Games Design with Integrated Foundation Year

Games design is a discipline that brings together creative, technical and psychological thinking to produce the interactive experiences that have become one of the most economically and culturally significant media of our time. Designing a game that works, one that is engaging, fair, challenging, coherent and enjoyable, requires understanding of game mechanics and systems design, player psychology and motivation, narrative structure, visual language, and the iterative process of testing and refinement that distinguishes good design from wishful thinking.

At Ravensbourne University London this four-year programme includes an integrated foundation year, providing a preparatory stage that builds the creative and technical skills needed before you enter the full degree curriculum. Once established in the programme, you will develop expertise in game mechanics, player psychology, narrative design and the design processes that take an idea from concept to playable prototype. The programme has a multi-disciplinary character, reflecting the reality that games are produced by teams with different specialisms, and you will have the flexibility to choose a specialism that matches your strengths and interests.

Ravensbourne's location in London and its connections to the creative industries give the programme a strong professional orientation.

Games design graduates work in game development studios, both large publishers and independent developers, as well as in the growing area of applied games for education, health, training and marketing. Roles include game designer, level designer, narrative designer, UX researcher, gameplay programmer, and creative director. The skills in iterative design, systems thinking and user psychology that the programme develops are also valued in product design, UX design, interactive media, and technology more broadly.

Postgraduate study in games design, digital media, human-computer interaction or related fields is an option for those who wish to specialise or pursue research into games and play.