Games Design

Games design is the creative and intellectual discipline of crafting the rules, systems, mechanics, narratives and experiences that make games engaging, meaningful and fun. It draws on a wide range of influences, including psychology, storytelling, visual design, user experience and systems thinking, to create interactive experiences that respond to player action and deliver something worth playing. Games have become one of the most culturally and commercially significant art forms of the contemporary era, and the professionals who design them occupy an increasingly respected creative role.

At Ravensbourne University London, this three-year full-time programme takes a multidisciplinary approach that reflects the reality of game design as a craft, equipping you with skills in game mechanics, player psychology, narrative design and the visual and systems dimensions of game-making. You will have the flexibility to develop your own specialism within the broader programme, allowing you to focus on the areas of design that most interest and suit you. The programme develops both theoretical understanding of how games work and practical competence in designing them.

You will work on design projects across different genres and platforms, from digital and mobile games to tabletop and experimental forms, developing your ability to prototype, playtest, iterate and communicate your design thinking. Ravensbourne's London location places you in one of the world's major creative technology hubs, with access to industry networks, studios and events.

Graduates go on to careers as game designers, level designers, game writers, user experience designers, game producers and creative directors in games studios, as well as in related fields including interactive media, serious games, virtual reality and digital education. Some build their own independent studios or freelance careers. Others go on to postgraduate study in game design, interactive media or human-computer interaction.