Online/On-campus | 1 years | Higher Certificate
Design the characters, worlds and assets that power films, games and animations

What you'll learn?
Concept Art
Duration
1 year
Next course
16 February 2026 – 15 February 2027
Price, starting from
The entertainment design industry is vast and has many avenues to explore as a creative. Concept Art opens the door to any number of opportunities in this industry focusing on pre-production design work for games, films and animations. Whether you choose to specialise in one field, or work in all of the above, the Academy of Digital Arts will equip you with all the conceptual and technical skills you need to develop and visualise ideas for use in any industry.
During our one-year Game and Interactive Media course, you’ll learn to master the tools and techniques to turn your ideas into reality and hone your abilities in the specialty that pairs best with your particular goals and skillset. Through teamwork and live projects, you’ll gain work experience and build the kind of strong portfolio that is essential when starting out in your career – no matter which direction you decide to take that career in!
If you are looking for a hands-on, practical approach to learning that sees you developing dynamic, versatile skills for a career using game technology in the games industry or many other areas & completing an industry-standard portfolio after 1-year, then yes, absolutely, this is the course for you.
Working on experiences like games, virtual reality or other forms of interactive content is a bit like working on a movie set. Teams of specialists work on various aspects of the production before bringing it all together in a final, cohesive product. Being a part of such a team requires a basic level of knowledge of the tools and terminology involved and a specialization in a particular area of expertise.
In this course, you will hone your skills to become one of these specialists, but with a sound insight into all the other development aspects of any game technology related project – a truly T-shaped skill set.
Our Full-time courses are intensive, project-based learning experiences that prepare you for the working world. It is a great opportunity to transition into an agency lifestyle whilst being mentored and guided into your creative voice.
As the world moves into a more hybrid approach, we have been able to adapt accordingly. Therefore, you can select to study with us either virtually or join us here on-campus. Our campus provides all the facilities required to complete this course,however, if you feel more comfortable studying from home or you’re unable to make it to our campus, then the distance learning option is for you. Your virtual study experience will be interactive and engaging. It is not a self-study option; you are still required to “attend” via video conference formats. We have all the technology, facilities,and assistance to make sure that this is a seamless, fun and interactive journey for you.
Note: You are required to select 1 study option upfront; either on- campus or virtually, but you will not be bound to this chosen study option and may elect to move between modes of attendance as needed.
Theory & Conceptual Skills
This module is designed to introduce students to concept art and the entertainment design industry. In this module students will learn to distinguish between concept art and production art and gain understanding into how concept art is used in the industry. The module will lay the foundations for the advanced conceptual skills students will need later in the programme, as well as broaden their design thinking through an understanding of narrative and world building.
Perspective
In this module students will develop their understanding of different perspectives that concept artists are expected to have mastery of. This includes isometric perspective, as well as onepoint-, two-point-, and three-point-perspective. An understanding of perspective is essential for the designs students will develop throughout the course of the year, and these skills will become invaluable building blocks for every assignment to come.
Drawing & Anatomy
In this module students will get the chance to put their newfound understanding of perspective to the test. They will gain understanding into the fundamentals of anatomy, including how to break complex shapes –like the human body- up into simple shapes that can be represented in different poses and perspectives with more ease. Additionally, this module will develop the drawing skills of students through advanced line art techniques, that will allow them to create effective anatomy studies, and serve them throughout the rest of their art careers.
Digital Painting
Digital Painting is not only a useful skill for artists but expected 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 implement 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 student will get to implement their hard-earned fundamental skills, as well as advance and showcase their design capabilities. The asset design module focuses on the conceptualisation, design and execution of inanimate objects, ranging from simple handheld devices tocomplex vehicle and structure designs. The module aims toequip students with the skills to be able to execute their ideas as effectively as possible.
Character & Creature Design
In this module, students will explore the different techniques and work processes employed to design visually appealing characters and creatures for film, game and animation. They explore tools used for conceptualising, designing and executing both stylised and realistic characters and creatures, and learn to master 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 through combining photo content, 3D bases, and digital painting skills.
Production Art
Production Art touches on the tools needed to create complex, detailed, high-end illustrations. Students will use the knowledge they have gained about characters, environments and assets, and combine that knowledge into one cohesive illustration. This illustration will allow them to press their understanding of composition, lighting and rendering to new heights.
Campaign Design
The Campaign Design module combines all the skill taught throughout the year and requires students to do world building and designs 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 get to combine their own creativity, with the high-level skill they have acquired over the course of the year to create a structured and complete representation of their skills as concept artists.
Business Practice
Here students are equipped with business-orientated skills that will allow them to conduct themselves as professionals after the completion of the programme. This includes instruction on essential skills from setting up and sending quotes and invoices,to the assembly of a portfolio that showcases their best work from the year. This portfolio will serve as tool that can be used to gain potential clients or placement in the industry. Following their portfolio creation, learners are given the opportunity to participate in the Student Showcase event, which highlights and displays graduating student work to both industry leaders, family and friends. As industry leaders are herewith able to interact with and evaluate both the students and their work, many graduates receive their first job offers as a result of this event.



