Game Design with Foundation Year (Art) Bachelor of Arts (with Honours) - BA (Hons)

Our BA (Hons) Game Design with Foundation Year (Art) degree prepares you to design, prototype and test exciting player experiences. You will learn by experimenting, iterating and playtesting — exploring new ideas in gameplay, interaction, storytelling and more, across both digital and physical media.

There are two Foundation Years available for our BA (Hons) Game Design with Foundation Year course - either an Art or a Computing option. If you would prefer to develop stronger skills in the creative, visual or design-focused side then our BA (Hons) Game Design with Foundation Year (Art) would be more suitable. If you are interested in developing a stronger technical, computational or programming-focused profile then the BA (Hons) Game Design with Foundation Year (Computing) is for you.

KEY COURSE FEATURES

EXLORE YOUR CREATIVE SIDE: Join a creative, hands-on game design course designed by educators with direct industry experience on the original Tomb Raider series, where you will design, implement, experiment, playtest and bring your ideas to life.

JOIN OUR GAMES@DERBY COMMUNITY: Work closely with Game Art and Game Programming students, just like in a real studio.

GAIN REAL-WORLD EXPERIENCES: Get real industry experience through live briefs, guest speakers, game jams and networking events.

By the end of the course, you should be able to:

* Understand modern game design theory, from gameplay loops to scripting and pipelines in current industry-standard game engines.


* Design games, levels, mechanics, systems, UI/UX, design narratives, and build worlds.


* Plan and communicate your ideas clearly through professional documentation.


* Experience cross-discipline simulated studio projects that help you understand how art, programming and design work together in industry.


* Use ethical and professional approaches to your work, including responsible use of AI.


* Prototype and test gameplay using industry-standard tools.


* Communicate confidently through visuals, writing and presentations, and think creatively to solve problems.


* Understand technologies, including generative AI, to help you stay adaptable in a fast-changing industry.

HOW YOU WILL LEARN:\
You will work with industry-standard hardware and software throughout the course, including high-spec PC workstations, professional game engines such as Unreal and Unity, and leading 3D tools including Houdini and Blender. You will have access to motion capture facilities, XR equipment and specialist East Midlands Institute of Technology (EMIoT) labs, allowing you to prototype, test and iterate interactive experiences using real studio workflows. Alongside this, you will use professional design, UI/UX, version control and production tools, with an emphasis on ethical and responsible use of emerging technologies such as generative AI. All tools are taught through practical, studio-style projects, helping you develop transferable skills that scale from small indie teams to large AAA productions and beyond.

You will also learn about the business side of game development. This includes scheduling, pitching ideas, budgeting and communication — all skills game designers and producers need. You will understand how to work in agile teams and how to take a project from its first idea to a finished, playable game, using workflows that scale from small indie teams to large AAA productions (major studios that produce high-budget, professionally developed video games).

YOUR CAREER:\
This course prepares you to become a confident, adaptable and creative game designer. You will graduate with a strong portfolio, production awareness and experience working across all stages of development. Through project-based learning and studio-style modules, you will have opportunities to gain the independence, teamwork skills and professionalism that employers look for.