BA (Hons) Games Art

Introduction

Your portfolio review will be conducted on our video interviewing platform, Shortlister. You will receive an email from us if you have been selected for interview and then you will hear from Shortlister with your log in information.

Once you have received your invitation for a review, you will be sent a log in to Shortlister. Once logged in, you will find a lobby area with a few tips on how to navigate around the platform, a practise area where you can try out answering a few questions, test sharing your screen if required and to build your confidence.

Please note that this interview will require you to share a portfolio and therefore you will need to access this via a laptop or PC.

Please note that the first question will always ask for a form of ID to be shown to the camera. This must be photo ID (a passport, driving license – full or provisional, or a college ID card).

Here is some guidance of the kind of work we’d like to see. Of course, if you’ve got something more, we’d be more than happy to see it:

• Visually creative work in 2D or 3D
• Experience in 3D modelling or Games Development is desirable
• Examples of artistic problem solving e.g., research and designing game props, characters or environments, Fine Art or Art and Design work
• Drawing skills desirable, but not essential
• A passion for games

If you’re applying for BA(Hons) Games Art (with Foundation Year):

• Visually creative work in 2D or 3D
• Any previous games art or design work
• A passion for games

The BA (Hons) Games Art course at University of Staffordshire is a practical course, so as part of the selection process we would like to see what you’ve been working on. 

If you have sketchbooks, carefully photograph any physical work carefully and clearly with a camera or your phone.  The key is that you showcase who you are, and your passion.  It is important to remember that we are looking for potential and a snapshot of who you are creatively right now.

To ensure every candidate has the same opportunity to highlight their key achievements, skills, and experiences we publish our interview questions. The questions are:

1. Please show a form of ID

2. Tell us about yourself and what inspired you to pursue Games Art. Please include any key influences such as games, films, books, or artists that have shaped your creative journey

3. Choose one piece of 3D work from your portfolio and walk us through its development. Please screen share or display the piece while talking through your process, tools used, what you were trying to achieve and how successful you were. (Sharing)

4. Feedback and iteration is an important part of the Games Development pipeline. Please select a 3D asset from your portfolio and talk us through what you feel works well, and what you would improve if you were to revisit it today? (Sharing)

5. Show us a project where you faced a creative or technical challenge. Explain how you overcame it and what you learned. Please share the relevant portfolio piece or supporting materials? (Sharing)

6. Looking at the course structure, which skills or areas would you most like to improve as you begin your studies, and what modules are you interested in studying and why?

There may instances whereby the portfolio review highlights that this isn't the course for you.  Examples of when this might happen include:

• When your passion lies elsewhere – making artwork for you (not clients/to a set brief), making comic books, storyboarding, focusing on animation etc.
• When you do not wish to use 3D
• When you have no interest in games, films, or TV entertainment
• When you do not draw on a regular basis
• When your drawings are unlikely to meet Level 4 criteria within the year

Typically, where an applicant’s portfolio isn’t suited to their chosen course, it may be suited to one of our other courses.  The table below explains why we may choose to offer you an alternative course.