Merge pull request #51086 from MicrosoftDocs/NEW-sketch-the-future

Albertyang0 · web-flow · commit 450989f050fb · 2025-06-24T09:02:20.000-07:00
NEW-sketch-the-future -&gt; main
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/1-introduction.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/1-introduction.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.introduction
+title: Introduction
+metadata:
+  title: Introduction
+  description: "In this unit, learners explore how AI tools like Microsoft Copilot and Designer enhance the preproduction process for animated content. Learners explore how to use AI for creative planning, concept development, and visual storytelling, streamlining the path from initial ideas to structured visual assets. Keywords: AI-assisted preproduction, animation planning, Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Designer, storyboarding with AI."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+  
+durationInMinutes: 5
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/1-introduction.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/10-summary.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/10-summary.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.summary
+title: Summary
+metadata:
+  title: Summary
+  description: "In this unit, learners review how Microsoft Copilot and Designer support the pre-production and visual development stages of animation.  Keywords: Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Designer, AI-assisted pre-production, animation visual development, animation concept planning."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+  
+durationInMinutes: 5
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/10-summary.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/2-microsoft-copilot-animation-production.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/2-microsoft-copilot-animation-production.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.microsoft-copilot-animation-production
+title: Microsoft Copilot for animation preproduction
+metadata:
+  title: Microsoft Copilot for Animation Preproduction
+  description: "In this unit, learners explore how Microsoft Copilot supports the preproduction phase of animation projects. Learners explore how Copilot enhances creative planning by generating story structures, proposing visual styles, and organizing production workflows. Keywords: Microsoft Copilot, animation planning, AI-assisted storyboarding, pre-production workflows, creative collaboration."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+  
+durationInMinutes: 5
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/2-microsoft-copilot-animation-production.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/3-create-detailed-animation-roadmaps-microsoft-copilot.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/3-create-detailed-animation-roadmaps-microsoft-copilot.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.create-detailed-animation-roadmaps-microsoft-copilot
+title: Create detailed animation roadmaps with Microsoft Copilot
+metadata:
+  title: Create Detailed Animation Roadmaps with Microsoft Copilot
+  description: "In this unit, learners discover how Microsoft Copilot can generate structured animation roadmaps, helping them turn creative ideas into actionable production plans. Learners practice building scene breakdowns, asset lists, and project timelines using AI-driven prompts. Keywords: Microsoft Copilot, animation planning, AI roadmaps, scene breakdowns, asset organization."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+  
+durationInMinutes: 15
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/3-create-detailed-animation-roadmaps-microsoft-copilot.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/4-generated-animation-roadmaps.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/4-generated-animation-roadmaps.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.generated-animation-roadmaps
+title: AI-generated animation roadmaps
+metadata:
+  title: AI-Generated Animation Roadmaps
+  description: "In this unit, learners review examples of AI-generated animation roadmaps produced with Microsoft Copilot across various genres. Learners explore how structured scene breakdowns, asset lists, and visual styles help streamline the animation planning process. Keywords: AI animation planning, Microsoft Copilot, animation roadmap examples, creative brainstorming with AI."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+  
+durationInMinutes: 10
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/4-generated-animation-roadmaps.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/5-microsoft-designer-animation-concept-design.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/5-microsoft-designer-animation-concept-design.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.microsoft-designer-animation-concept-design
+title: Microsoft Designer for animation concept design
+metadata:
+  title: Microsoft Designer for Animation Concept Design
+  description: "In this unit, learners explore how Microsoft Designer supports the visual development phase of animation projects. Learners explore how to generate concept art, mood boards, and consistent style frames using AI-powered tools, enhancing early-stage animation planning. Keywords: Microsoft Designer, animation concept art, visual storytelling, mood boards, AI-assisted design."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+  
+durationInMinutes: 5
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/5-microsoft-designer-animation-concept-design.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/6-generate-concept-frames-use-designer.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/6-generate-concept-frames-use-designer.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.generate-concept-frames-use-designer
+title: Generate concept frames using Microsoft Designer
+metadata:
+  title: Generate Concept Frames Using Microsoft Designer
