Concept Art

Lay the foundations for your career with art fundamentals such as perspective and anatomy. Learn analytical and observational drawing skills that will empower you to draw and design from imagination. Then jump into digital painting techniques while learning how to navigate industry-standard 2D and 3D software with ease.

Build on your drawing skills with the principles of design. Learn how to use shape to express a character’s personality, use colour theory to set the mood for any scene, and tell a story through smartly detailed environments and believable assets that will immerse your audience. Then show off in a large-scale personal project in Campaign Design.

Get ready for the industry at ADA. Prepare with our industry-level briefs, fast but realistically paced assignments and one-on-one feedback sessions with your lecturer. Learn professional practice, time management, quoting and invoicing, implementing client feedback and, most importantly, how to get the job done.

Theory & Conceptual Skills

This module introduces students to concept art and the entertainment design industry. Students will learn to distinguish between concept art and production art and gain an understanding of how concept art is used in the industry. The module lays the foundations for the advanced conceptual skills students will need later in the programme, and broadens their design thinking through an understanding of narrative and world building.

Perspective

In this module students will develop their understanding of the different perspectives that concept artists are expected to master. This includes isometric perspective, as well as one-point, two-point and three-point perspective. An understanding of perspective is essential for the designs students will develop throughout the year, and these skills will become invaluable building blocks for every assignment to come.

Drawing & Anatomy

In this module students will put their newfound understanding of perspective to the test. They will learn the fundamentals of anatomy, including how to break complex shapes, like the human body, into simple shapes that can be drawn in different poses and perspectives with more ease. The module also develops students’ drawing skills through advanced line art techniques that will allow them to create effective anatomy studies and serve them throughout their art careers.

Digital Painting

Digital painting is not only a useful skill for artists but an expectation in the concept art industry. In this module students will learn how to capitalise on the tools that digital painting software offers, and how to use these tools in a way that advances their art and design skills. The module covers the basics of digital painting and rendering, brushwork, and how to represent forms, textures and materials effectively.

Asset Design

The Asset Design module is the first of the design-orientated modules of the programme. Here students will get to implement their hard-earned fundamental skills, as well as advance and showcase their design capabilities. The module focuses on the conceptualisation, design and execution of inanimate objects, ranging from simple handheld devices to complex vehicle and structure designs. It aims to equip students with the skills to execute their ideas as effectively as possible.

Character & Creature Design

In this module students will explore the techniques and work processes used to design visually appealing characters and creatures for film, games and animation. They explore tools for conceptualising, designing and executing both stylised and realistic characters and creatures, and learn to master the shape language, colour theory and rendering styles that go along with the design and execution processes.

Environment Design

In this module students will walk through the process of designing environments for the entertainment design industry. This process starts with thumbnailing, designing with shapes and 3D frameworks, and progresses all the way through to complete, rendered environments. Renders are achieved by combining photo content, 3D bases and digital painting skills.

Illustration

The Illustration module covers the tools needed to create complex, detailed, high-end illustrations. Students will take the knowledge they have gained about characters, environments and assets, and combine it into one cohesive illustration. This illustration will push their understanding of composition, lighting and rendering to new heights.

Campaign Design

The Campaign Design module combines all the skills taught throughout the year and requires students to do world building and design for a cohesive campaign. This includes designing characters, creatures, assets and environments with a cohesive aesthetic and style, and presenting them as the beginnings of a film, game or animation project for the entertainment design industry. Here students combine their own creativity with the high-level skills they have acquired over the year to create a structured and complete representation of their skills as concept artists.

Business Practice

Here students are equipped with the business skills that will allow them to conduct themselves as professionals after completing the programme. This includes essential skills from setting up and sending quotes and invoices to assembling a portfolio that showcases their best work from the year. This portfolio will serve as a tool to win clients or gain placement in the industry. After building their portfolios, students have the opportunity to take part in the Student Showcase, which displays graduating student work to industry leaders, family and friends. Because industry leaders can meet the students and evaluate their work in person, many graduates receive their first job offers as a result of this event.