Game Design at CIA
As a major in our Game Design program at The Cleveland Institute of Art, you will acquire skills in 3D modeling, animation, programming, visual design, interactive storytelling, audio and game production. In addition, your coursework will examine theory and context of videogame culture and digital media.
Prepare for an Exciting Career in Game Design
Our Game Design curriculum strongly emphasizes presentation skills, such as writing, storyboarding, motion, and directing — all essential for a successful job in game design. You also will perform game-specific and player-focused research and study special effects.
As a Game Design student, you will:
- Improve your character development abilities
- Master the use of rule design, play mechanics, and social game interaction
- Integrate visual, audio, tactile, and textual elements into a total game experience
- Create both linear and non-linear media by applying post-production techniques
Additionally, you will learn how to create 3D modeling digital visualizations that use processing, organic and inorganic modeling, construction of compound objects, 3D primitive construction and modeling, and resolution and tessellation of 3D objects and formats.
A Team-Oriented Culture
Collaboration is a vital aspect of the studio experience at CIA. As a Game Design major in the college’s Integrated Media Environment, you will be part of our digital arts student community and take core courses with students from other majors in the environment. This regular exchange between students with differing perspectives and techniques helps build team skills integral to brainstorming, character design, narrative ideas, production, and presenting and critiquing project outcomes.
Moreover, you will be mentored by our extremely talented faculty. Accomplished experts in digital media and game design, they will help you build connections and network with other professionals in the field.
Learn More
Find out more about our game design facilities, faculty, courses, and available scholarships. Check out potential career paths in game design or works created by our students.
Professional Game Design Facilities
As a Game Design student at The Cleveland Institute of Art, you will work in state-of-the-art computer labs with the newest equipment for digital game design, lighting, and sound.
You also will have access to:
- A network-connected, game-design editing suite
- A sound editing and recording studio
- A green-screen Chroma Key studio
- Two lighting and shooting areas
- A game room with game consoles and games
Careers in Game Design
At The Cleveland Institute of Art, we provide our students with the foundation for a career in game design and art- and media-related industries. Many Game Design majors continue on to graduate school or have successful careers within the field thanks to the real-world experience they gain from submitting their work in the E.M.I.T. Student Film, Video, and Animation Festival, the juried Student Independent Exhibition, and annual Spring Show.
Potential career options with a BFA in game design include:
- Animator
- Art director
- Audio producer
- Character animator
- Character designer
- Commercial game designer
- Concept artist
- Effects (FX) artist/FX animator
- Environments designer
- Fine artist/game designer
- Game designer
- Game writer
- Independent game designer
- Layout artist
- Modeler
- Production designer
- Programmer
- Rigger
- Storyboard artist
- Visual effects (VFX) supervisor