Course content
Throughout the course you will develop the technical and creative skills necessary to become a film or games concept artist. You’ll learn how to combine traditional art techniques with digital painting, 3D modelling and digital sculpting.
In your first year of study, you will learn observational drawing techniques, digital painting, the basics of 3D modelling, and industry-standard approaches to character and environment design.
In your second and third years, you will have the opportunity to work as a concept artist in a collaborative project with other games students to design and develop a vertical slice of a playable game. This is an amazing opportunity to experience what it is like working for a real game studio, whilst also receiving guidance and support. You’ll use industry standard software such as Photoshop, Zbrush and Blender. You will also explore creature sculpting, and vehicle and prop design, ensuring you have a solid foundation as a generalist.
During your final year, you will have the opportunity to complete a personal project with support from a supervisor. You will also have the option to choose a specialist module in either character design or environment design. Your final module will focus on getting you industry ready, with a live brief from industry!
You’ll meet games industry professionals and benefit from dozens of guest lectures from games industry professionals. These will provide inspiration for completing your research and portfolio projects. We discuss career development throughout the course to prepare you to work in the film and games sector, but the skillset you develop will allow you to flexibly work within any creative industry.
Professional body accreditation
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.
Modules
The tables provide an indicative list of the modules that make up the course for the current academic year. Each module is worth a specified number of credits. Our teaching is informed by research, and modules change periodically to reflect developments in the discipline. We aim to ensure that all modules run as scheduled. If for any reason a module cannot be run we will advise you as soon as possible and will provide guidance on selecting an appropriate alternative module where available.
Environment Concept Design
Environment Concept Art introduces you to the fundamental skills and workflows used to design compelling environments for games and film.You will research and develop visual ideas, explore composition and lighting, and produce environment concept designs supported by design sheets and call-out documentation that clearly communicate form, mood and visual intent. Alongside individual creative development, you will collaborate with peers on a shared environment brief, gaining early experience of working within a studio-style setting.The module places emphasis on clear visual communication, iteration through feedback and professional presentation, helping you build a strong foundation for further study in game art and concept art practice.
Module code: GDEV40035
3D Props And Materials
This module introduces you to the core workflows used to create 3D assets for games. You’ll learn how to model, texture and present simple game-ready props, building confidence with industry-relevant tools and real-time pipelines.Through a mix of guided tutorials and independent work, you’ll develop essential skills in 3D modelling, UVs, materials and observational accuracy, using real-world reference to inform your designs. You’ll also gain experience presenting your work in a real-time engine and reflecting on your creative and technical process.Designed for students new to 3D game art, this module lays a strong foundation for future environment art, prop creation and real-time production workflows
Module code: GDEV40031
2D Drawing, Technical Illustration And Digital Painting
This module builds the essential 2D visual communication skills that underpin successful Concept Art practice. Through progressive technical drawing and digital painting exercises, you will develop confidence in constructing form, applying perspective, controlling value and light, and clearly communicating design ideas.Working primarily with industry-standard digital drawing and painting software, you will explore core visual principles such as proportion, spatial accuracy, composition and material readability. The module introduces professional workflows used in concept art, helping you to analyse reference, iterate ideas efficiently and translate early concepts into clear, readable visuals.You will produce a varied body of 2D work including constructed drawings, technical studies, thumbnail ideation and a small number of refined digital outcomes suitable for an early-stage portfolio. Alongside practical skill development, you will learn how to critically evaluate your work, reflect on your creative process and build strong foundations that support character design, environment art and further specialist concept art modules.
