What influence do AI video generation tools have on the future of visual communication, motion design, and moving image? In this 4-day block course, we started by collecting and discussing students’ own encounters with so-called “artificial intelligence” — their previous experiences and workflows. On day two, animator and theorist Fabian Mosele joined us, sharing his practice of “synthography” — approaching AI not just as a tool but as a subject of critical inquiry. Together we explored prompting strategies, model limitations, and tools including Adobe Firefly, LM Studio, and ComfyUI. Afterwards the students prepared theoretical inputs and discussed about topics like the automation of creative labor, bias, environmental costs, and what generative AI means for moving images and society. The outcome was a short animation — ideally with a meta-reflective relationship to generative AI itself.

(selection of student projects)