02 Weeks
8 weeks in a row
Each frame is one week: three lesson topics, a practice task and what you hand in to your mentor on Sunday.
Week 1Module 1 · Interface and modelling
Getting started in Blender
- Viewport navigation and numpad views
- Edit Mode: vertices, edges, faces
- Move, rotate, scale and Apply Scale
PracticeBuild a simple object from primitives: a mug, a lamp or a speaker.
→ A .blend file and a viewport screenshot
Week 2Module 1 · Interface and modelling
Modifiers and 3D icons
- Bevel, Subdivision Surface, Array, Mirror and Solidify
- Why modifier order in the stack matters
- 3D icon shapes: soft bevels, few details
PracticeModel a set of three 3D icons for an interface in one style.
→ A .blend file and three icon previews
Week 3Module 2 · Materials, light, rendering
Node-based materials
- Principled BSDF: base colour, roughness, metallic
- Shader Editor: Noise Texture and ColorRamp
- Plastic, glass and matte surfaces
PracticeSet up materials for the three icons in one colour palette.
→ Three PNG renders, 1080×1080
Week 4Module 2 · Materials, light, rendering
Lighting and rendering
- Three-point lighting: key, fill and rim
- Eevee or Cycles: speed versus accuracy
- Samples, denoising and a transparent background
PracticeRender one icon in a studio setup under two lighting schemes.
→ Two PNG renders, 1080×1080
Week 5Module 3 · Animation and camera
Keyframes and curves
- Keyframes, the Timeline and the Dope Sheet
- Graph Editor: F-curves, interpolation, handles
- Overshoot and settle without extra keys
PracticeAnimate an icon appearing with a scale overshoot in 1 second.
→ MP4, 2 seconds, 30 fps
Week 6Module 3 · Animation and camera
Camera and turntable
- Camera: focal length and depth of field
- Rotating with a parent Empty and Track To
- Seamless loops: linear interpolation and the last frame
PracticeMake a 360° turntable of an object in 4 seconds with a seamless loop.
→ MP4, 4 seconds, seamless loop
Week 7Module 4 · Final scene
Assembling the product scene
- Storyboarding a scene in 3–4 shots
- Camera moves and shot composition
- A rough Eevee render for the animatic
PracticeAssemble the product scene and an 8–10 second animatic.
→ Animatic MP4, 8–10 seconds
Week 8Module 4 · Final scene
Final render and export
- Rendering a PNG sequence rather than straight to video
- Compressing for the web: FFmpeg or Media Encoder
- The final icon set: PNGs with transparency
PracticeRender the 8–10 second product scene with cuts for the web and social media.
→ MP4 for the web and social media, icon set
03 Modules
Modules and exercises
8 weeks: from first shapes to a product scene and 3D icons for interfaces.
Module 1 Weeks 1–2 · Blender
Interface and modelling
Navigating Blender, modifiers, modelling simple objects.
ExerciseA set of three 3D icons for an interface
01
Getting started in Blender
- Viewport navigation and numpad views
- Edit Mode: vertices, edges, faces
- Move, rotate, scale and Apply Scale
Practice Build a simple object from primitives: a mug, a lamp or a speaker.
Hand in: A .blend file and a viewport screenshot
02
Modifiers and 3D icons
- Bevel, Subdivision Surface, Array, Mirror and Solidify
- Why modifier order in the stack matters
- 3D icon shapes: soft bevels, few details
Practice Model a set of three 3D icons for an interface in one style.
Hand in: A .blend file and three icon previews
Module 2 Weeks 3–4 · Blender
Materials, light, rendering
Node-based materials, three-point lighting, Eevee versus Cycles for a given task.
ExerciseA studio render of one icon in two lighting setups
03
Node-based materials
- Principled BSDF: base colour, roughness, metallic
- Shader Editor: Noise Texture and ColorRamp
- Plastic, glass and matte surfaces
Practice Set up materials for the three icons in one colour palette.
Hand in: Three PNG renders, 1080×1080
04
Lighting and rendering
- Three-point lighting: key, fill and rim
- Eevee or Cycles: speed versus accuracy
- Samples, denoising and a transparent background
Practice Render one icon in a studio setup under two lighting schemes.
Hand in: Two PNG renders, 1080×1080
Module 3 Weeks 5–6 · Blender
Animation and camera
Keyframes, the Graph Editor, camera animation, a product turntable.
ExerciseA 360° turntable in 4 seconds with a seamless loop
05
Keyframes and curves
- Keyframes, the Timeline and the Dope Sheet
- Graph Editor: F-curves, interpolation, handles
- Overshoot and settle without extra keys
Practice Animate an icon appearing with a scale overshoot in 1 second.
Hand in: MP4, 2 seconds, 30 fps
06
Camera and turntable
- Camera: focal length and depth of field
- Rotating with a parent Empty and Track To
- Seamless loops: linear interpolation and the last frame
Practice Make a 360° turntable of an object in 4 seconds with a seamless loop.
Hand in: MP4, 4 seconds, seamless loop
Module 4 Weeks 7–8 · Blender
Final scene
Building a product scene, rendering a sequence, exporting video for the web and social media.
ExerciseAn 8–10 second product scene
07
Assembling the product scene
- Storyboarding a scene in 3–4 shots
- Camera moves and shot composition
- A rough Eevee render for the animatic
Practice Assemble the product scene and an 8–10 second animatic.
Hand in: Animatic MP4, 8–10 seconds
08
Final render and export
- Rendering a PNG sequence rather than straight to video
- Compressing for the web: FFmpeg or Media Encoder
- The final icon set: PNGs with transparency
Practice Render the 8–10 second product scene with cuts for the web and social media.
Hand in: MP4 for the web and social media, icon set
Who it is for
For interface and motion designers who want to add 3D to their work. No 3D experience needed.
What you will learn
- Model simple objects and 3D icons
- Set up materials, lighting and rendering in Eevee and Cycles
- Animate objects and the camera, edit curves in the Graph Editor
- Output video for the web: image sequences, compression, seamless loops
What you need to start
- No 3D experience needed
- Blender is free: we install the latest stable release in the first session
- A discrete graphics card helps: Cycles renders slowly on integrated graphics
- About 8 hours a week
04 Final project
The final project is an 8–10 second product scene and a set of 3D icons ready for an interface.
05 Plans
Plans
Price for the whole course. Pay in 2–6 monthly parts with no surcharge.
Self-paced
Lessons at your own pace with written exercise reviews.
$410
or in parts from $69 a month
- All lessons and course materials
- A written, timecoded review of every exercise within 3 working days
- Cohort chat
With a mentor
A live group review every week.
$650
or in parts from $109 a month
- Everything in Self-paced
- A weekly 90-minute live session
- Work reviewed on screen, with the mentor adjusting curves during the session
- Final project defence at a live review
One-to-one
Private sessions with the mentor you choose.
$1,150
or in parts from $192 a month
- Everything in With a mentor
- A weekly 60-minute one-to-one session
- Session times by arrangement
- A portfolio review before the defence
Cohorts
11 November 2026
Wednesday, 19:00 Moscow time
Enrolment open
Apply for this cohort3 March 2027
Wednesday, 19:00 Moscow time
Pre-registration
Apply for this cohort