+  description: "In this unit, learners practice generating scene-specific concept frames using Microsoft Designer. Learners explore how to craft effective prompts, explore different visual styles, and build a coherent visual narrative to guide animation production. Keywords: Microsoft Designer, concept art generation, visual storytelling, animation scene design, AI creative prompts."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+  
+durationInMinutes: 15
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/6-generate-concept-frames-use-designer.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/7-define-refine-style-guides-microsoft-designer.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/7-define-refine-style-guides-microsoft-designer.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.define-refine-style-guides-microsoft-designer
+title: Define and refine style guides with Microsoft Designer
+metadata:
+  title: Define and Refine Style Guides with Microsoft Designer
+  description: "In this unit, learners explore how to create and refine animation style guides using Microsoft Designer. Learners practice how to generate visual assets, adjust aesthetics, and experiment with different styles to build a cohesive visual identity. Keywords: Microsoft Designer, animation style guides, visual consistency, AI-driven style development, aesthetic refinement."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+ 
+durationInMinutes: 10
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/7-define-refine-style-guides-microsoft-designer.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/8-exercise.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/8-exercise.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.exercise
+title: Generate an animation storyboard and character designs
+metadata:
+  title: Exercise - Generate an Animation Storyboard and Character Designs
+  description: "In this hands-on activity, learners use Microsoft Copilot to generate a storyboard for a short animation and Microsoft Designer to create character designs that align with the visual style. Learners practice AI-assisted creative development from concept to visual realization. Keywords: Microsoft Copilot, Microsoft Designer, animation storyboarding, AI character design, creative planning with AI."
+
+  ms.date: 4/28/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+  
+durationInMinutes: 15
+content: |
+  [!include[](includes/8-exercise.md)]
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/9-knowledge-check.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/9-knowledge-check.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+### YamlMime:ModuleUnit
+uid: learn.philanthropies.sketch-future.knowledge-check
+
+title: Knowledge check
+metadata:
+  title: Knowledge Check
+  description: "Knowledge check for module."
+  ms.date: 3/20/2025
+  author: kariannab-ms
+  ms.author: kbarreto
+  ms.topic: unit
+
+  
+  
+durationInMinutes: 1
+
+
+content: |
+quiz:
+  questions:
+  - content: "What is the primary role of Microsoft Copilot during the pre-production phase of an animation project?"
+    choices:
+    - content: "To generate structured storyboards, asset lists, and planning documents based on text prompts"
+      isCorrect: true
+      explanation: "Copilot helps organize the creative process by building detailed animation roadmaps that include scenes, transitions, and asset needs."
+    - content: "To create final rendered animations automatically"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Copilot supports planning and concept development, not rendering, or final animation."
+    - content: "To replace the role of an animation director"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Copilot is a tool to support, not replace, creative leadership in animation production."
+
+  - content: "Which of the following options best describes how Microsoft Designer is used in animation concept development?"
+    choices:
+    - content: "Designer generates concept art and style frames from descriptive prompts to visualize key scenes"
+      isCorrect: true
+      explanation: "Designer turns written ideas into visuals, helping artists and directors visualize settings, characters, and tones early in the process."
+    - content: "Designer edits final video files to improve pacing"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Designer is a visual generation tool used during concept development, not for editing video."
+    - content: "Designer writes scripts and dialogue for animation sequences"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Copilot supports script writing best, not Designer."
+
+  - content: "How can AI-generated concept frames support the animation team?"
+    choices:
+    - content: "They act as visual references that communicate mood, composition, and style early in production"
+      isCorrect: true
+      explanation: "Concept frames help align the team creatively before production starts by providing a shared visual direction."
+    - content: "They serve as final animation assets ready for export"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Concept frames are part of the planning process—not the final animation product."
+    - content: "They remove the need for traditional visual design skills"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "AI tools enhance visual planning but don't eliminate the need for human creative input and refinement."
+
+  - content: "What's an effective way to refine AI-generated visuals in Microsoft Designer?"
+    choices:
+    - content: "Experiment with different styles, moods, and compositions by updating the prompt"
+      isCorrect: true
+      explanation: "Refining your prompt and testing alternatives helps align the visual results with your creative goals."
+    - content: "Use only the first result without reviewing alternatives"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Reviewing and adjusting results leads to stronger, more intentional design outcomes."
