Games Art

Games Art is the discipline concerned with the visual side of video game creation, encompassing the concept art, character design, environment design, 3D modelling and user interface work that gives games their visual identity. It is a field that demands both artistic creativity and considerable technical skill, as artists working in games need to develop assets that are not only visually compelling but also optimised for the technical constraints of game engines and platforms. The video games industry is one of the largest and fastest-growing creative sectors in the world, and the demand for skilled visual artists is substantial and sustained.

At the University of Northampton this three-year full-time degree develops your skills across the key specialisms within games art, from initial concept development and visual ideation through to the production of final assets ready for implementation in a working game. You will develop competence in the full creative process and in the industry-standard tools and workflows that professional games artists use, combining artistic ability with the technical knowledge needed to deliver assets that function within real production pipelines.

Graduates from Games Art degrees go on to careers across the video games industry and the broader creative sector. Many find roles as concept artists, character artists, environment artists, technical artists and UI designers in games studios of all sizes, from independent developers to large publishing houses. Others work in animation studios, film and television visual effects, advertising and digital media companies where the art and technical skills of games artists transfer well.

The creativity, technical competence and understanding of visual communication the degree develops are valued across all contexts where digital visual content is created. For those wishing to continue their studies, the degree provides a foundation for postgraduate work in games design, animation or digital art.