Games Design

Games design is a discipline that sits at the meeting point of creative vision and technical precision. A well-designed game is not simply visually appealing or mechanically functional in isolation; it works because its rules, levels, feedback systems and moment-to-moment play have been thought through with care and tested against real players. The field draws on psychology, narrative theory, systems thinking, and programming, as well as craft skills in level design and interaction design.

This three-year programme at Nottingham Trent University trains you to think like a games designer, moving from concept through iteration to a playable, polished result.

You will learn to design game scenarios and work out the logic of gameplay and playability, programming and building levels with varying degrees of challenge and reward. The course gives you direct experience working alongside games art and visual effects students, reflecting the collaborative reality of professional game production. You will programme games in Blueprint and develop a grounding in the technical aspects of game engines and design tools.

Throughout the programme you will build a portfolio of work that demonstrates your design thinking and technical capability, which is the primary currency in the games industry job market.

Graduates from games design programmes typically pursue careers in the games industry itself, working as game designers, level designers, systems designers, or game producers within studios of all sizes. The skills developed are also transferable to interactive media, serious games for education and training, experience design, and UX roles more broadly. Some graduates go on to found independent studios, particularly those with an entrepreneurial streak and a strong portfolio.

Postgraduate study in games design, interactive media, or a related technical field is also an option for those wishing to specialise further or move into research and teaching.