2D Art for Games

Semester(s) Offered:

Credits: 4

Course Call Number: GAMES-GT 203, GAMES-UT 203

Prerequisite(s): None

In 2D Art for Games, students will develop the perception and conceptualization skills for visually developing the environments, characters and philosophies of a world — and will learn the fundamental principles and basic tools of 2D art creation. Students will develop skills to render digitally and non-digitally illustrative work in various contexts pertaining to games, starting from preliminary ideation, abstraction to page and screen, towards ultimately, production. Students will create works for the purpose of building a comprehensive portfolio that showcases a breadth of 2D skills, and they will learn the technical tools necessary to implement their work in-game. Under the overall prompt of “Reality to Fantasy,” students will develop their drawing skills by taking ordinary, everyday subjects and reimagining them into fantastic, surreal visions.

Upon completion of this course, the student will:
1) Develop mark-making skills, understanding different qualities of graphic lines, shapes, colors and how they’re each used for varied ends.
2) Learn to draw from life via figure-drawing and perspective-drawing, and to draw from fantasy via researching and pulling inspiration from history, ecology and science-fiction.
3) Understand what it means to create images for the screen, dealing with matters of illusionism through raster images, perspective and projections, depth and resolutions, and generated graphics. Use digital media as canvas, and approach visual design as systems.
4) Learn intermediate skills in composition, layout and stylization to create stand-alone illustrations meant to accompany or represent an idea or another work.
5) Learn intermediate-to-expert skills in digital 2D tools such as Adobe Photoshop, Illustrator etc.
6) Practice basic skills and trade for making functional concept work as a necessary tool for communicating ideas, solving design problems, rallying collaboration and creating investment.
7) Learn the fundamental principles for good Character Design for development in a 2D game.
8) Learn the pipeline for implementing 2D assets into game development engines, as well as practice producing and preparing assets for easy communication and collaboration with non-visual developers.
9) Develop a declarative portfolio of concept designs and character designs that showcase the
student’s abilities, versatility and foremost, imagination as a 2D artist.