iterative reviews, and quality assurance in simulated team environments. Cloth Simulation (COMP 5015) and Hair Simulation (COMP 5016) further emphasize advanced simulation skills. Through these offerings, Ward equips students with autonomy, adaptability, and direction in visual effects production to meet industry deadlines and standards.