+    - content: "Ignore style consistency across concept frames"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Maintaining a cohesive style across frames is important for visual storytelling and tone setting."
+
+  - content: "Why are style guides important in an animation project?"
+    choices:
+    - content: "They ensure consistent visual direction across characters, scenes, and environments"
+      isCorrect: true
+      explanation: "Style guides define the aesthetic of the project, helping teams maintain a unified look and feel throughout the animation."
+    - content: "They contain finalized rendered video sequences"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Style guides contain visual references, not finished animations."
+    - content: "They eliminate the need for storyboard or concept development"
+      isCorrect: false
+      explanation: "Style guides support the visual development process but don't replace storyboards or planning tools."
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/1-introduction.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/1-introduction.md
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+In this session, learners explore how to use AI tools for preproduction and visual planning in animated projects. Learners explore how Microsoft tools like **Copilot** and **Designer** support the creative process—from early brainstorming to generating visual assets. Through hands-on demonstrations, participants use these tools to build structured animation roadmaps, design concept art, and create visual style guides. The session encourages learners to combine AI suggestions with their own creative ideas, helping them work more efficiently while keeping their originality.
+
+## Scenario
+
+Imagine you're the creative lead for an animated music video pitch for Cuco's next tour. You need to present a clear visual concept—but you're short on time and working with a small team. You start by listening to the song and writing down ideas about the mood, themes, and story direction.
+
+Next, you open **Microsoft Copilot** to build a detailed animation roadmap. Copilot helps outline key scenes, transitions, and needed assets. Then, you switch to **Microsoft Designer** to create concept frames that show the style and tone of the video. These AI-generated visuals help you explain your vision quickly and clearly to stakeholders—saving time, aligning the team, and making your pitch more compelling.
+
+## What will we be doing?
+
+We explore how AI supports the early stages of animation planning and apply Microsoft tools to build a visual concept:
+
+- **Introduce:** How does AI help with planning and visual storytelling for animation?  
+- **Roadmap:** How does Copilot help build a sequence of animated scenes?  
+- **Visualize:** How does Microsoft Designer help create mood boards and concept images?  
+- **Refine:** How can AI support iterations and style tweaks during development?  
+- **Create:** How do we mix AI outputs with our own creative ideas?  
+- **Apply:** How do we use these tools in a hands-on activity to design an animation concept?
+
+## What is the main goal?
+
+The goal of this session is to help learners use AI tools like **Copilot** and **Designer** to improve the early planning stages of animation. Participants build storyboards, concept frames, and visual style guides that lay the foundation for a professional animation project.
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/10-summary.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/10-summary.md
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+In this module, you explore how to bring an animated concept to life using Microsoft AI tools: **Copilot** and **Designer**. Focusing on preproduction and visual development, the session shows how AI supports and speeds up the early stages of animation planning—from brainstorming ideas to designing visuals.
+
+- **Copilot** helps you organize creative ideas into structured animation roadmaps, including scene breakdowns, asset lists, and simple planning workflows tailored to your project.  
+- **Designer** allows you to generate high-quality concept frames and visual references. You use it to visualize scenes, test out different art styles, and create a consistent look for your animation.
+
+This module shows how AI tools can act as creative partners, improving both speed and originality. By bringing **Copilot** and **Designer** into your workflow, you create a clearer, more actionable vision—ready to guide your project into production with confidence.
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/2-microsoft-copilot-animation-production.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/2-microsoft-copilot-animation-production.md
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+Artificial intelligence is changing how animation and visual effects teams plan their projects—especially in the early stages. In the past, animation preproduction took a lot of manual effort to shape stories, brainstorm visuals, and organize direction. Now, **Microsoft Copilot** provides AI-powered support that makes the process faster, more creative, and easier to manage.
+
+## What is Microsoft Copilot?
+
+Microsoft Copilot is an AI assistant built into familiar tools like Word, PowerPoint, and OneNote—and also available directly in the **Microsoft Edge browser**. This makes it easy to access during research, brainstorming, or creative planning sessions while browsing online.
+
+Copilot acts like a creative partner. It helps you organize your thoughts, build structured plans, and come up with new ideas quickly. For animation projects, it helps with storytelling, visual inspiration, and production planning—all through natural language prompts.
