Skills

Understand Computer Architecture by Building Below the Language

0 milestones · 10 weeks

Build a working assembler, simple CPU emulator, or cache simulator from scratch — the artifact must demonstrate that you understand what happens below the programming language you normally use: instruction encoding, pipeline stages, cache line behaviour, or memory hierarchy trade-offs. The implementation must be accompanied by a written explanation of every design decision in terms of the specific hardware constraint it addresses. Proof: the working implementation and write-up reviewed by a CS lecturer or systems engineer who traces the execution of a program they haven't shown you through your implementation and asks you to explain every step.

Implement Core Data Structures From Scratch with Complexity Analysis

0 milestones · 6 weeks

Implement a linked list, binary search tree, hash table, min-heap, and adjacency-list graph from scratch in any language — no library primitives for the core data structure logic. Each implementation must include a full test suite covering edge cases and a documented time and space complexity analysis explaining why each operation has the stated complexity (not just stating it). Proof: the implementations and analysis reviewed by a CS lecturer or senior software engineer who asks 'why is your hash table O(1) amortised for insertion rather than O(1) worst-case?' — you must answer by pointing to your specific implementation and the conditions that trigger rehashing.

Cognitive Neuroscience Experimental Design

0 milestones · 8 weeks

Design a complete cognitive neuroscience experiment to test a specific hypothesis about a cognitive process — attention, working memory, decision-making, language, emotion, perception, or executive function. The design must specify: research question and hypothesis, experimental paradigm (blocked vs. event-related; stimulus presentation; trial structure), participant criteria and sample size with power analysis, neuroimaging or physiological methodology (fMRI, EEG, MEG, eye-tracking, or equivalent), analysis pipeline, and ethics considerations. A complete experimental design requires no equipment — the methodology document is the artifact. The proof is the design document reviewed by a neuroscientist who identifies at least one uncontrolled confound in the design; the student's written response proposing either a methodological fix or arguing that the confound does not threaten the primary hypothesis is a required part of the proof. This documented exchange confirms that the student can engage with methodological criticism, not just produce a design document.

Digital Graphic Design Campaign

0 milestones · 8 weeks

Graphic design campaign responding to a brief across multiple digital and print formats. Triad: concept/ideation artifact (campaign concept document: target audience rationale, visual language decisions, colour and type strategy, brief interpretation — demonstrating that the creative direction is brief-driven, not arbitrary), technical execution artifact (production-ready campaign files delivered across minimum 3 formats — social media post, web banner, and print collateral — all correctly sized and specified for their platforms), critique/documentation artifact (brief response document: annotated mapping of each design decision to a brief objective, showing how the visual language serves the communication goals). Studio critique: creative director or senior graphic designer reviews the campaign against the brief objectives at a documented crit session — the crit explores whether the design communicates the right message to the right audience, not just whether it looks considered. Proof: brief, campaign files (all formats), brief response document, critique notes. Verifier: creative director or senior graphic designer.

Character & Environment Design

0 milestones · 8 weeks

Character or environment design for an animation project, developed from brief to finished design sheet. Triad: concept/ideation artifact (brief response: initial concept thumbnails — minimum 6 — showing different design directions explored, plus reference moodboard and the visual language rationale: what aesthetic territory was chosen and why), technical execution artifact (finalised design sheet: for characters, a front/side/back turnaround with expression sheet and proportion chart; for environments, an establishing shot concept with key asset callouts and lighting/atmosphere notes), documentation/critique artifact (design rationale document: how each design decision — silhouette, colour palette, line quality, costume or surface detail — serves the project's narrative tone, target audience, or animation style). Studio critique: professional animator, art director, or character designer challenges the coherence of design decisions with the project's creative direction. Proof: concept thumbnails, moodboard, final design sheet, design rationale, critique notes. Verifier: professional animator, character designer, or art director.

Motion Graphics Package

0 milestones · 8 weeks

Motion graphics package for a real or set brief — title sequences, branded animation, explainer content, or social media motion. Triad: concept/ideation artifact (motion brief response: visual style rationale, animation approach and tone, typeface and colour palette decisions, and how the motion language serves the communication objectives), technical execution artifact (finished motion graphics package rendered to brief specification — minimum 30 seconds — delivered at the correct frame rate, codec, and output format for the intended platform), documentation/critique artifact (design rationale and technical breakdown: how specific motion choices — easing curves, transition approach, text animation style, sound synchronisation — serve the brief objectives; this is the document that explains the decisions, not describes the output). Proof Accessibility Rule applies: DaVinci Resolve free tier covers full compositing, motion graphics, and colour grading; Blender (free) covers 3D motion; Adobe After Effects student licence and Final Cut Pro Motion are paid alternatives. Studio critique: motion designer or creative director reviews timing, easing, compositional hierarchy, and brief alignment. Proof: motion brief response, finished motion graphics (video link), design rationale, critique notes. Verifier: motion designer or creative director.

Film Pre-Production Package

0 milestones · 10 weeks

Professional pre-production package for a short film or motion project demonstrating production planning to industry standard. Triad: concept/ideation artifact (treatment document: project concept, tone and genre, visual style reference, target audience, and intended distribution — the document that pitches the film before a frame is shot), technical execution artifact (full pre-production package: shooting script or detailed shot list with scene descriptions and technical notes, storyboard for minimum 5 key sequences, production schedule showing all shoot days and call times, and location breakdown or production design reference document), documentation/critique artifact (production rationale: written justification of key pre-production decisions — why this location, what the visual language references, how the schedule reflects real production constraints and contingency planning). Studio critique: professional film director, producer, or film school tutor reviews the pre-production package for production viability and creative coherence. Proof: treatment, shooting script or shot list, storyboard, production schedule, rationale document, critique notes. Verifier: professional film director, producer, or film school tutor — no peer-only verification.

Film Production Shoot

0 milestones · 10 weeks

Short film or motion project shot to professional production standard with documented technical and creative decisions. Triad: concept/ideation artifact (directorial vision document: how the visual language — camera movement, composition approach, lighting aesthetic, performance direction style — serves the narrative or conceptual intention), technical execution artifact (footage shot to production standard demonstrating a consistent visual approach — minimum 3 minutes of edited material or equivalent in raw rushes from a completed shoot day — with evidence that planned coverage was achieved), documentation/critique artifact (production log: camera settings and rationale for each setup, lighting decisions and their intended effect, sound acquisition decisions, what was achieved vs. what was planned, and what adaptation was required during the shoot). Studio critique: director of photography, film director, or film school tutor reviews footage and production log, challenging creative and technical decisions — 'it was what we planned' is not a sufficient explanation for any decision. Proof: directorial vision document, footage (private Vimeo or equivalent link), production log, critique notes. Verifier: professional filmmaker (director or DoP with screen credits) or film school tutor.