Gaming & Design

Video Game Art

Pursue your passion for video games with a rewarding diploma program and open your door to new career opportunities.
(Image Credits: Johnny Rumeliotis, Joseph St. Arnault, Josh Zoboki, Stefan Blasko)

    Request Info!

    Fill in the form below and we will contact you as soon as possible.

    Country is required
    Program of Interest is required
    First Name is required
    Last Name is required
    Valid email address is required
    Valid phone number is required
    Answer is required
    Answer is required
    Answer is required
    Answer is required
    Consent is required

    Type

    Diploma

    Duration

    77-93 Weeks

    Internship

    16 Weeks (optional)

    Program Outline

    View Outline Arrow Icon Pointing Right

    About The Program

    Take part in a cutting-edge curriculum that is developed by industry-leading professionals. In as short as 77 weeks, you can obtain the knowledge required to advance your career in Video Game Art. Maximize your learning experience with the optional 16-week internship, where you can apply the theories you’ve learned and get that sought-after real-world, hands-on experience that can boost your future job-hunting journey.

    Alumni Success

    Graduates of our Video Game Art program can embark on exciting and creative career opportunities in various aspects of gaming like 3D character and environment modeling to game management type jobs. Game artists find success in fields such as Game Designer, Animator, Graphic Designer, Games Developer, and Multimedia Programmer.

    To check out the work portfolio of our students, click here.

    Employers who've hired our Grads

    • red-meat-games-logo
    • arbelous-interactive-logo
    • blacksmith-logo
    • blue-isle-logo
    • cantankerous-games-logo
    • dev-null-studios-logo
    • diving-dove-logo
    • little-guy-games-logo
    • yellow-bear-logo
    • tech-alliance-logo
    • ubisoft-logo
    • rockstar-logo
    • ea-logo
    • digital-extremes-logo
    • capcom-logo
    • downsmash-studio-logo
    • BeHaviour-logo
    • AdUnknown-logo

    Our learning approach

    Our teaching philosophy on Video Game Art is very hands-on. We use a project-based approach that allows you to showcase your passion for art while developing the practical skills you need to work in a game studio. Your instructors are professionals, who are actively designing in the industry so you are learning the very latest in game studio practices. They will also help you create a unique portfolio to stand out to hiring managers in the industry.

    Start Your Journey

    Your new career is waiting for you! We can assist you in planning your future through financial aid advice, career management, and by assessing your goals. Get started!

    Apply Today

    Salary

    89 %

    Employment Rate*

    $ 31

    Average Wage/hr**

    $ 43

    High Wage/hr**

    **Employment Rate based on 2022 contactable triOS graduates employed in a related field within 12 months.

    Source: workingincanada.gc.ca

    NOC Code: 5223/52111, 5241/52120 - **Wage data based on NOC Code 5241 and rounded down to the nearest dollar. Average wage doesn't reflect the starting salary but represents the middle value between lowest to highest wages. Local (or regional) income may vary. Last updated in Jan 2024.

    Program Details

    Are you passionate about video games? Do you have what it takes to design and implement strategic and engaging art into these games? If so, then triOS College’s Video Game Art program is just what you need to launch a new career in your field of interest.

    This program will allow you to tap into your creative side and help you develop the skills you need to become a well-rounded gaming artist. Throughout the program, you will learn how to create 2D animations, animate 3D models for video games, create visual digital art, and much more. You will work in Apple and Windows operating systems and use industry-standard software such as Autodesk Maya, Substance Painter, Adobe Photoshop, and Adobe Illustrator.

    Students enrolled in this program will build a portfolio of game assets and designs, based on their projects, to help secure employment after graduation. To gain hands-on experience in the real world, the Video Game Art program also comes with an option to take on a 16-week internship. This program is fully equipped to assist you in launching a successful career in a multi-billion-dollar industry.

    Students enrolled in the program receive:

