Games Design
Games design is a discipline concerned with the creation of interactive experiences, encompassing the conceptual, mechanical, narrative, and artistic decisions that determine how a game works and what it feels like to play it. It draws on design principles, storytelling, psychology, human-computer interaction, and technical knowledge of games development tools and platforms, and it sits at a genuinely creative frontier where technology and art meet. The games industry is one of the largest and fastest-growing entertainment sectors in the world, and well-designed games are valued both commercially and culturally.
At Teesside University, this four-year full-time Games Design degree with a foundation year gives you a grounded introduction to the field of computer games, animation, and film, exploring the historical and contemporary context of these media alongside analytical and design skills. The foundation year provides a supported entry into the programme, building the foundational knowledge and academic skills needed to progress onto the design-focused main degree. The programme includes a sandwich year and work placement, giving you direct professional experience in games or creative media environments before you complete your degree, which is central to developing the professional network and practical confidence that careers in the games industry require.
Graduates from games design programmes work across the games industry and related creative sectors. Roles as game designers, level designers, narrative designers, UX designers, game producers, and creative directors in games studios of all sizes are common destinations. The design thinking and creative skills developed through the degree are also applicable in interactive media, app design, user experience, film and animation, and the growing sector of extended reality.
Postgraduate study in games design, interaction design, or creative technologies is an option for those who wish to develop specialist expertise or move into research and teaching.