Storytelling through images is running at breakneck speed, and leading this charge is Unreal Engine, a real-time 3D creation software that is changing the way we experience movies, video games, and virtual experiences. Here at JD School of Design, powered by JD Institute of Fashion Technology, students just experienced it firsthand through an inspiring VFX Masterclass on Unreal Engine by two industry experts: Mr. Kondal Rao, FX Artist, and Mr. Rohith Kumar, Compositor Artist at Pixelloid Studios.
This hands-on industry workshop was more than just a tech class—this was a dive into the future of creating digital content, a chance to learn from the makers, and an opportunity for JD students to get up close with technology that brings Hollywood blockbusters, OTT productions, and games to life.
Learning the Beat of VFX using Unreal Engine
The masterclass kicked off with a thorough summary of how the role of Unreal Engine has shifted within the VFX pipeline. A tool which was so obstinately bound within the territory of gaming, Unreal is becoming the first port of call for creators and VFX studios across the globe due to its real-time rendering, photorealism, and user-friendly integration within other production software.
“Unreal isn’t the future—it’s the now,” declared Mr. Kondal Rao, guiding students through his production workflow utilising FX simulations, dynamic lighting, and real-time world-building. A practitioner of over a decade in the industry, Mr. Rao showed practitioner-level attention to detail in learning technical workflows, illustrating how employing Niagara and Lumen within Unreal Engine allows artists to build stunning visual effects—anything from fires to weather sims—in real-time.
Mr. Rohith Kumar, a compositing expert at Pixelloid Studios, volunteered to show how Unreal’s real-time compositing pipelines are speeding up production workflows and making them more collaborative. “With old pipelines, it would take hours or even days to render. With Unreal, you get instant feedback, and that boosts creativity and productivity,” he said.
Hands-On Learning: From Assets to Animation
The most gratifying element of the workshop was the experiential, hands-on nature of the event. Rather than being theory-driven, the instructors led students step by step through real-time demonstrations of production-grade hardware and explained how scenes are constructed, animated, lit, and rendered in Unreal Engine.
From bringing in 3D models to building real-world environments and adjusting particle effects, the course showed the entire creative process. Students were taught how to employ Blueprint visual scripting, so even programmers weren’t required to build interactive sections—a dream come true for design and animation students who want to develop their storytelling skills.
The pick of the event was the virtual production experience, a method made popular by series such as The Mandalorian, wherein live performers perform in front of LED panels powered by an Unreal Engine-rendered environment. The masterclass spoke about how now this technology is within reach even for independent producers and small facilities, and top-quality VFX is affordable to everyone.
Industry Insights: What Studios Look For
Besides training in technical skills, both the speakers gave useful insights into career opportunities in VFX, what is needed in the industry currently, and how students can prepare for real-world jobs. Portfolio creation, learning software along with narrative, and staying abreast of new tools and developments were underscored across.
“Studios look for problem solvers,” emphasised Mr. Rohith. “It’s not the software you need to know. It’s how you use it creatively and most efficiently to turn ideas into reality.”
There was also the chance to ask the speakers questions in the course of a Q&A session, during which students queried the speakers on specialisation options, freelancing as a combination of these or working in a studio set-up, and creating a decent showreel. The speakers were not shy to discuss issues, either—from having to work under deadlines to continuous learning—but their passion suggested that the experience is as rewarding as it is difficult.
A Glimpse into the Future of Design Education
JD School of Design think that exposure to industry practices is crucial in the making of the future makers and designers. Such workshops as this VFX Masterclass bridge the gap between work and study, enabling students to peek beyond the classroom and into the studios where magic happens.
Whether you are a student of animation, a gamer, an aspiring filmmaker, or just someone who loves the magic on screen, Unreal Engine is a huge playground. And with expert guidance from masters like Mr. Kondal Rao and Mr. Rohith Kumar, JD students are well placed to bring imagination to life.
In a world where the king is happy and visual storytelling is the supreme ruler, technology such as Unreal Engine is becoming the new norm with breakneck speed. Because of this captivating and informative session by Pixelloid Studios’ professionals, JD students now have an idea of what it takes to survive the cutthroat VFX industry.
And as we bring the industry into our classrooms more and more, this workshop is an excellent illustration of what happens when opportunity meets knowledge.
