BA in Concept Art

You will gain mastery over the fundamentals that allow you to execute digital designs and bring imaginative projects to life. Learn how to execute correct perspective and human anatomy, hone your visual library and drawing skills, and learn how to navigate the digital painting medium with confidence.

Once you know the basics, level up and bring 3D tools like Blender into the mix to speed up your processes.

A good design isn’t just a pretty picture; it must serve a purpose and fulfill its function. Learn how to use principles of practicality and ergonomics to design assets and vehicles, convey a character or creature’s personality through shape language and colour theory, and create environments that set the scene and mood for any story to take place in.

Then, bring it all together in a campaign that showcases all these disciplines against the backdrop of your own worldbuilding and story concepts.

To go from pretty picture to functional design – artists need to research! Unlock a hunger for knowledge and learn about all the real-world things that can influence, inspire and make your designs ‘work’.

Costume, architecture, biology, mechanics... concept artists need to know a little bit about everything, and we guide you in expanding that knowledge base!

Research historical events to inspire your worldbuilding, rationalise and explain your designs in interpretable ways, and generally build essential critical thinking and communication skills that will benefit you for the rest of your life.

Every assignment you do at ADA will prepare you in some small or large way for a career. With briefs tailored to industry expectations, realistic but fast-paced deadlines, overlapping assignments and directed feedback sessions with your lecturers, you will learn to accept and implement critique, manage your time like a pro, and get the job done.

All this builds to the 3rd year industry internships, where you get to experience hands-on what it is like to be a concept artist for a studio, so nothing will take you by surprise once you land that big job.

Theory & Conceptual Skills

Our first module introduces students to the entertainment design industry. Teaching you what concept art is, how it fits into the industry and how to distinguish it from production art and illustration. Here we build the advanced conceptual skills, research capabilities and storytelling knowledge needed to analyse and execute a brief like a concept artist.

Perspective

We start the Fundamentals modules with developing the student’s ability to recognise and draw in different types of perspective views. We take you through this dedicated module step-for-step. Starting with orthographic and isometric projections and ending in three-point perspective. Training you in the most important fundamental for drawing any character, vehicle, or environment believably.

Drawing & Anatomy

Next, we teach students how to simplify complex anatomy into easily repeatable shapes. Through a technique called analytical drawing we teach you how to study and ultimately draw anything. Practice by studying small animals and eventually study the proportions and complex forms of the human body. Complete with an in-class figure drawing session.

Digital Painting

In this module we teach the fundamentals of light and form in painting. While training students in using and navigating industry-standard digital painting software. Learn how to render texture through material studies and ultimately paint an entire still life painting digitally. Testing your newfound fundamentals knowledge and preparing you for the design modules ahead.

Asset Design

In our Design module, we teach students the principles of product design and how to apply them to the concept art industry. Learn how to design a handheld asset for a game and progress to designing and rendering a vehicle from scratch. Use silhouettes, photo-manipulation and design theory to bring your ideas to life.

Character & Creature Design

In this three-part Design module, we take students through designing characters for various industries. Learn how to create character sheets for animation, render a concept for game or film. Use shape language and colour theory to create iconic casts. Then finally flex your creativity as we take you through designing and rendering an imaginary beast.

Environment Design

In this module we test our student’s skills by designing and rendering whole environments. Learn how to use 3D software to enhance your workflow and how to use colour, composition and lighting techniques to create cinematic renders. Then apply all your newfound digital painting skills and techniques to enhance your scenes and create immersive environments.

Illustration

In our Illustration module we focus on the tools needed to create rich, detailed, high-end illustrations. Use the knowledge and skills gained throughout the year and learn how to plan and execute a high-end illustration from start to finish. Expand your understanding of composition, mood and visual storytelling by creating awe-inspiring images.

Campaign Design

As the capstone for our Design modules, students will tackle worldbuilding, designing concepts and developing mock-ups for a large-scale personal project. Pick a mentor from our array of lecturers and design characters, creatures, assets and environments in a cohesive aesthetic and style, and present them in a pitch for the entertainment design industry.

Business Practice

In this module students will build essential business skills fit for fully-fledged professionals in the concept art industry. Learn how to set up quotes and invoices, assemble CV’s and promote yourself with an industry portfolio. Then prepare for our annual Graduate Showcase where we welcome industry professionals and potential clients to view your work.

