Games Art & DEsign
BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Art & Design Practice - Games Art & Design
Step into the world of Games Art & Design (GAD), where creativity meets technology! This course is designed for students passionate about video games, storytelling, concept art, and visual design. You’ll develop the artistic and technical skills to bring characters, worlds, and game mechanics to life.
At BOA, you’ll work in an industry-standard Digital Design Studio equipped with Photoshop, Krita, Construct. 3DS Max, Blender, Substance Painter and Unreal Engine. You’ll explore digital illustration, 2D and 3D game creation, animation, concept art, 3D modelling, and web and digital content, preparing you for further study or a career in games and digital media.
The Extended Diploma, equivalent in size to three A Levels, is a two-year, full-time course that meets entry requirements for learners who want to progress to higher education courses in art and design areas before entering employment.
What will i learn on this course:
- Concept Art: Character, creature, environments and props.
- 2D and 3D Animation – Create trailers and cinematics for games
- 2D and 3D Game design, development and prototyping.
- 3D Modelling – Hard surface, organic and character modelling.
- 3D Environments: Level design, props and lighting.
- Games design industry and university research.
- Traditional Art skills – Anatomical studies and media experimentation
How is the course structured?
Year 1 – A1: Skills Development (2D Digital Art)
- Concept Art foundations: characters, creatures, props, and environments.
- 2D Animation: frame-by-frame and rigged workflows, motion cycles, VFX sprites.
- Game Art Integration: applying artwork into a construct prototype.
Year 1 - A2 - Creative Project (2D Games development)
- Small group 2D Game Project.
- Students produce a prototype using their own concept art & animation assets.
- Portfolio development: Design sheets, 2D animation reels, and a playable 2D game.
Year 1 – Advanced skills (Introduction to 3D Digital Art)
- Intro to 3D Hi-Poly Modelling: sculpting fundamentals, anatomy, and form.
- Portfolio Website Creation: students build personal sites to prepare for university applications and showcase work.
Year 2 – B1: Personal Progression (3D Skills development)
- 3D Modelling Skills: Hard-surface, organic, and character modelling.
- 3D Environments: Modular level design, props, and lighting.
- Progression & Careers: Portfolio refinement, Unreal integration, university/career planning.
Year 2 – B2: Creative Industry Response (3D Games Development)
- Major 3D Game Project in Unreal Engine.
- Team production pipeline: 3D models, characters, animation, environment, VFX, and gameplay.
- Capstone showcase: Playable demo, cinematic trailer, and industry-ready portfolio site.
games design & art STUDENT WORK SHOWCASE:
Units studied include:
- Digital Illustration
- Animation
- 2D & 3D Games Engines
- Web Design
- Computer Game Design
- Concept Art for Computer Games
- 3D Modelling and 3D Environments
How will I study?
You will work on hands-on projects that reflect real industry challenges, helping you build the skills employers and universities value. You’ll design original game concepts, tackle creative challenges, and use industry-standard tools to bring your ideas to life. You’ll work both independently and in teams, sharing ideas, presenting your work professionally, and learning to collaborate like a studio pro. You’ll also stay organised, manage your time, reflect on your progress, and develop resilience to succeed in games design and beyond. This course prepares you for further study or a career in the games and digital industries.
IF YOU’RE A GAMER THEN YOU’RE PROBABLY AWARE OF TITLES SUCH AS GRAND THEFT AUTO, DJ HERO, KINECT SPORTS, FORMULA 1 AND LEGO STAR WARS.
BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT ALL OF THOSE GAMES WERE MADE IN THE UK? AND MOST OF THEM WERE MADE IN OR AROUND BIRMINGHAM?
Did YOU KNOW?
- The UK game video market provides 47,620 full-time jobs and growing.
- UK’s video game market was worth £5.3 billion in 2021, up from £4.8 billion in the previous year.
- The UK gaming population increased by 63 % during lockdown in 2020
- The industry continues to show massive growth: revenue is predicted to show an annual growth rate of 8.9% from 2021 to 2025.