Games Design Level 2

The gaming industry is booming in the UK and beyond, offering a wide range of high-demand creative careers. This course also provides an ideal stepping stone into university or apprenticeships in game art, design or computing.Whether you dream of becoming a game developer, narrative designer, concept artist or 3D animator, this course provides the skills and portfolio you need to start your journey.

Creative problem solving – Develop the ability to think critically and solve design and development challenges throughout the game creation process

Character analysis – Explore what makes compelling characters and bring them to life through storytelling and visual design

Digital graphics – Learn to create stunning 2D and 3D digital imagery using software like Photoshop and Illustrator

Designing game stories – Understand how to structure immersive narratives and branching storylines that drive player engagement

3D modelling – Build professional-quality models for characters, environments and props using tools like Blender or Maya

Animation – Learn keyframe animation and rigging techniques to make your game elements move fluidly and naturally

3D graphics and applications – Discover how to use shaders, lighting, and rendering to create visually rich 3D game scenes

Report writing for creative briefs – Develop the skills to professionally communicate your creative concepts, plans and outcomes

Project management (scheduling) – Plan, manage and deliver your own game projects, learning how to work to deadlines and budgets

Building 2D & 3D games – Get hands-on with game engines like Unity or Unreal to build interactive, playable game prototypes

2D concept art – Design characters, settings and assets with hand-drawn and digital techniques that bring your ideas to life

Digital art programming – Learn to code visual effects and interactive elements using programming languages and scripting tools

Human computer interfaces – Understand user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design to make your games intuitive and engaging

Game narrative design – Master the art of interactive storytelling and dialogue writing tailored for games

Communication – Gain experience presenting your work, giving and receiving feedback, and working with clients or collaborators

Teamwork – Collaborate with peers on group projects, reflecting how games are developed in the real world

When you do a vocational qualification you will learn in a workshop, salon or studio as appropriate for your subject and you will usually be assessed through practical assessments, projects, assignments and oral and written questions. There may be exams in some subjects and your tutor will prepare you for these.

Three GCSEs at grade 3 or above, preferably including English or maths.

Positive attendance, behaviour and engagement record.

This course is an excellent route for university level courses or direct entry into the creative industries. Typical next steps can include:

Progression to Level 3 study, apprenticeships or employment pathways, subject to course entry.

Progression on to the BA (Hons) Game Design (Game Art) or the BA (Hons) Game Design (Game Development) at the University Centre Grimsby

Pursuing careers as a 2D/3D artist, animator, level designer, QA tester or indie game developer

Entering related industries such as film, VFX, digital marketing or app development