MDes Games Design

This module develops essential design leadership and management capabilities through an integrated blend of theoretical understanding and practical application. You will explore the principles of both design management and design leadership while applying these skills by taking on a leadership or specialist role within live project contexts.

The module emphasises the transition from designer-as-maker to designer-as-leader, equipping you with both the pragmatic management skills and strategic leadership capabilities required to enhance and realise design projects. You will learn how to effectively manage and lead design projects, from the practical aspects of organising design meetings and standups, setting and managing deadlines, and coordinating team activities, through to developing strategic vision, motivating creative teams, and understanding the business and people management dimensions of design practice.

In this module you’ll develop an understanding of your individual creative and technical skills in relation to the games industry and use this to develop your practical game design and development expertise. You'll examine the diverse roles, specialisations, and career pathways available, while critically assessing your own capabilities, experiences, and aspirations. By better understanding your skills, your career ambitions, and industry demands, you’ll map out a ‘professional pathway’ in games and devise an individual practical project that helps you achieve those ambitions. This module therefore allows you to pursue an individualised career path in the global games industry based on your own ambitions, interests, and skills.

You will gain in-depth understanding of industry roles and expectations, creation an advanced, discipline-specific project, and demonstrate critical approaches and reflective practices to game design and development. You will be encouraged to grow beyond industry-standard tools, processes, and methodologies by questioning established practices and working at the limits of knowledge. In doing so you will build confidence and aptitude needed to pursue your chosen sustainable pathway and be able to respond to emerging challenges and technology, such as AI, within your chosen discipline.

In this module, you'll experience the dynamics and demands of professional game development by working in a simulated studio environment or through direct industry engagement. You’ll apply your specialist practical skills in a collaborative, client-focused context that mirrors industry practice. You may contribute to a simulated studio project, undertake a placement or work experience opportunity, or bring an existing industry collaboration into the module framework.

Through this authentic engagement with professional practice, you'll develop crucial teamwork and communication skills while advancing your technical expertise. You'll navigate complex project requirements, studio operational requirements such as security game development data, respond to stakeholder feedback, and work effectively with specialists from different disciplinary backgrounds.

By the end of the module, you'll have strengthened your portfolio with industry-relevant work, gained valuable experience of professional development processes, and explored adaptability, problem-solving, and professional responsibility - key attributes sought by industry employers.

In this module, you'll develop advanced strategic capabilities by considering design futures methodologies, innovation frameworks, and emerging technologies that are shaping the creative industries. Running alongside your Major Project, this module provides the theoretical depth and strategic perspective essential for design leadership roles, enabling you to position your practice within broader industry contexts and future trajectories.

You'll explore contemporary approaches to strategic foresight, examining how design leaders navigate uncertainty, drive innovation, and respond to emerging challenges including artificial intelligence, sustainability imperatives, and shifting cultural contexts. Through engagement with futures thinking methodologies, innovation models, and strategic frameworks, you'll develop the analytical capabilities to critically evaluate design trends, anticipate industry developments, and make informed strategic decisions.

This module prepares you for senior creative roles where vision, strategic foresight, and the ability to navigate complexity are essential for success, while also providing appropriate preparation for those considering doctoral study in design research.

This module empowers you to develop a major project that reflects your unique skills, ambitions, and career goals. Whether it's a creative, written, practice-based or practice-led project, you'll tackle real-world issues and produce professional-quality work. With the freedom to work individually or collaboratively, and across disciplines, you will apply your learning on the course to a substantive project of your choice. Supported by expert guidance, this is your opportunity to showcase your talent and creativity.

Industry-focused and practice-led, these interdisciplinary modules invite you to work collaboratively, applying your advanced degree knowledge and skills to creatively tackle complex challenges that face our society today, to innovate, harness technology and become active change-makers in the workplace and beyond.

You will choose one of these modules. Click here to find out more and explore the full selection available.