Games Art BA (Hons)

Staffordshire University

If you want to create the amazing visual elements that are seen in games, our Games Art degree will provide you with the skills you need for a career as a 3D artist. This course follows our brand-new pathways structure, allowing you to specialise in a particular area of the field of games art, and covers everything from environment and character creation to props, vehicle and weaponry design.

Throughout the course, you’ll study 3D modelling, digital sculpting, texturing, observational drawing and character design. You’ll learn how to apply the fundamentals of art and design theory and contextual art studies to your practical art skill development. You will also be encouraged to develop your own artistic workflow. In the second year of study you can choose to specialise in one of the following areas of games art, gaining a more focused expertise and making yourself more employable in specific roles:

Character

Environment

The course is designed in collaboration with the games industry. We are members of TIGA, and industry sponsored state-of-the art games design studio. What’s more, games studios visit the University on a regular basis for industry talks and workshops, so you’ll have the opportunity to build contacts for your future career.

What you’ll do:

During your first year, you’ll learn 3D modelling and texturing using a physically-based rendering (PBR) workflow for environment assets in the Unreal Games Engine. You’ll develop your understanding of art and design principles including: light, colour, shape, form, volume and anatomy through life drawing and fundamental art skills. You’ll cultivate your artistic eye to make use of light, colour and composition in games contemporary media.

In Year 2 you will have the option to choose a specialist pathway and focus your module choices around a particular area. Depending on your choices, you can learn digital sculpting techniques to create game characters using ZBrush, or create environments using a combination of ZBrush, 3DS Max, Photoshop and the Unreal Engine. You’ll also develop an understanding of game production by being a games artist for a group games development project.

In the final year of your degree, you’ll continue to develop your portfolio with advanced 3D modelling. If you’re a character artist you’ll be able to specialise with creature sculpting. We will guide you in developing specialist skills for your individual career path, which will be vital in securing your first job. You will also be a senior member of a collaborative games development team which will prepare you for working in the industry.

Course features:

3D Modelling for Games

Environment Art Production

Character Art Production

Fundamental Art Skills for Games

Life Drawing

Art Direction for Games

3D Hard Surface Modelling

Materials and Texture Generation

Collaborative Game Development and Testing

Games Art Portfolio Development

For an up-to-date module overview, please refer to the website. Graduate destinations Our past graduates have achieved worldwide success, securing jobs in games studios around the globe. One graduate was Lead Character Artist at Naughty Dog, working on The Last of Us. We also have artists at Playground Games, Codemasters, Dovetail Games, Sumo Digital, Rockstar North, Flix Interactive, Rare, EA, Ubisoft and Rebellion.

Accredited by TIGA (The Independent Game Developers' Association) as delivering skills relevant to the games industry. TIGA accreditation is applicable to courses meeting any of a wide range of games industry needs, such as programming, art, design and entrepreneurship.