March 2025
Starting with Basic Shapes
Most beginners think they need to model everything perfectly. But blocking out environments with simple geometry first? That's where good level design actually starts.
Learn the processGame Development Insights
Stories from the studio floor and what we're learning along the way
February 2025
Lighting Changes Everything
Same environment, different mood entirely. Understanding how light direction and color temperature affect player perception makes the difference between flat and immersive.
See our approach
January 2025
Materials That Tell Stories
A worn stone wall says something different than pristine marble. Learning to build material libraries that support narrative through texture and weathering takes time but pays off.
Explore modules
Student Perspective
Viktor's Journey
Environment Design Student, Spring 2024 Cohort
"I thought I'd be building complete game worlds after three months. Reality was different — and better. The focus on fundamentals meant I actually understood why things worked."
Viktor came in wanting to recreate environments from his favorite games immediately. Instead, he spent weeks on composition basics and spatial flow. Frustrating at first. But when he finally built his first complete scene, the difference was obvious. His work had intent behind every placement decision.
Now he's working on modular asset creation for an indie studio. The job came six months after he finished the program — not immediately, but when he had a portfolio that showed actual understanding rather than tutorial-following.
Upcoming Learning Opportunities
Programs starting in autumn 2025 and early 2026. Real schedules with reasonable expectations.
September 2025
Environment Fundamentals
Twelve weeks covering composition, spatial flow, and basic 3D modeling. Designed for people who've never opened Blender or Unreal Engine before. Evening sessions twice weekly, plus weekend workshops.
Beginner Level 12 Weeks Evening Classes
November 2025
Advanced Lighting Workshop
Four-week intensive focused entirely on lighting for games. Real-time vs. baked lighting, color theory application, performance optimization. You'll need basic Unreal Engine knowledge before starting.
Intermediate 4 Weeks Intensive Format
February 2026
Portfolio Development Course
Eight weeks building three complete environment pieces. Feedback from working environment artists, focus on presentation and storytelling through your work. This isn't about quantity — it's about showing what you actually understand.
Advanced 8 Weeks Portfolio Focus
What We're Learning
Observations from teaching environment design and talking with studios about what they actually need from new artists.
Industry Reality
Studios Want Problem-Solvers
The feedback we hear most often isn't about technical skill levels. It's about whether someone can work through obstacles independently. Can they debug their own lighting issues? Do they understand why their materials aren't rendering correctly? The technical skills matter, but resourcefulness matters more.
That's why our programs focus on understanding fundamentals deeply rather than following step-by-step tutorials. When you actually understand why something works, you can figure out solutions when things break — which they will.
Our Teaching Approach