Bachelor of Arts in Games Design and Art

at University of Southampton - Winchester Campus United Kingdom

The MA Fine Art degree at Winchester School of Art (WSA) offers you the opportunity to embrace new challenges in your art. Our course draws students from across the world to study and develop their art in the beautiful surroundings of the historic city of Winchester.

"... one of the UK's most dynamic and relevant postgraduate fine art degree programmes." - Anthony Luvera, artist and external course moderator, 2016-2019

This programme captures the diversity of the world's contemporary art and values all types of art practice. You will develop your work, in practice and in theory, exploring key ideas and issues that inform contemporary art today.

You will work in purpose-built studios with a wide range of technical and academic facilities, with the freedom to explore your ideas through a single medium or across multiple art forms, including:

• Painting and drawing
• Sculpture  
• Video and digital media
• Photography and printmaking
• Performance art

You’ll gain insights into life as a working artist and will develop your own individual profile through:

• Weekly guest lectures by leading practitioners
• Creating a portfolio for your final project and to exhibit
• Learning how to approach galleries, use social media, and build networks
• An arts-related professional skills module

Other benefits of this art master's include access to purpose-built studios with the latest photography, video, 3D printing and laser cutting technologies, a gallery on campus, and close links to London and regional galleries. You'll also have the opportunity to display your work for the public at the annual MA Degree Show. View recent, and earlier, MA Fine Art Degree Exhibition documentaries, here.

Winchester Centre for Global Futures in Art Design & Media will also give you the chance to attend conferences and receive tutorial support from internationally celebrated professors.

Combine the creative side of games design with essential technical knowledge. If you want to make unique new games and take your ambitious ideas into emerging games markets, platforms and spaces, this is the programme for you. You’ll cover design, illustration, character creation, animation and storytelling, as well as coding and digital production.

You’ll work in your own studios on campus as part of a vibrant, creative environment designed to mirror the collaborative practices of games companies and the creative industries.

You’ll learn to apply design-thinking to the creation of brand new games and refine them through research-led creative investigation, making, prototyping and user testing.

You’ll explore the full spectrum of gaming, including screen-based (video) games, augmented and virtual reality game-making, alongside the physical production of products such as location-based games, board games, card games and escape rooms. You’ll also cover the emerging fields of purposeful games and serious games, and explore how games can be designed to have social impact and cultural significance.

Throughout your studies you’ll work with your peers in a small, close-knit studio environment. You’ll collaborate and inspire one another, and discover your strengths. You’ll gain a range of skills including illustration, character design and storytelling as well as coding and digital production.

Your course includes:

• pitching your ideas and prototypes to industry
• visits to innovative games studios such as Hello Games, Sensible Object, ustwo games and Sennep games
• visits to game conferences
• workshops and advice on your projects from industry
• live projects with progressive organisations looking to utilise game theory and game design such as National Air Traffic Control, IBM and the Royal Society of Public Health
• showcasing your projects at external events such as our London show and other globally recognised games events
• testing and gathering feedback on your ideas with real players

 As part of your course you can choose to:

• develop your work skills and industry links by taking a paid year in employment
• gain a different cultural perspective on your subject by studying abroad for a year

Be part of a distinctive, energetic flagship art programme, tailored to your needs on our fine art degree. Develop an outstanding individual fine art practice in a contemporary, cutting-edge discipline built on centuries of tradition. Address the pressing issues of today and tomorrow. Learn clarity of thought, teamwork and project management through ambitious collaborative projects. Reflect, refine and resolve in our spacious, purpose-built studios and excellent workshop facilities.

Experiment across all media, and choose the areas you’d like to specialise in, including:

• painting
• printmaking
• sculpture
• digital and lens-based work
• performance

As part of your BA Fine Art you can:

• meet active professional artists at our weekly Talking Heads lecture series
• take advantage of easy access to London for studio and gallery visits
• join our twice-yearly Shared Drive projects, which bring together students from all years of study to participate in ambitious, large-scale, collective projects
• study overseas for a semester at one of our partner universities in Europe, Canada or Asia
• connect with professionals from the commercial and public art worlds at special network events such as our Fine Art Degree Show Review Symposium
• be part of a lasting record of your achievements here in the Shared Drive Fine Art Yearbook  
• enjoy collaborative relationships with organisations such as a space arts, John Hansard Gallery and Hampshire Cultural Trust

Digital media has transformed the way we make and consume news, entertainment and communication. On this UK master's course in global media management you’ll learn how to analyse this fast-changing landscape - and influence its development. You’ll explore critical concepts through in-depth research and practical projects, preparing you for success in the global creative and communications industries.