Theory & Conceptual Skills

In our 2nd Year we aim to align students with their desired field in the concept art industry. Build an understanding of the expectations awaiting you as a concept artist. Set up personal goals that guide your learning journey. Then take a step back and level up your understanding of narrative, worldbuilding and story-structures.

Perspective

Reintroducing our Fundamentals modules from the 1st Year. In this module we advance student’s 3D knowledge and teach new workflows and techniques for implementing perspective in concept art. Learn how to use 3D-bases to establish perspective quickly and easily. Then design an extended concept with multiple views across both assignments in this module.

Drawing & Anatomy

In this iteration of our Fundamentals module, apply your drawing skills to a full character sheet, complete with a pose sheet and expression sheet. Learn how to stay consistent across multiple drawings of the same character by cementing how to analyse a style, simplify and rotate your subject in your mind and on the page.

Digital Painting

In this module, students will expand their understanding of light interactions with materials and create dynamic workflows using advanced 2D-techniques. Learn the awe-inspiring secrets behind complex light interactions. Build rendering processes that allow you to make multiple variations in a fraction of the time and build style guides that allow artists to follow your lead.

Asset Design

As we start the 2nd Year Design modules, we introduce students to an in-depth technical approach that builds on their understanding of 3D and asset design knowledge. Design from the ground up, considering your asset’s internal parts, fuel source, interface and more. Showcase internal details in an exploded view while demonstrating functionality from multiple angles.

Character & Creature Design

In this module, we zoom out from individual characters and learn how to build a visual language for whole factions and cultures. Delve into designing believable creatures through speculative evolution. Learn strong logical problem solving through applicable research that reinforces your designs. Level-up your design workflow through creature sculpting and 3D thumbnailing techniques.

Environment Design

In the final dedicated Design module for the 2nd Year, we take students through analysing a complex brief and how to incorporate storytelling from that analysis in their final image. Build custom 3D assets and callouts for your environments. Expand on your understanding of mood and scale, by creating evocative exterior and interior scenes.

Visual Development

In this module we take a step into shot-design. Delve into storyboarding, interpreting scripts, colour scripting and finally develop and render a keyframe. Expand your toolkit and learn about the visual development that goes into creating animations, game cinematics and films. Use your knowledge from 1st Year Illustration to create a knockout final render.

Campaign Design

In this module students will take their newfound knowledge and skills from the 2nd Year and tackle another extended personal project. Pick a mentor from our array of lecturers and design even more characters, creatures, assets and environments than before, and show off how far you’ve progressed in your next iteration of Campaign Design.

Business Practice

In this module we build on the business skills acquired previously and teach students the basics of taxes as a sole proprietor. An essential skill for freelancers in the industry. Use your new artworks, guided by the goals set earlier in the year, to upgrade your portfolio. Then get ready for our annual Graduate Showcase.

Practice Based Research

Unlike previous modules Practice Based Research takes place throughout the year. Deepen your knowledge in a self-appointed field of specialisation. Equip yourself with the skills needed to conduct academic research, including information gathering, analysis and communicating and presenting your conclusions. Then apply your knowledge practically during our Applied Concept Design module.

Theory & Conceptual Skills

In this module, students will be instructed in generating conceptual frameworks as a template for the conceptualization process. Combine all your skills from prior Theory & Conceptual Skills modules and quickly and efficiently generate ideas and solve problems alongside your peers, acting as mock clients. Build skills in client communications and the visual development process.

Business Practice

Taking our student’s business knowledge a step further, students will learn to draw up well-researched business plans and conduct market research. Build business savvy and gain an understanding of the industry from a financial perspective. Familiarise yourself with financial planning, market trends and niches. Tackle your future with confidence in the final Business Practice module.

Work Integrated Learning Internships

This module is built around sending students to work on live projects during our industry internships. Build confidence with our professional practice precursor as we prepare you to rub shoulders with industry-professionals and get a hands-on introduction to the concept art industry with South African studios. Network, learn, and be challenged during this two-week internship.

Applied Concept Design

During this 11-week module, students will endeavour to combine skills gained from all the previous modules by setting self-directed goals aimed at learning and improving in their chosen specialization. Conceptualize, design and execute designs based on those goals. Reach new heights with improved conceptualization skills, critical analysis and problem solving in unfamiliar, but related contexts.

Campaign Design

For the final Campaign Design of their BA in Concept Art course, students will be required put their skills to the test in this culminative module. Research and pitch a product, by combining market research and budgeting with professional conceptualisation, design work and project-management. Make a case for that dream project to finally become reality.