Module code: GDEV40030
Character Concept Design
In this module, you will explore the core principles of character concept design, developing the foundational artistic and technical skills needed to create believable characters for games and film. Through a combination of structured life drawing, observational studies and digital design practice, you will build a strong understanding of anatomy, proportion, gesture and form, and how these elements inform compelling character design.You will move through the early stages of the character concept pipeline, learning how characters are researched, explored and developed from initial ideas through to resolved designs. Drawing from life is used to strengthen visual understanding and decision-making, helping you translate observation into confident character concepts using contemporary digital tools.Alongside practical skill development, the module introduces industry examples, workflows and presentation conventions, helping you understand how character concepts communicate personality, function and narrative within a wider creative pipeline. By the end of the module, you will have developed a solid foundation in both observational drawing and character concept design that supports progression into more advanced concept art modules.
Module code: GDEV40032
Vehicle And Prop Design
Step into the world of professional vehicle and prop concept design, where imagination meets function. In this module, you will explore how artists design compelling hard-surface vehicles and props that feel believable, purposeful and visually striking.Through industry-informed case studies drawn from games, film and television, you will analyse how real-world industrial design principles, scale, function and visual language shape iconic designs. You’ll experiment with ideation, iteration and visual communication techniques to develop designs that tell a story, solve problems and support a wider creative world.By the end of the module, you will have produced a polished concept artbook showcasing a vehicle and related prop, demonstrating your ability to research, develop and present hard-surface designs with clarity, creativity and professional intent; a strong portfolio piece for concept art and design-focused roles.
Module code: GDEV50082
Mastering Study To Concept
Mastering Study to Concept is where you level up from I can paint that to I can use that. This module builds advanced skills in observation, composition, and visual communication, helping you turn high-quality studies into original, brief-led concept work that reads clearly and tells a story. You’ll produce a wide-ranging body of studies across subjects and styles, exploring colour and light, anatomy, optical and conceptual drawing, and composition-driven storytelling. Working both traditionally and digitally, you’ll analyse professional work, create 1:1 copies to decode technique and intent, and then adapt what you’ve learned into fresh designs and concept outcomes. You’ll be encouraged to experiment with tools and workflows that suit your goals, digital painting, technical drawing, and even 3D modelling/rendering where useful, while keeping written content minimal and your visuals doing the heavy lifting.
Module code: GDEV50065
Creature Concept Design And Sculpting
Creature Concept Design and Sculpting invites you to bring creatures to life through a blend of anatomical study, imaginative design and digital sculpting. In this module, you will explore the foundations of creature creation, analysing real-world animal anatomy and form to design visually compelling, believable creatures for games, film and related creative industries.You will develop confidence in digital sculpting, a core industry skill used across games, VFX, practical effects and product design, and learn how professional artists move seamlessly between 2D concept art and 3D form. Through guided projects, you will explore the full creature design pipeline, from early research and exploratory sketches to refined production-ready designs and sculptural studies.The module balances creative experimentation with technical understanding, helping you make informed design decisions while building fluency in industry-standard tools and workflows. By the end of the module, you will have produced a visually rich body of work that demonstrates your ability to design, develop and communicate original creature concepts, strengthening both your portfolio and your confidence as a concept artist working across 2D and 3D.
Module code: GDEV50057
Game Production Studio
You will work in a group consisting of peers from across the suite of games development courses, forming a multidisciplinary team that mirrors a real development studio. Together, you will plan, prototype and deliver a vertical slice of a game.The module places strong emphasis on collaboration, communication and professional conduct. You will learn how to work effectively within a team, manage workflows across different disciplines, give and receive constructive feedback, and adapt to the challenges of shared production pipelines. Alongside their technical development, you will build key soft skills such as leadership, organisation, problem solving and time management, all of which are essential for a successful career in the games industry.
Module code: GDEV50060
Final Year Project: Dissertation
This module allows you to investigate an emerging area of game development through an independent technical research project. Working with a supervisor, you will define a research question, explore it through academic and technical investigation, create a practical artefact, and evaluate your findings in a written dissertation. The module is ideal for students seeking to deepen their technical expertise and produce a substantial portfolio piece that supports progression into industry, postgraduate study or research and development roles.