    • 16-week (optional) internship.
    • Training in Autodesk and Adobe.
    • State of the art Computer hardware.
    • Opportunities to publish completed games.
    Course Listings
    Arrow Down
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Career Planning & Preparation - Level 1
    This module introduces tools for planning and preparing for a successful job search, so that students can maintain a career-focused approach throughout their education program. Students will learn how to research opportunities and network for industry contacts, and use appropriate etiquette when communicating with prospective employers. Students will identify their personal skills, values and preferences for the workplace, begin preparation of a professional resume, cover letter, thank you note and references. Class discussions on various self-management topics introduced in Student Success Strategies will round out this module, which is a pre-requisite for Career Planning and Preparation – Level 2.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Career Planning & Preparation - Level 2
    This module continues to build on the concepts and skills introduced in Career Planning and Preparation - Level I. Students will learn how to conduct an effective job search and identify various methods of applying for work with today’s technology. Students will create a personal list of “Top Employers” and target current industry opportunities, while finalizing their professional resume, portfolio and career correspondence. Students will learn to identify the different types and forms of interviews, practice responding to typical questions, and practice follow-up, evaluation and negotiation techniques they can use to ensure success. Self-management topics from Career Planning and Preparation - Level I will be reviewed, with a focus towards on-the-job success in both learner placements and post-graduate employment.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Digital Literacy for Professionals
    This course introduces students to the fundamental concepts and principles of learning and working in a digital environment. This course will cover the following elements: using devices and handling information, creating and editing information, communicating and collaborating, and being safe and responsible online.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Student Success Strategies
    This course stresses the importance of developing non-technical skills to enhance personal, academic and career success. This includes understanding learning styles and honing practical study skills, such as memory, reading, note- and test-taking techniques. Personal exercises will focus on teamwork, decision making and problem solving skills, setting goals and maintaining a positive attitude techniques for managing change, stress and conflict will also be explored.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 2D Animation
    This course introduces students to the process and techniques used to create 2D animations for use within video games and other interactive media.Students will learn how to consider and produce short 2D Animations for inclusion in video games and their portfolios.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 2D Level Design
    This course introduces students to the concepts and procedures used for creating visual digital art. More specifically, students will learn how to work with bitmap and vector-based digital art using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator Further, the students will learn to produce sprites and spritesheets upon course completion.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 2D Pixel Art
    This course introduces students to the concepts and procedures used for creating visual digital art. More specifically, students will learn how to work with bitmap and vector-based digital art using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator Further, the students will learn to produce sprites and spritesheets upon course completion.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 3D Character Modeling
    This course will teach students modeling concepts and techniques for characters found within video games. More specifically, it introduces students to the process of designing, modeling, and setting up controls for complex 3D characters. Students will apply their knowledge of character modeling by creating models that will become suitable for commercial video games.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 3D Character Animation and Rigging
    In this course, students will learn the process and techniques used to animate 3d models for video games. In addition, students will learn how to enhance models and animations to make them ready for cinematics, as well apply their skills to create key character animations, including idle, walking, running and jumping.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 3D Environment Modeling
    This course introduces students to the concepts and techniques used to create environment models for video games. Areas covered include modeling, vertices, edges, faces, extrusions, meshes, UV maps, and rigging. Students will immediately apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to the creation of an environment model using standard Industry tools.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 3D Environment Texturing
    This course introduces students to the concepts and techniques used to polish environment models for video games. Areas covered include textures, maps, meshes, lighting, and special effects. Students will immediately apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills to the creation of textured environment models.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 3D Level Design
    Students in this course work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered in Environment Modeling and Texturing courses to develop levels for a 3D video game of choice. Students will be mentored throughout the process to produce commercial quality video game levels suitable for a professional portfolio.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 3D Lighting & Rendering
    This course introduces students to 3D Lighting and Rendering techniques to make their 3D pieces look right in various game engines and renderers for post production. Specifically, students will learn how to best match materials, specular and diffuse with mood and the different types of lights, as well as how to match specific art styles through the use of shaders and renderers.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Digital Drawing
    In this course, students learn the drawing techniques that are used to create video game art using only an iPad. More specifically, students will learn and apply primitives, perspective, color theory, objects, organics, shading, and lighting to their own art projects. In addition, students will learn the main differences between raster and vector graphics and when to use each.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Drawing for 3D
    This course introduces students to the concepts and procedures that are necessary to create 3D art assets. More specifically, students will learn how to think in 3D when drawing and how these drawings are used to help create, texture and shade 3D models for use within a video game.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Video Game Art internship
    At the successful completion of the classroom hours of this program, students will be placed in a 400-hour internship within a gaming related organization. Students will have the opportunity to apply their newly acquired knowledge and skills within real-world professional contexts. Host sites include businesses and organizations which have an online presence and are engaged in software, game and/or interactive media design, development and testing.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 3D Painting
    In this course, students learn how to paint 3D models using 3D painting and rendering software. Students will learn how to create custom materials and texture 3D models using realtime techniques in this emerging workflow to produce production ready assets. Further the students will learn about the benefits of mesh-based painting programs and how they support node based material generation for all types of lighting and rendering sub-systems.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Professional Portfolios
    This course introduces students to the criteria and tools used to create and maintain a professional online presence and portfolio within the video game industry. Students will learn how to best present and manage their creations with cinematics, interactive models, images, game demos as well as live and recorded streaming to showcase their experience and talent with video game production and asset creation. Students will also learn how to successfully promote themselves in the field.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Prototyping Video Games
    This course provides students with the knowledge and ability to rapidly prototype video game demos to showcase “proof-of-concepts”. Students in this course will also work as a team to apply knowledge and skills mastered to develop a video game prototype. Additionally, students will be mentored throughout the process to relay the skills and thought processes necessary to produce commercial quality video games.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Raster Graphics
    This course introduces students to the concepts and procedures used for creating visual digital art. More specifically, students will learn how to work with bitmaps and raster based digital art which are used to produce textures, game sprites and sprite sheets that can be used in the creation of video games.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. 3D Sculpting
    This course introduces art students to the process of sculpting geometry into 3D assets that are commercial quality and production ready. Further the students will learn about the benefits of mesh-based sculpting programs and how they support sculpting at multiple resolutions on a single model as well as volume based sculpting tools available
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Storyboarding Fundamentals
    In this course, students learn the drawing techniques that are used to create video game art. More specifically, students will learn how to create storyboards from a core concept building them into a story format that can be later used in their games.
    Icon-Quiz-Small Created with Sketch. Video Game Design
    This course introduces students to the historical development of video games and the social and cultural effects video games have on society. An analysis of existing video game mechanics, technical design, documentation, planning and implementation will allow students to approach video game design from a knowledge perspective. Students will generate game design documentation for both existing and their own video games.
    Admission Requirements
    Arrow Down

    – High school graduation diploma, or Mature Student Status (for more information please refer to the Program Overview at the top of this page or speak to your Education Consultant)

    – In addition to above requirements, all student must pass an entrance assessment.

    Success Stories

    A good place to get fast-tracked education. If the time factor is essential to your life then this institute is fit for you.

    Yasser N.

    Graduated 2019