Cinematic Design Thinking Workshops and Masterclasses
Cinematic Design Thinking is taught through a series of modular workshops each exploring the relationship between intent, execution, and experience. These are not software tutorials or abstract lectures, but are guided explorations in how cinematic principles can shape the clarity, emotion, and meaning of your own creative work. Every class builds on design as the invisible language of story, to help redefine how you think about yourself, your work and your audience.
MEET, LEARN, COLLABORATE
The Cinematic Design Discord provides a positive, proactive and productive community space for professionals and beginners in Film/VFX, Animation, Games and other creative industries, coming together in mutual support, companionship, sharing and learning, collaboration and problem-solving.
We offer FREE Cinematic Design Presentations, Industry Interviews & Panels, Community Activities, and more, FREE and OPEN to anyone, no matter your experience level, industry, discipline, timezone. If you are a dedicated creator or consumer of entertainment media and technology, there is a place here for you. Come check it out and help shape the kind of professional community you want to be a part of!
Learn the Principles
Each session examines a specific topic analyzing examples film and animation examples for what makes an idea work, why it resonates, and how to translate it into your own practice. A single 2-hour workshop (90-min lecture with 30-mins participation) makes this an ideal entry point for anyone curious about CDT and looking for a practical, first-hand experience.
EXAMPLE COURSES:
Visual Clarity, Hierarchy & Orchestration - how to lead the eye to create understanding within any image (shot, panel, page or mental image)
Thematic Structure, Universality & Resonance - how to tell the story behind the story for deeper and broader audience connection
Foundations of Storytelling - the foundations, evolution and purpose of storytelling for how and why we consume & create stories
Includes downloadable reference notes, examples, and access to the class recording.
find your focus - creative intention vs executional impact
These two 6-week Workshops form the backbone of Cinematic Design Thinking as the progression from creative intent to visual execution & audience impact. Offering a deep & broad focus into either Intentionality or Execution, ideal for professionals or students focused on one area only.
▶︎ SECTION 1: Story Design - teaches how ideas, structure, and intentionality shape audience connection and lay the foundation for effective impact.
▶︎ SECTION 2: Visual-Emotional Design - teaches how visual design choices shape and guide perception to create understanding, while further exploring how emotional, cognitive and psychological dimensions can be orchestrated to shape audience engagement, immersion and resonance.
Includes downloadable reference notes, examples & diagrams, access to class recordings.
Master the framework — from concept to experience
Integrated masterclass covering teaching the comprehensive study of how cinematic principles translate across media. Ideal for professionals, educators, and cross-disciplinary creators looking to align creative intent with design execution and audience impact.
Includes access to all recordings, diagrams, and reference materials.
Transform Your Team with Applied Guidance
Small-team and 1:1 private sessions focused on direct application. We’ll examine your current project: a film, game, story, or visual design, and identify where cinematic design principles can clarify, strengthen, or deepen your impact.
Each mentorship is tailored to your individual goals and creative process, combining critique with co-design and conceptual feedback. The intent is not to impose a formula, but to uncover the unique cinematic language within your work according to your own goals, audience, constraints and medium.
Access to all session recordings, supporting documentation & notes.
b2b professional consultation
Cinematic Design Thinking translates film-level storytelling and visual-emotional design into actionable frameworks for development, production, and brand strategy. I help teams connect creative intent to audience impact — ensuring every project decision strengthens clarity, coherence, and resonance.
HELP WITH THE ONGOING EFFORT TO HELP OTHERS
Please visit the CDT Patreon page to learn how you can become more involved with me in bringing these and other values to our creative community.