Open Window

Established in 1993, Open Window is a private higher education institution in South Africa specializing in digital technology, visual arts, and creative production. Originally founded as an independent art academy, the college provides accredited degrees and higher certificates spanning animation, game design, digital film production, and visual communication.

Open Window organizes its creative production curricula across the School of Animation Arts and the School of Film Arts. The Bachelor of Arts in Game Design and Animation offers dedicated pathways in 3D Animation, Motion Design, and Game Design. Across these specializations, all first-year degree students complete a digital literacy bootcamp covering fundamental software navigation and image creation. Advanced coursework builds on this base, with 3D animation covering modeling, rigging, and character mechanics in Blender, while motion design incorporates both stop-motion animation in Dragonframe and digital compositing.

The game design curriculum balances conceptual game art with functional engine mechanics and scripting in Unity and C#. Operating alongside the Bachelor of Film Arts—which includes tracks in screenwriting, production design, and sound design—the programs simulate an integrated studio pipeline where game designers, visual artists, and filmmakers collaborate across interactive and linear media.

Delivery and Production Facilities

Tuition follows a multimodal structure. Foundational software lessons and theoretical instruction are delivered through self-paced digital modules, reserving physical campus hours for practical critiques, directorial reviews, and team-based production. Degrees are delivered strictly on campus rather than through remote distance education.

Practical work is supported by dedicated production infrastructure across the campuses:

• Dedicated audio facilities for Foley recording, sound design, and audio post-production utilizing Pro Tools and Nuendo.
• Post-production suites equipped for high-end color grading and video finishing in DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro.
• Rapid physical prototyping in the Centurion campus MakerSpace.
• Contemporary student and faculty gallery space at the NOW Gallery.

Student projects culminate in practical collaborative events, including the Open Window Film and Animation Festival (OWFAF) and the annual Pangolin Awards.