Note: Upon completion of this course you will be awarded the Higher Certificate in Concept Art, NQF-level 5 (SAQA ID 112250, HEQSF-aligned, H/PR432/E005CAN, 120 Credits).

Visit our campus and meet us in person. During our Open Days visitors can view our classrooms, chat to lecturers and students and get a sense of why our students love studying with us.
Our application process is now fully online, follow the start my application link to begin your registration process. Create a profile and complete your application at your own pace.
Once you have created a profile, you will be able to upload all your application requirements and portfolio of work *(Note that some courses require this whereas others have it listed as optional). Visit your profile dashboard to review missing elements.
We may request an interview to get to know you better and shortly after we’ll advise if you’ll be receiving that oh-so important acceptance letter. Get ready to kickstart your creative career and join your tribe at the Academy of Digital Arts!
We enjoy national and international industry accreditation, so you can take your credits anywhere with you.
An international network of students and lecturers keeps our finger on the pulse of global trends.
All of our lecturers are industry working professionals, so we get to keep our students at the forefront of techniques and technologies that keep evolving in the digital industry.
Our lecturers, being working professionals, bring a level of contacts and insight to the table - which makes you feel like you’re already in the industry.
Project based learning techniques: The environment we create on campus gives you the chance to experience what it is to work in an agency. Making you ready for the working environment from day ONE.
Our campus is pretty special too, in the heart of Cape Town, the creative energy drives our classes, which remain firmly rooted in international best practices, preparing our students for a future proof career anywhere in the world.


All our higher certificate courses are an NQF level 5 course, therefore in order to receive the qualification you will need a matric certificate or the equivalent thereof (NQF level4).
With the Concept Art course, it is important to note that this is an art intensive course, therefore a background and portfolio demonstrating your art skills is important, even if you explore art as a hobby and not a formal subject.
I love design and illustration and have a knack for creative problem solving. I’m looking to build a solid foundation of fundamental design principles and learn how to apply them to create innovative logos, adverts, brochures, book covers, layouts and more.
Choose your specialty! We offer two different specialisation tracks in this course, so you can focus on either UX & UI Design, or Development, or both! Perfect for you if you have a passion for how people engage and interact with digital platforms, or you want to delve into the nitty gritty of building those platforms
Our Game & Interactive Media Development course will teach you the knowledge and skills needed to be part of national and international companies that work in game development, the Metaverse, Virtual or Augmented Reality, and other applications of interactive media. Our students design new worlds, experiences, and apps for a living. Join them.
I’m a born artist with a flair for drawing and digital painting. I’m looking to sharpen my fundamentals and design skills, as well as learn new ways to use technology to enhance my creations for a career in concept art and related industries.