Module code: GDEV60052
Environment Design For Production
This module is built around real-world production briefs, challenging you to design striking, believable environments that communicate story, mood, and scale at a professional level.You’ll develop high-impact environment and keyframe concepts designed to stand out in a competitive portfolio. Throughout the module, you’ll explore industry-standard workflows used across games, film, and TV, blending creativity with technical confidence.From setting up your creative toolset and building reusable 3D asset libraries, to producing cinematic 3D renders and refining them in 2D concept art packages, you’ll move through a modern hybrid pipeline used by professional concept artists. By the end of the module, you’ll have a polished body of work and a deep understanding of environment design for production, ready to showcase your ability to translate ideas into production-ready visuals.
Module code: GDEV60047
Character Design For Production
Step into the role of a professional character concept artist and experience how characters are designed for games and film productions. In this module, you’ll respond to an industry-style brief to design two fully realised characters, developing them from early ideas through to polished, portfolio-ready concept artwork. You’ll explore how character design functions within a real production pipeline, comparing pre-production and production workflows across games and film. Through iterative design, visual research, observational studies and refinement, you’ll learn how professional artists communicate character, function and storytelling through strong visual design. The module emphasises industry expectations, visual clarity and creative problem-solving, helping you build confidence in your design process while producing artwork suitable for your ArtStation or professional portfolio. By the end of the module, you’ll have a clear understanding of how character concepts are developed collaboratively in studio environmentsand a body of work that demonstrates your readiness for the next stage of your creative career.
Module code: GDEV60041
Games Art And Concepts Live Brief
This module places you in a simulated professional studio environment, working to a live-style games art brief aligned with current industry standards. You will interpret a client brief, develop and refine ideas, and produce polished concept art or game-ready assets that meet defined artistic, technical and production requirements.Alongside the practical project, you will develop essential professional communication skills. You will present your work through a structured project presentation and take part in a mock industry interview, articulating your creative decisions, workflows and problem-solving in a client-focused context.By mirroring real-world studio practices and recruitment processes, the module builds confidence, professional awareness and employability, preparing you to present your work effectively and transition into industry or related creative roles.
Module code: GDEV60056
Final Year Project: Art Artefact
The visual language of modern games and digital art is constantly evolving, driven by new tools, innovative workflows, and emerging artistic practices. From concept design to real-time asset creation, artists are shaping ever more ambitious and expressive worlds. This module gives you the opportunity to engage deeply with this creative landscape through the development of an independent, high-quality artistic artefact.You will identify a self-directed artistic challenge or problem’ such as a character, environment, prop, visual development sequence, or thematic concept and produce an artefact or portfolio piece that responds directly to it. Working under supervision, you will research relevant artistic influences, explore advanced visual techniques, plan and execute a substantial piece of creative work, and document your process through a professionally presented development report.This module is designed for students who want to push their artistic voice, refine their craft, and produce a portfolio-quality piece that demonstrates readiness for professional studio practice or further specialised study. It encourages ambition, experimentation, and critical reflection, enabling you to showcase your creative identity and problem-solving abilities through a polished final artefact.
Module code: GDEV60050
Final Year Project: Collaborative Project
Game development is an inherently collaborative discipline. Modern studios rely on teams of designers, programmers, technical artists and production specialists working together to create complex interactive systems. This module gives you the opportunity to experience this collaborative environment by working as part of a team to produce a technical artefact.You will define a shared technical challenge and work with your group to create a playable game, interactive experience or applied games technology prototype. As a team, you will investigate relevant technologies, plan your development workflow, build and refine your artefact and document your progress through shared and individual evidence.Alongside team responsibilities, each student will take ownership of a defined area of contribution and produce a development document that records their personal workflow and technical decision making. The module concludes with a viva in which you will present the collaborative artefact and demonstrate both team understanding and individual accountability.This module is designed for students who want to strengthen their technical skills while developing the collaborative and communicative abilities that are essential for professional game development and wider creative technology industries.
Module code: GDEV60051