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2-Week Summer Courses (15-18yrs)
Games Art and Character Design

Games Art and Character Design

Overview

This two-week summer course is perfect for students aged 15-18 that want to design imagery and assets for innovative games on a variety of platforms.

To book your place today, simply click 'book now' to be taken to AUB's secure online store where you can complete your booking. You can also sign up to our newsletter for summer course updates.

What you need to know

Check out the course dates and fees for this two-week full-time course below, including our popular residential package.

When does the course run?

Monday 5 August – Friday 16 August 2024

If you select our residential option, you will need to arrive from 10:00am on Sunday 4 August and vacate apartments by 10:00 on Saturday 17 August.

How long is the course?

Two weeks

What time will my classes be?

Monday-Friday, 09.00-17.00.

There'll be a daily lunch break, plus other breaks within the schedule.

Your first day will start at 08.30 and the summer courses team will contact you before you arrive with your full joining instructions, so you know where to go.

Your classes will take place on AUB's campus.

You’ll be taught in our state-of-the-art creative studios and digital suites, with access to AUB’s library and online resources.

Welcome to Bournemouth

Arts University Bournemouth is located on the south coast of the UK.

Be inspired by your surroundings and discover what’s beyond the campus during the summer. We’re situated in a safe coastal location with award-winning beaches, a lively social scene and lots of cultural attractions and events throughout the year. Our small size means we’re a tight-knit community that’s friendly as well as accessible.

Bournemouth is one of the top destinations for tourists, and as a town with three universities and large number of language schools, it attracts a diverse mixture of international students.

The best of England is on our doorstep too – we're just a two-hour train ride from London with other popular location such as Dorset’s Jurassic Coast (World Heritage Site) and the New Forest National Park nearby.

Did you know?

Bournemouth has been once again voted the ‘Best Beach in the UK’ by TripAdvisor!

Explore Bournemouth

Who's this course suitable for?

This course has been developed for creatives and aspiring artists aged 15-18 years old.

Perfect for anyone who has a passion to learn and develop their skills.

It's suitable if you're a beginner or if you've some previous experience and wish to develop your skills further.

Do I need qualifications for this course?

There are no formal academic entry requirements or qualifications needed to study this course.

We only ask that you come with a passion for the creative arts and plenty of enthusiasm!

Do I need an English language qualification?

This course will be taught in English.

There are no formal English language entry requirements and we don't require you hold an English language qualification.

However, we recommend you have an intermediate level of English in order to benefit fully from your experience, and be able to communicate with your tutors and fellow students.

I'm not sure if this course is suitable for me, can I contact you?

If you're unsure if this course is suitable for you, get in touch with us and we'll advise you. Either email us at summercourses@aub.ac.uk or call us on +44 1202 363222.

What's included in my course fee?

There are no hidden fees. All course materials and equipment/resources are included in the course fee.

You can choose to add the following optional extras to your course fee:

Residential and full-board catering
Private taxi transfer to/from any London airport

See below the prices of our packages. Choose your package during the booking process.

Can I secure my place with a deposit?

You can secure your place on the course today with just a 25% deposit of your total fee.

Choose this option when you book your place. Refer to the table below for prices.

Prices

Package	Price	25% deposit
Course fee only	£1,599	£400
Course fee, PLUS residential catering	£2,487	£620
Course fee, PLUS residential catering and airport taxi	£2,790	£700

Each year, we’re proud to offer many of our summer students places on AUB’s incredible full-time creative courses. During your summer course you'll have the opportunity to learn more about studying full-time at AUB.

If any International fee-paying summer student progresses to study full-time at AUB – to either the one-year Foundation Diploma in Art, Design and Media or a three-year undergraduate degree – they're guaranteed to receive a £3,000 bursary for their first year of study.

When you book this course today, you have the opportunity to experience life as a university student by opting for the residential package, which aims to give our summer students a taste of life as a full-time #AUBMAKER.

If you wish to include accommodation and/or a return airport taxi transfer in your Summer Course booking, simply select the relevant option when you book your place.