+
+Whether you're part of a professional studio or a small creative team, Copilot gives you a smart way to explore themes, plan animated scenes, and list out the assets needed to bring your ideas to life.
+
+## How Copilot helps with animation preproduction
+
+- **Build story structures**  
+  Copilot helps turn loose ideas into structured story arcs. You can describe your basic concept, and Copilot will suggest a framework with beginning, middle, and end scenes.
+
+- **Suggest visual styles**  
+  Based on keywords or mood descriptions, Copilot suggests visual directions—like color palettes, design influences, or animation styles—that align with your theme or genre.
+
+- **Organize workflows**  
+  Copilot creates checklists, timelines, and asset lists for your animation project. This helps you stay on track while juggling creative and production tasks.
+
+- **Make collaboration easier**  
+  By turning vague ideas into clear outlines, Copilot helps you share your vision with others and work faster as a team. Everyone stays on the same page from the start.
+
+## Why use Copilot for animation planning?
+
+Copilot saves time and brings clarity to the preproduction process. Instead of starting from a blank page, you begin with a structured plan that's easy to build on. Whether you're pitching a music video or developing a short animated film, Copilot helps you turn early ideas into real, actionable plans—making the creative process faster, smoother, and more organized.
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/3-create-detailed-animation-roadmaps-microsoft-copilot.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/3-create-detailed-animation-roadmaps-microsoft-copilot.md
@@ -0,0 +1,49 @@
+Once you have a core idea for your animated project, the next step is turning it into a structured plan. **Microsoft Copilot** helps you build an animation roadmap by turning your creative ideas into clear, actionable steps. With a few simple prompts, Copilot helps generate scene breakdowns, timelines, and asset lists that guide your entire production.
+
+## What is an animation roadmap?
+
+An animation roadmap is a detailed outline that shows how your project will take shape. It usually includes:
+
+- A short summary of the story or concept  
+- A scene-by-scene breakdown  
+- A list of visual and audio assets  
+- Suggestions for pacing, transitions, and narrative flow  
+
+This roadmap acts as a blueprint. It helps everyone involved understand the creative direction, timeline, and production needs before animation begins.
+
+## Step-by-step: Using Copilot for animation planning
+
+You can use **Copilot in Microsoft Edge** to build your roadmap by entering prompts like the ones below:
+
+1. **Start with your concept.**  
+   Example:  
+   *"Create an animation plan for a 90-second music video inspired by Cuco's dreamlike style. The theme is personal transformation."*
+
+1. **Break the project into scenes.**  
+   Example:  
+   *"Divide the animation into five key scenes and describe the visuals and transitions for each one."*
+
+1. **List needed assets.**  
+   Example:  
+   *"Create a list of visual and audio assets based on this animation plan."*
+
+1. **Request team planning tips.**  
+   Example:  
+   *"Suggest a timeline and roles for a small creative team working on this animation."*
+
+## How to refine and customize the roadmap
+
+Once Copilot gives you a draft, you can quickly tweak it to match your vision:
+
+- Change the mood or pacing  
+  *Example: "Make the transitions slower and more emotional."*  
+- Add style preferences  
+  *Example: "Use pastel colors and vaporwave-inspired visuals."*  
+- Rearrange or combine scenes  
+  *Example: "Merge scenes 2 and 3 into a single montage."*
+
+This makes it easy to test ideas and adjust the plan without starting over.
+
+## Why it matters
+
+Planning animation can take a lot of time—especially when you're trying to organize creative ideas into clear direction. Copilot speeds up the process by giving you a strong first draft that you can build on. Whether you're working alone or with a team, an AI-generated roadmap keeps everyone on the same page, reduces confusion, and brings your vision to life more smoothly.
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/4-generated-animation-roadmaps.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/4-generated-animation-roadmaps.md
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/5-microsoft-designer-animation-concept-design.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/5-microsoft-designer-animation-concept-design.md
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/6-generate-concept-frames-use-designer.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/6-generate-concept-frames-use-designer.md
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/7-define-refine-style-guides-microsoft-designer.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/7-define-refine-style-guides-microsoft-designer.md
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/8-exercise.md b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/includes/8-exercise.md
diff --git a/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/index.yml b/learn-pr/philanthropies/sketch-future/index.yml
