Get ready to launch a career in the exciting field of game design.
You’re a gamer. An artist. Or perhaps music is your thing. The worlds of digital and immersive technologies—where viewers or players are at the center of the action—fascinate you. So, if want to turn your creativity, talent for technology, and love of video games into an exciting career, look no further than our BFA in Game Design & Immersive Technologies.
Using computers and sophisticated software such as Maya, Nuke, ZBrush, Unreal Engine, and more, you’ll create art and sounds for video games, film, and immersive experiences. See firsthand how digital painting and sculpting, 3D modeling and animation, and visual effects (VFX) can help you create realistic-looking characters and virtual environments that people will love.
Begin with a foundation in drawing, visual culture, and 3D concepts. From there, you’ll dive into the principles of programming in a visual environment where you’ll design, implement, and debug the functionality of games and interactive programs. You’ll bring your ideas to life in our computer lab outfitted with gaming PCs and drawing tablets, and in our audio production space for sound design, recording, and mixing. Our virtual production and VFX studio include LED wall technology, motion-capture cameras, a green screen room, and render farm—facilities that are unmatched at any other school in New England.
But there’s more to games than technology. You’ll also learn the elements of production including game conceptualization, story development, as well as interface, character, soundtrack, and level design. As you find your strengths and interests, you’ll choose a specialization in one of four areas—Game Art, Game Audio, Game Design, or Virtual Production.
Everything you learn and do in the major prepares you for the professional world. You’ll take several Interactive Studio courses where you’ll apply your skills to instructor-guided projects, such as building games, simulations, and artistic installations. Working alongside accomplished faculty in the gaming industry, gain hands-on experience working as part of a game studio production team with various departments, leads, development infrastructure, and real-world demands.
A skilled game designer must also understand topics such as biology, anatomy, and geometry to create convincing characters and virtual environments. At Lesley, our College of Art & Design is situated within a larger university that has 25+ liberal arts majors and 45+ minors. That means you'll be able to study a range of topics that can enhance your practice. And with our reimagined general education curriculum, you’ll acquire knowledge and skills that employers value, which will prepare you to succeed in an increasingly complex, diverse, and global world.
Graduate with a strong base in interactive media production skills, such as design, audio production, and 3D graphics—including real-time 3D skills which are in high demand. Be ready to engage users in your creations, as well as meet the needs of the video game industry. Located in dynamic Cambridge, MA—a few miles from Boston—you’ll be near one of the hotbeds of game development in New England. With studios such as WB Games Boston, Rockstar New England, Zero VFX, Northern Light Productions, Demiurge, Harmonix, FableVision, and Proletariat nearby, there are many opportunities to find internships and an amazing job.
