Games Art

Games art is the visual and creative discipline concerned with designing the look and feel of video games, from the concept art that establishes a game's visual identity to the models, textures, environments and characters that players encounter in the finished product. It sits at the intersection of fine art, illustration, 3D design and visual storytelling, requiring both creative imagination and technical ability. The discipline has its own professional practices and workflows, including iterative development processes and the production of visual portfolios that demonstrate both range and craft.

At Roehampton University you will study across three years of full-time study. The programme begins with a foundation year and also includes a sandwich year in professional practice and a year abroad, meaning your degree provides both academic depth and substantial professional exposure, including experience in a real games or creative industry environment. You will develop skills in concept art, character and environment design, 3D modelling, texturing and visual portfolio production, alongside the theoretical frameworks that help you understand games as cultural and aesthetic objects.

The placement year is particularly important for games art, where studio experience and a professional portfolio are often the decisive factors in graduate employment.

Games art graduates work in the games industry as concept artists, character artists, environment artists, technical artists, 3D modellers and art directors, as well as in adjacent creative sectors including film, animation, virtual reality, themed entertainment and interactive media. Many also work in freelance and contract roles, using the portfolio and professional connections built during their degree to develop a varied career. Others move into art direction, visual development or creative lead roles as their careers progress.

Postgraduate study in games design, animation, visual effects or digital arts is a natural route for graduates who want to develop a specialist or research-oriented practice.