Daryl Marsh

Senior Lecturer

Digital, Tech, Innovation & Business

I am an experienced Animation Professional who has been a Senior Lecturer for sixteen years, now course Leader of the sixth ranking animation degree course in the UK [Animation Career Review 2022].

In the years that I have been teaching at Staffordshire University the landscape of teaching has radically changed in many ways and I feel that our students are more able to adopt new pipeline processes than ever before.

I am currently engaged in Practice Based Research that looks at a layered approach to audience experience in VR, AR, WebAR and browser utilizing interoperability to create real-world site-specific experiences of sculptural art forms. Over the last two years I have been researching and creating audience orientated artistic experiences that use a visual narrative to engage the viewer, and give alternative experiences based on choices made while exploring artworks.

I have also collaborated with artists within the metaverse to create exhibitions, live events, AR give-aways, shared galleries, and event recordings.

I also teach on our MA course and supervise Master by Negotiated Study students regularly. These opportunities often include exploration of new techniques, methodologies, and hybrid combinations.

Professional memberships and activities

  • Fellow of the Higher Education Authority.

Academic qualifications

  • Postgraduate Cert. in Higher and Professional Education
  • Fellow of the Higher Education Authority
  • BA (Hons) Degree in Film, Photography and Animation, West Surrey College of Art and Design, 1989.

Expertise

  • Animation
  • Immersive VR / AR
  • Character Design
  • Pre-Production Cinematography

Research interests

  • VR / AR art & emerging tech 

Teaching

My main subject areas include the following:

• Performance driven non-dialogue character animation: 2D, 3D & Stop Motion

• Spoken word character performance: 2D, 3D & Stop Motion

• Life drawing and life sculpture

• Ideas / concept development

• Story structuring and the use of narrative

• Character design and implementation

• Virtual Reality / Augmented Reality / WebAR

• Software training; Maya, Blender: Grease pencil, Gravity Sketch, Substance Painter, Tilt Brush, Open Brush, Mozilla Hubs, VRLand.io

• Polygon modelling (character & environmental), texturing and character rigging

• Stop Motion puppet design and build

• Production design

• Cinematography

• Pre-Vis

• Production Pipeline Workflow

• Scheduling

• Camera theory and practice.

• Lighting for animation

• Set Building 

in the UK for Quality Education

Sustainable Development Goal 4, Times Higher Education Impact Rankings 2024

for Career Prospects

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Facilities

Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2023

for Social Inclusion

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2023

of Research Impact is ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Very Considerable’

Research Excellence Framework 2021

of Research is “Internationally Excellent” or “World Leading”

Research Excellence Framework 2021

Four Star Rating

QS Star Ratings 2021