Discover the social, cultural, political and technological impact of the changes brought about by digital media.

On this MA course you'll develop in-depth understanding of how people engage with the world through the internet, social networks, press and mobile media.

Real-life case studies will help you examine organisations’ communications strategies, learning how ideas are developed and how users respond to them.

You’ll also learn the skills to become an expert digital media practitioner yourself, covering topics from gamification to citizen journalism.

The course is taught in an art-school environment, so you'll be using industry-standard software, cameras and video equipment.

Highlights of the course include:

• Opportunities to develop your own media campaign
• A research project and critical paper on a topic of your choice
• World-class researchers with expertise in the creative industries
• Behind-the-scenes visits and field trips

With a strong emphasis on employability, the course will help you to develop your professional profile in preparation for a role in the creative and communications industries, or for further study at PhD level.

Develop in-depth knowledge of the global advertising and branding industry and find out how to run your own campaigns on this practical, industry-focused master’s degree. Learn from academics who are active in research and have a wealth of experience and connections in the sector. Explore creative problem-solving techniques that will prepare you for success in your chosen career.

This MA in global advertising and branding is ideal if you want to oversee the advertising process or brand strategy at a creative agency or client company.

On this UK course you’ll learn the theory and practice of advertising and brand management, and critically examine the latest industry issues. These includes celebrity endorsement, the use of social media, and the impact of technology.

You’ll develop essential practical skills, including how to:

• Make a pitch
• Identify a target audience
• Build a creative strategy
• Create a brief
• Evaluate a campaign

Optional modules on everything from creative thinking to entrepreneurship will give you the freedom to personalise the course to match your career plans or research interests.

Course highlights include:

• A group project to devise a campaign in response to a brief from a real business
• A week-long competitive marketing exercise using the markstrat simulation platform
• Fieldtrips to locations where you can see the real-world impact of advertising and branding
• Guest lectures by industry professionals
• A research project and critical paper on a topic of your choice

We put a strong emphasis on employability throughout, to make sure you graduate with both professional and academic skills.

This master's in textile design will encourage you to be experimental and will give you the skills for a successful career in textile design. Taught by industry-experienced tutors who are sustainability specialists, and supported by our dedicated technicians; you’ll learn techniques such as print, embroidery and Devore.

This MA textile design course is suitable if you’re a recent graduate or if you want to refocus your career. Whether your interests are in textiles for fashion, interior design or as a medium for art pieces, you’ll develop your skills and apply them to a range of textile media. 

Employability is key throughout this UK Textile Design master’s degree. You’ll graduate with a portfolio that demonstrates your talents and accomplishments, as well as industry knowledge.

You’ll have extensive industry exposure including: 

• Guest lectures and live project briefs  
• Visits to trade events and selling your work at pop-up events
• Designing pieces for external public events and opportunities to showcase your work
• Internship opportunities with leading fashion and textile companies  
• Access to lectures and conferences run by renowned research and special interest groups, such as the winchester luxury research group, in the loop and the fashion and sustainability forum

A supportive and personalised approach to learning; staff will get to know your individual strengths and help you achieve your potential. You’ll also be co-located with MA Fashion Design students in a creative studio atmosphere where you can share ideas and draw inspiration from one another’s work. 

The facilities and equipment you’ll use are outstanding. They include: 

• A Mimaki digital printer, heat-transfer printing and large hand screen-printing tables with adjoining screen exposing rooms and dye labs 
• Computerised Shima Seiki knitting machines across three gauges, a variety of single and doublebed Dubied knitting machines, linkers and manual knitting machines 
• A state-of-the-art jacquard loom, a variety of computerised AVL dobby looms, and manual table looms 
• The WSA library, with comprehensive collections of textiles books, journals and magazines as well as a wide range of other arts-related materials

Our MA Fashion Management degree will give you a rare understanding of fashion theory and evolution. You'll learn to manage global relationships between fashion and political, social, ethical, and business contexts.

Applications for 2020 entry to this course are now closed. We have a range of other related postgraduate courses that you may want to consider.

This course is ideal if you’re from a creative, design, business or management background and want to specialise in fashion at management level.

You'll learn how society constructs meaning from fashion and what drives fashion consumption. Through studying aspects of sociology and anthropology as well as fashion, business, art and design.

