How this course is delivered
We are designing your teaching timetable with the aim of maximising the time you spend on campus, with measures in place to make it as safe, enjoyable and social for everyone as possible.
Every student will have timetabled in-person learning. This will vary by course and could include activities such as seminars and tutorials, workshops, studio time, clinical skills sessions and laboratory classes.
Some of your timetabled learning will delivered online: for example, large lectures may be delivered online live and also be made available as recordings.
Our plans will be guided by the current government advice and may therefore involve some social distancing. Check our FAQs for more info.
Year 1
In year 1, you will explore the practical and analytical uses for games art and design, through a series of projects. Your work will be nurtured and developed through both group and personal tutorials, and inspired by a series of lectures from visiting industry professionals.
Under the guidance of expert teaching staff, you will immerse yourself in an exciting programme of lectures and workshops, shaping your projects and building your portfolio as you progress through the year.
In year 1 you will work alongside Design for Digital Media and Animation students, sharing modules and collaborating on projects.
Modules
- Games Art and Design Principles and Practice
This module introduces the basic concepts, components and practices of games art and design focusing on practice that is underpinned by research and imaginative experimentation. They will practically and analytically investigate the fundamental games design principles through a series of projects that will explore and begin to define working methods and studio practices.
- Sequence and Narrative
This module introduces the basic concepts and components of sequence and narrative within illustration, graphic design animation and games art. Project briefs enable you to explore story telling, form, pacing, play, presentation and audience interaction. You'll also be introduced to basic working methods and studio practices whilst exploring emerging digital delivery formats.
- Introduction to Games Design
This module provides an introduction to the foundations of games art and design. You'll gain the core planning skills needed to create a simple digital game, develop creative thinking skills, and explore creative approaches needed to create art work for digital games.
- Historical and Critical Studies
This module includes a broad history of visual communication. You'll focusing on new technologies and digital media, the impact the digital revolution has on the culture of graphic design, illustration, art, film, as well as the development of animation, games art, and social media.
Year 2
In year 2, you will focus on developing your creative potential, building on knowledge gained during your first year.
The projects you will be set have strong links with industry, so that the skills you learn and practise reflect those that employers are looking for.
You will be encouraged to work collaboratively with your fellow students to develop ambitious projects within the local and wider professional community. Your research and analytical skills will be developed through group discussion and documentation of project outcomes.
Modules
- Virtual Studio
- Visual Language and Personal Voice
- Advanced Games Design
- Historical and Critical Studies 2
- Option module programme
*Option modules are indicative and may change, depending on timetabling and staff availability.
You'll be learning alongside other School of Media students at our Edward Street building in the centre of Brighton.
Final year
In your final year, the knowledge and skills that you have developed so far come together as you work on a final personal project. You will also write a dissertation in conjunction with Historical and Critical Studies.
Final year lectures and tutorials are taught by teaching staff and by visiting industry professionals. They include practical information about professional development, preparing you for your professional or academic life after university, and one-to one personal tutorials offering in-depth, personalised support for your continued development.
Modules
- Context and Consolidation
- Virtual Studio – Games Art and Design
- Professional Practice
- Extended Research Project
Meet the team
Professionals from the animation world support the course, keeping the curriculum at the forefront of modern practice and ensuring you develop relevant technological, artistic and communication skills.
Ewan Kirkland, course leader
Ewan is a specialist in animation history and a videogame scholar focussing on horror gaming. He is the author of Children’s Media and Modernity exploring children’s film, television and videogames. He is a frequent guest speaker at fan conventions and the lead academic on Historical and Critical Studies and Extended Research Project.
Since joining the University in 2010, Ewan has taught extensively in film, media and cultural studies, including popular television, screen histories, new media, merchandising and fantasy cinema. In addition. Read Ewan's full profile.
Vanessa Marr, senior lecturer
Vanessa is a graphic designer, illustrator writer/researcher and auto-ethnographer. She is also teaches on Animation BA(Hons) and Games Art and Design BA(Hons). She has taught for over 10 years and is passionate about supporting her students to become skilled and imaginative designers.
Her professional design experience includes working for a number of design agencies to produce print, web and motion design; as an Art Editor for Dorling Kindersley in London; and running her own design agency for over 10 years.
Her academic work takes a critical view of the hidden language of objects and fairy tales, which she explores primarily through embroidery and creative writing. Her work is underpinned by visual design theory and process, yet embraces an intuitive and physical approach that facilitates self-authorship and her continuing exploration of narrative and sequence. Read Vanessa Marr's full profile.
Kate Jessop, senior lecturer
Kate is a multi-award winning animation filmmaker who has had multiple exhibits and international distribution deals including with Shorts International and Amazon Prime.
She represented the UK in the Best of Women in Film and TV and was selected for the Berlinale Talent Lab both with her portfolio as a director and her with her comedy series chosen for development in the Project Lab. She had her first retrospective at the Gilbert Baker Film festival in USA 2019.
She has worked across narrative film, comedy, illustration, live visuals, music video and motion design and undertaken international artist residencies. Her areas of interest and expertise include satirical comedy, visual music/music video, kinetic typography and motion graphics, artists film, documentary, Dada, Bauhaus and feminist film. Favourite directors include Michel Gondry and Miranda July and favourite animated shows include Daria and Bojack Horseman. Read Kate's full profile.
Judith Ricketts, lecturer
Judith is an artist and creative coder specialising in mobile, screen based and immersive serious games. Her areas of expertise include photography, moving image, creative coding, augmented reality, virtual reality and data analysis with a focus on immersive interactive storytelling.
She has been a guest speaker at events such as FACT//University of Sussex, Heritage Network Brighton and Hove, Brighton Digital Festival and Digital Inequalities on subjects related to digital humanities and digital geographies.
She is also a visiting lecturer on the university's Photography BA(Hons) and is board member of the Centre of Digital Cultures and involved in outreach as a STEM Ambassador.