Duration:
2 years full time
Location:
Confetti Nottingham
This Games Art BTEC practical-based college course focuses on exploring how the visual elements of a game are created.
You’ll work with industry-standard software to create assets and artwork for digital and tabletop games. You’ll develop your drawing, illustration and animation skills throughout the course alongside learning how 2D and 3D digital software is used to create exciting game environments, objects and characters. You’ll also discover how art has developed over hundreds of years and how the traditional art world has inspired the amazing art seen in games like Bioshock and Fallout today.
Our Game Art course is 100% coursework based with no exams.
You’ll learn how to:
- create and develop a strong, versatile art portfolio
- create concept art using traditional and digital methods
- create 2D and 3D animations
- 3D model game characters and environments
You’ll also learn about the processes of games design from initial ideas to final release, and develop your project management skills.
This course is for you if:
- you enjoy the artistic aspects of games design, conceptualising ideas, animation, traditional and digital art, 3D modelling and world development
- you are good at drawing (both traditional and digital), idea development, technical processes related to creating games and creativity
- you are excited by the idea of developing assets and artwork for games, learning about the games design process and like the artistic freedom to express yourself
The Level 3 BTEC Extended Diploma is a full time two-year course of study which will develop specialist knowledge, practical skills and understanding within a vocational area and will give you a qualification that is the equivalent to three A Levels. In most subjects, students will be awarded the BTEC Extended Diploma at the end of their two years of study. The Extended Diploma is fully recognised by universities and carries UCAS points, enabling you to progress to university or directly into employment. If you want to commit to vocational study in a particular area, then this could be the route for you.
Read our course commitment
- 5 GCSEs grade 9-4 (A*-C)* including English and maths
- An appreciation of and a passion for games with a level of practical experience and/ or a Level 2 qualification in the subject area
Depending on your prior English and Maths attainment, you may need to improve your grade as part of your course.
When you’re ready to apply, there’s a few ways to start the process:
- Apply online – Start your application now!
- Call us on 0115 952 2075 and start your application over the phone or we can post you a paper application form
- Come and visit us at an open day and fill in your application on the day
Term 1
You start out with a focus on creating stunning visual assets that will allow you to learn about the process of composition and storytelling using traditional to digital. This is a vital area within the Games Art industry. You will learn core art skills giving you a solid grounding in fundamental skills and practices of art and design, including drawing skills, idea generation and digital image manipulation.
Alongside these fun tasks, you will also learn 3D modelling skills; helping to develop and increase your skill and knowledge with industry techniques, this will continue into the second term.
Term 2
You will learn about the process of creating traditional card games focusing on the techniques and methods involved with creating fun and creative artistic designs for players to enjoy. Table-top gaming is a big part of the Games industry and these are important skills to learn about.
Term 3
This is your creative project task, which allows you to show us all of the awesome new skills and techniques you have learnt since joining us here at Confetti. These techniques and methods will be put to the test, as you embark on a journey to create open-ended role-playing game similar to Dungeons & Dragons; this will see your imaginary world come to life.
Personal Progression
Term four we look into the future and what it may have in store for ourselves, this allows you to start to consider what your next steps may be; whether it be higher education, apprenticeships, employment or freelance, this is a time for your to really consider what it is you would like to do and start preparing for your future.
Alongside trying to discover what the future holds, you will also start to focus on creating promotional materials to get your artwork out into the world for others to start to experience.
Creative Industry Response
Term five and six we focus on your final major project, titled Creative Industry Response; which allows you to use your skills and knowledge of Games Art techniques and methods to interpret your own vision of an industry guided brief. During this task, you will be given the freedom to create art in whichever platform you wish, and the only restriction is your own creativity.
Do It For Real
Industry Week
Studying at Confetti you’ll take part in Industry Week where you’ll be able to meet a range of professionals within your field of interest as well as other areas of the creative industries.
Past guests include Twitch, Games Workshop, The Oliver Twins, Ubisoft and John Romero (creator of Doom).
Student work
Our Talent Development team works closely with course leaders to link students with opportunities across the industry.
You’ll also go on trips to:
- Warhammer World
- Leadbelt Games
- Comic Con
You’ll have access to a range of industry standard equipment and software including:
- PC Computer Suites
- XP Pen Graphics Tablets
- Traditional Art Studio
- Adobe Creative Cloud
- Autodesk Software Applications
- Blender 3D Computer Graphic Software
- Epic Games ‘Unreal Engine’
Courses
Your creative industry studies don’t have to stop once you finish your college course. Choose to continue your studies on a range of foundation and full honours degrees at Nottingham Trent University that can help you further develop your skills and obtain the experience you need to get a head start in your career:
- FdA Games Art
- FdSc Games Technology
- BSc (Hons) Virtual Production
- FdA Graphics and Digital Design
- FdSc Visual Effects Production Technology
Future careers
- Games artist
- Art director
- 3D modeller
- Concept artist
- Storyboard artist