Residential and catering package

Residential package includes:

Full-board catering (breakfast, lunch and evening dinner)
Single study bedroom with private en-suite bathroom in Madeira Road Halls of Residence, situated in the Lansdowne area of Bournemouth – take a look at our accommodation
Halls of Residence Wi-Fi
Live-in AUB summer Student Ambassador Care and Welfare team, giving you support 24/7
Cultural city excursion
Comprehensive schedule of evening and weekend social activities
Optional return airport taxi transfer to/from any London airport

Due to popularity, summer accommodation in Madeira Road Halls of Residence is allocated on a first come, first served basis. We highly recommend you book your accommodation as soon as possible to guarantee it – simply select the residential option when you book your course place.

Explore AUB's accommodation

Return private taxi airport transfer

We can arrange for a return private airport taxi transfer to/from any London-based airport.

To book an airport transfer select the option when you book your course. We'll then contact you to arrange the details of your transfer nearer the time, once you've booked your flights.

If you have any questions or need to provide us with details of your flights please email us at summercourses@aub.ac.uk.

Please note, the deadline to book airport transfers through AUB is Sunday 23 June 2024.

About this course

The UK gaming market alone is a growing industry hitting record annual income generation exceeding £8 billion. To support this growing and evolving sector, and the creative talent to supply it, we've developed this hands-on summer course. This course is perfect for ambitious students who want to design imagery and assets for innovative games on a variety of different platforms; this includes character and environment design, with a focus on visual narrative and play.

Throughout the course, you'll be introduced to the key skills, elements, and principles of games design to support the creation of a credible portfolio of work. You can then build on your portfolio to showcase your individual talent to support application to undergraduate studies and/or underpin future career aspirations.

Beginning at the concept planning stages, you'll develop a strong set of core skills. This'll include exploring and practising concept art and asset production to support in the design process.

You'll learn how to create characters, props and environments using 2D and 3D content creation software to fit in with the game development pipeline.

You'll be supported by a series of inspirational talks by your tutor throughout the course, which will culminate with a special showcase to celebrate your imagination, skills, and creative abilities.

A broad history of games art and visual styles in the games industry
Techniques for researching, brainstorming, and creating reference material for games design and digital concept art
Key principles of concept art
Key principles for character design and designing the associated props and environments
An introduction to 3D modelling props, environments, and characters
An introduction to the 12 principles of animation and how to apply them within industry standard 3D animation software
Storytelling through a range of collaborative and independent imaginative projects using various narrative techniques
How to create a game brief and pitch
Experimental image-making, asset creation and concept artwork
Explore and apply the creative approaches required to create artwork for digital games

Develop confidence in your creative skills and abilities
Develop team participation and collaboration with your peers
Provide experience and appreciation of connected creative subjects including art, design, animation, film, special visual effects, film, graphic design, illustration, and visual communication, to name but a few.
Develop a varied portfolio of creative work to demonstrate your skills and creative identity in games art and character design
Provide extended practical sessions to experiment with personal ideas and creative processes in a professional Higher Education setting
Develop your observational and drawing skills to enhance your aesthetic awareness and inform your research activities
Provide opportunities to experience a wide variety of newfound skills and techniques
Develop your understanding of research methods and idea development, and cultivate your personal visual voice
Provide opportunities for self-evaluation and critique to enhance your confidence and reflective skills when considering your own and your peer group work
Develop your understanding of the field of games art and character design, and to understand what opportunities await in the field of employment

Be the proud owner of a robust portfolio of work that can be used to support your future applications for further creative study
Be able to demonstrate a wide range of games art and character development techniques utilising appropriate industry equipment
Possess improved artistic skills
Be knowledgeable in a range of different artistic processes
Not be afraid to experiment and adapt your ideas as you go
Have increased confidence in your own skills and feel inspired
Have boosted creativity and imagination
Be encouraged to experiment and explore your ideas, remembering that there's no right or wrong way to be creative
Possess the foundations to continue creating beyond this course

Plus, all students that complete the course with 100% attendance will be issued with an official AUB summer course certificate.

Guidance and support

Throughout the course your tutors will offer guidance and support you with your creative academic applications, as well as provide feedback on your work and offer advice for your future creative studies.

Continue your studies at AUB

Each year, we’re proud to offer many of our summer students places on AUB’s incredible full-time creative courses.

We offer you the chance to attend a series of progression and portfolio talks to give you the chance to find out more about studying at AUB in the future.

During your time with us you can attend a session to talk more about our Foundation Diploma in Art and Design or BA (Hons) undergraduate degree courses, and discuss your personal portfolio with an expert academic.

You may even be eligible for a pre-application interview, to secure your future place at AUB!