Games Design

Module overview: 

Level Design builds your game design skills by focusing on developing fun and engaging levels for games. The module will provide practical experience in developing game levels using an industry-standard game development tool (e.g., Unity or Unreal). The aim is for you to examine what makes an engaging level within a game, applying their game design skills appropriately. You will have the opportunity to explore how designs are constructed, incorporating elements of 3D modelling, scripting, lighting, and gameplay. You will be able to apply your knowledge of game mechanics and dynamics to effectively build levels, ensuring ongoing development of your skills.

Module overview:

The module ‘User Experience’ incorporates concepts of desirability, empathy and affect to arrive at impactful user experience design for both design and game applications. This module blends user interface design with gamification approaches to result in intuitive, immediate user experience approaches for diverse customer bases. Working with real-time engines, 2D graphic user interfaces and 3D user environments, ‘User Experience’ blends usability and interaction design with systems integration, game design and seamless navigation. Applying both node-based, visual programming and creative coding concepts, you will develop your own rule-based systems applications through prototyping. Creating user personas for prospective clientele, you will consider questions of immediacy, accessibility, signage and wayfinding, and will start to consider evaluation methods for resulting user experiences. New concepts such as machine learning, visual fidelity and immersion will be introduced. 

How you'll learn:

This module is taught in practical workshops. 

Module overview:

This module introduces the role and responsibilities of an interaction designer to the course: Critically reflecting on best practices for effective interface and interaction design to provide deeper insights into networked environments, design solutions for the internet of things, and novel online interfaces. With an emphasis on data transfer, data manipulation and user interaction design, this module balances theory and practice with a focus on interaction design for diverse platforms such as AR, VR, Mixed reality) with a wide variety of applications.  

How you'll learn:

This module is taught in practical labs. Labs will cover the core principles of interaction design and its practice through in-class discussions and hands-on work using real world examples.

Module overview: 

In this module, you will collaborate with students from other programmes on a project using your diverse skills. This module extends upon the Game Prototyping (1) module by allowing you to integrate skills you have further developed in your degree of study, such as Computer Graphics, Asset Creation, etc. 

You will work with a diverse team of other students from Computer Games Programming, Games Design, and Games Art to prototype a game-based project. The module will focus on industry-standard tools – such as Unity or Unreal Engine – so that you can develop a more substantial game project that should be a fully playable implementation of a small game, level, or similar. 

The aim of the module is to allow you to collaborate in a cross-disciplinary team, further developing cross-disciplinary working practices that are essential when working in the games industry. Furthermore, you will be able to develop part of your portfolio by demonstrating how your skills are used in a larger project.  

Module overview: 

Design for Change challenges you to explore how graphic design can address urgent societal issues. Through a blend of theoretical knowledge and hands-on practice, this module encourages you to use you design skills to communicate, influence, and drive positive transformation across social, environmental, political, and cultural contexts. The course also examines design evolution within historical contexts, sustainable materials, and future-proofing strategies.

You will be introduced to design thinking approaches that prioritise empathy, human-centered design, and ethical practice. You will examine systems design, and develop innovative design solutions for specific challenges, while learning the power of effective communication strategy  will help them inform, persuade, and mobilise communities for social good.

This module supports you in becoming agents of change, empowering you to engage with stakeholders (clients, partners and public) to address issues and overcome obstacles. Social Design is framed as an ethically guided philosophy focused on enhancing the well-being of people, communities, and the environment. It emphasises co-design and sustainability, to identify, investigate, and solve design problems.

How you'll learn:

This module will be taught in seminars, lectures and workshops. Seminars will consist of lab-based practical work, Group Critical Reviews, field trips, technical workshops.

Module overview:

Plan and lead creative projects from start to finish. Master project lifecycles, team collaboration, and budgeting while navigating real-world challenges in the creative industries. Equip yourself with tools and techniques to manage successful productions from idea to delivery.

This module focuses on project management principles and practices tailored to creative industries. Topics include creative project lifecycle management, resourcing, stakeholder engagement, intellectual property considerations, budgeting for creative endeavors, leadership and managing creativity within constraints. 

Real-world case studies from diverse creative industries will anchor the curriculum in professional practice. 

How you'll learn: 

This module is taught in seminars and workshops. Seminars will cover project management theory and practice through in-class discussions, real world case studies and the examination of theoretical texts. Guest lectures from industry professionals will provide insights into current practices.   

The purpose of the project module is to allow you to complete an individual project which draws upon interests developed over the course of your degree. You can work to your strengths to complete a final project in which the emphasis is placed on research, innovation, and execution to a professional standard.

Alternatively, you may secure and undertake a consultancy project relevant to your programme of study, for which the output should be a portfolio documenting the consultancy and its outputs.

The Project should fit one of the following frameworks:

• Practical: Develop an idea for a practice-based project (e.g., audiovisual, digital, creative, interactive output), research, plan and produce the work to a professional standard.
• Consultancy: Work experience or defined project conducted with an external business or organisation in the role of a client. With the provider, the student will:
  • Formulate a working brief specifying deliverables, agreed with the client.
  • Deliver the agreed outputs to a professional standard.

Module overview: 

Game Prototyping 3 allows students from different programmes to collaborate on a project using their diverse skills. This module extends upon the Game Prototyping 2 module and concludes the collaborative stream in the games degrees. You will integrate your new skills developed from elsewhere in your degrees, such as Game Physics, design for change, etc.

You will work with a diverse team of other students from Computer Games Programming, Games Design, and Games Art to build a professional standard game project. This will form a key part of your portfolio of work. The module will provide an environment for you to work collaboratively but will encourage autonomy and self-direction in how to deliver the product.