We focus on sustainability and ethics throughout this UK master’s in fashion management. You’ll take part in debates on these topics and learn from an annual fashion sustainability forum. Academics who have worked with the United Nations will provide global insight.

Industry links and input will enhance your learning and career prospects through guest lectures, and internship opportunities. You’ll develop and practice industry specific skills such as:

• Live project briefs and business plans
• Digital tools in fashion
• Trend forecasting
• Retail reports and price positioning maps
• Marketing and brand communications
• Recognising commercial opportunity

The ability to match your learning to your career goals will give you a competitive advantage as a graduate.

International students will also be able to access free English Language sessions, as part of the University’s mission to enhance academic student support.

Convert your creative ideas into business success and use the power of design and innovation in a corporate context. This MA Design Management will teach you how to understand, manage and oversee the process of design in all aspects of business. Providing you with a huge range of career opportunities.

This course will suit a graduate or professional who wants to excel in design and business.

Throughout this design management master's course you’ll develop essential workplace skills and put your learning into practice. You’ll take part in mini projects, including auditing the user experience of digital services and looking at brand design for a range of organisations. In a sophisticated group marketing simulation workshop you’ll invent a company, design and sell a product, then use customer and market feedback to review and develop this.

You’ll be taught by a variety of design management specialists who’ll involve you in their research to enhance your learning. They’ll help you develop original ideas to negotiate and co-create with designers, marketers, financiers, lawyers, and clients.

Studying as a design management postgraduate with us will give you access to strong links with a range of industries. External practitioners regularly give lectures and run workshops, where you can see how design management theory applies to real life business scenarios and get a chance to network.

This degree covers:

• Marketing and branding
• Service, process, and product design
• Customer experience design
• Project and risk management

Explore how to curate a compelling and relevant art exhibition within groups and independently. From curating contemporary performance to handling historic art objects, you'll learn how to apply practical skills to a variety of different art mediums and disciplines.

Our Contemporary Curating course gives you the theoretical, research and practical skills to work as a curator anywhere in the world. You’ll get professional experience managing projects in the Winchester Gallery, with unique access to the University’s vast network of practising artists, academics and researchers who will inform and inspire your curatorial practice.

By studying this MA in curating you’ll have the opportunity to:

• Curate compelling art exhibitions based on research across disciplines and discourses
• Develop critical thinking to collate and curate artworks which challenge the audience
• Understand the current concerns and limitations of contemporary curation and culture
• Get hands-on experience from practical workshops in object-handling and setting up exhibitions using lighting and tools
• Attend visits to local and London-based art exhibitions where you’ll question and debate different curatorial approaches

Your learning will take place in the picturesque city of Winchester, where you'll join a thriving artist community with direct access to practising artists from Winchester School of Art.

The Winchester Gallery is based at Winchester School of Art and is open to the public. Your involvement in the gallery will give you real professional experience in understanding the practical and logistical requirements of curating.

You’ll consider your exhibition’s profile, including the theme, whether the location is private, or public, and how your audience interacts with the artwork. Your decisions as a curator will be research-led, referring to theoretical art concepts and critically reflecting on your own practice throughout.

We look at digital curation, the way artwork is stored, collected and archived online, considering benefits and limitations of digital curation in contemporary art

MA Communication Design is the study of information and interface design. This course is research driven and combines creativity, critical analysis of contemporary media, with knowledge of the latest methodologies and tools.

A focus on digital media practice and theory sets this course apart from traditional communication design courses, preparing you for an exciting career in a range of design roles. We’ll encourage you to explore systems for the making and communication of text and image while you redefine your own practice through various media formats of experimental publishing and interaction design.

This course is for recent graduates or those with professional experience who wish to extend their creative skills and design knowledge into hybrid publishing, user experience design, and design research.

The core curriculum is practice based, supported by workshops, lectures and both individual and group tutorials. In our modern, well-equipped studios you’ll learn how to develop effective concepts and prototypes for current and emergent platforms, informed by graphic design and user experience design principles.

Throughout this master’s you’ll have opportunities to:

• Build your own tools through creative coding and modular design experimentation  
• Take field trips to London and across Europe
• Use excellent facilities like the Interaction and Prototyping Laboratory, 3D printing and laser cutting as well as traditional design and print equipment  
• Learn from academics with industry experience in graphic design, interaction design and design for experimental media
• Create a portfolio of high-quality design work

Towards the end of the course you'll carry out a practice-led research project, which is an exciting opportunity for you to engage with key debates shaping the communication design field.