BA Game Design – 4 Things You Need to Know Before Applying

The world of game design is a busy world of creativity. It is a competitive field and a very rewarding career route for those who love games and technology. Game designers are highly creative people with great communication skills, who can work and collaborate with people with a range of different skills for designing video games. There are several levels to becoming a game designer, and each requires a certain level of experience and expertise.

Read on to learn more about what a game designer does, and how you can become one, or to discover if this is the right career choice for you. This information will help you pick what game design courses you can explore, and what to expect from a typical bachelor’s degree in game design.

What does a game designer do?

A game designer is someone who creates visual content for video games by using several graphic designing techniques and advanced knowledge of programming. They are the ones who create entire virtual worlds and their interactive stories, characters, and game levels etc. A successful game designer creates visually appealing content that enraptures its audience and engages their time in the best possible manner. Video game designers can either work solely by themselves, doing all the segments of gaming alone, or more often, they collaborate with a team of other creative professionals to create the final version of a game. They often work closely with writers, animators, other developers, or game testers. In some cases, game developers meet different marketing associates and sales professionals for developing advertisements for their games too.

What are some of the education requirements for a game designer?

One could technically enter the field of video game designing and development without a specific degree. But this option is becoming less prevalent now, and gaining the proper training and earning some experience will help students to prosper in their respective careers. It is also a great way of showcasing that you have the power to stick to long-term commitments and have earned a degree in a relevant field. If you want some experience in technology, you could also opt for a degree in computer science.

With a high school diploma, you can do an associate degree to begin your journey in game designing. It is a 2-year short program, designed to give you a kickstart in the fundamentals of game designing. Or you could enroll in a bachelor’s program which takes four years.

Most video game designers today have a bachelor’s in multimedia design, graphic design or some related field. Some universities are also coming up with new bachelor’s programs in video game designing. A typical undergraduate syllabus includes learning programming languages, 2D and 3D animation, and computer design. Students can also opt for internships during their college time to earn hands-on experience of working as a professional in the industry and learn valuable skills early-on. It is also a great opportunity to network with other professionals in the field who could also be great references in your professional life ahead. You could look up internship opportunities in software development or game design in firms that may be useful for a career in game designing.

Make a resume and an appealing portfolio

Job markets across the globe are becoming increasingly competitive. To stand out from the competition, create a well-written portfolio that is appealing to hiring managers. While creating your resume, you can add your experience and the projects you’ve been a part of. Mention any specific games you designed for specific platforms and the coding languages and software used. In the skills segment of the resume, include all of the programming languages and design programs you know how to use and include your soft skills too.

Are you looking for an excellent school to do your BA in game design? Check out the game design program offered by the University of Europe for Applied Sciences. UE has a dedicated central counseling centre for enrolled students who have not yet started their degree. This team personally advises and supports the students and walks them through any questions or problems they may have.

UE also has a career centre where students can receive advice on their path to employment, and support finding internships and making career plans. At UE, students also have the option to undertake an internship for an entire semester which makes the prospect of learning at UE highly appealing. Students also have the opportunity to study abroad for one year or one semester. Learn more about the game design program at UE.