The aim of the module is to allow you to collaborate in a cross-disciplinary team, further developing cross-disciplinary working practices that are essential when working in the games industry. Furthermore, you will be able to develop a significant part of your final portfolio of work by demonstrating your skills in a high-quality deliverable.

30 credits

You will develop your core academic and integrated English language skills of speaking, listening, reading and writing. You will become familiar with key academic skills and concepts, such as referencing methods and awareness of academic integrity and tone. You will apply these skills and knowledge to both broad topics and also your chosen subject pathway.

Teaching and learning

You will be required to actively engage in on-campus learning for up to 10 hours a week.

You will be taught through a full range of teaching and learning methods, which include lectures, seminars, workshops, discussion groups, group directed tasks and presentations. This will enable you to learn from your peers and tutors in both structured and information settings.

You will be encouraged to think creatively about your approach to learning and discussions with your peers. You will also have access to recordings, resources, links and signposting through Moodle to enrich your learning.

Assessment

You will be assessed through group and individual presentations, comparative and reflective essays, multiple choice exams, coursework and reports, oral exams, portfolios, case studies and blogs.

30 credits

You will develop your research, numeracy and information technology skills. You will investigate the difference between primary and secondary research, conduct your own research project and demonstrate your findings through data analysis. You will also develop your awareness of equality, diversion and inclusion in the UK, through a real-world issue; discrimination in the workplace.

Teaching and learning

You will be required to actively engage in on-campus learning for up to 10 hours a week.

You will be taught through a full range of teaching and learning methods, which include lectures, seminars, workshops, discussion groups, group directed tasks and presentations. This will enable you to learn from your peers and tutors in both structured and information settings.

You will be encouraged to think creatively about your approach to learning and discussions with your peers. You will also have access to recordings, resources, links and signposting through Moodle to enrich your learning.

Assessment

You will be assessed through group and individual presentations, comparative and reflective essays, multiple choice exams, coursework and reports, oral exams, portfolios, case studies and blogs. 

30 credits.

This module invites you to take on the role of a video content creator, building on the skills acquired in Fundamentals of Image Making. You will examine the dynamic world of social media as news, with a particular focus on the theme of "identity." You will explore the impact of distributed media, examining how non-professionals contribute to shaping new media practices through platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram.

Throughout the module, you will critically engage with the history and implications of self-promotion on social media, analysing its influence on society and the efforts to address its challenges. You will also explore citizen journalism, where social media content plays a pivotal role in reporting on crises and events inaccessible to traditional news outlets.

Teaching and learning

In weekly seminars, you will explore citizen journalist strategies – from video blogging to video editing – for creating engaging media content. Alongside these hands-on activities, you will engage deeply with thought-provoking questions about identity, voice, and representation in the digital age.

By the end of the module, you will have the skills to create compelling video content and a nuanced understanding of the role of social media in shaping our world.

The teaching delivery for each module consists of one, one-three-hour lecture and one, two-hour workshop per week. Lectures will provide a critical foundation, introducing key concepts such as identity, social media and citizen journalism, while seminars will focus on hands-on skill development.

There will be an additional 30 minutes of online digital support per week. This will consist of virtual learning tools to extend access to resources through online tutorials, videos, and discussion forums.

Due to the highly technical nature of this module, you will be taught in a computer lab equipped with Adobe Creative Suite to support the required software-based learning outcomes.

You will also have access to DSLR cameras, microphones, lighting equipment, and a dedicated photography/filming studio, to facilitate practical exercises in media production.

Assessment

This module will be assessed using critical commentary and a self-produced video.

30% - critical commentary, you will explore the module theme ‘identity’. You will critically analyse a piece of video content that engages with the concept of identity.

70% - self-produced video, you will produce a four-minute video as a piece of citizen bases, engaging with the module theme of ‘identity’.

30 credits

In this module, you will critically explore how media representations are constructed and manipulated. You will examine semiotics, framing, and context, understanding how these elements influence perception.

The module will also address the social and cultural impacts of altered imagery, focusing on the concept of authenticity and the ethical considerations of image manipulation, while reflecting on historical perspectives of visual content authenticity.

You will gain practical skills in photography, learning to control key technical aspects like aperture, shutter speed, ISO, and colour temperature. You will also explore the use of natural and artificial lighting to create specific moods, alongside composition techniques such as focal length and depth of field to enhance your imagery.

The module also introduces you to Adobe Photoshop, starting with basic tools and non-destructive editing techniques. You will advance to more complex methods like masking and compositing, developing a cohesive photographic project. Finally, you will manage workflows and deadlines, preparing your work for an online portfolio to showcase your skills as both a photographer and an image-maker.

Teaching and learning

The teaching delivery for each module consists of one, one-three-hour lecture and one, two-hour workshop per week. Lectures will provide a critical foundation, introducing key concepts such as media practices, and image construction, whilst seminars will focus on hands-on skill development.

There will be an additional 30 minutes of online support per week. This will consist of virtual learning tools to extend access to resources through online tutorials, videos, and discussion forums.

Due to the highly technical nature of this module, you will be taught in a computer lab equipped with Adobe Creative Suite to support the required software-based learning outcomes.

You will also have access to DSLR cameras, microphones, lighting equipment, and a dedicated photography/filming studio, to facilitate practical exercises in media production.

Assessment

This module will be assessed using a research presentation and a creative online portfolio.

30% - research presentation, you will deliver a 5-minute in class exploring the module of theme of ‘authenticity’. This will involve selecting a visual event from a media-related field and critically analysing how the chosen image(s) engage with the concept of authenticity.

70% - creative online portfolio, you will produce a photographic series that creatively interrogates the notion of ‘authenticity of the image’.