Assessment Component 1:

Project artefact (80%)

Students will be given an industry-based scenario brief to create a piece of environment art using modularity based on real world and concept art references.

They will be required to break down reference material, apply planning paintovers, develop a blockout, and then enter production to complete the project artefact.

Students will submit the project artefact as a selection of portfolio shots relating to final beauty renders, construction images, and material breakdowns in response to the industry-based scenario brief.

(Learning Outcome 1,2,3)

Assessment Component 2:

Development logbook and reflection (20%)

Students will communicate the creative processes used and critically reflect on the project artefact in the form of a logbook or VLE. a digital academy forum thread and will also critically reflect via a final forum post on their assessment.

(Learning Outcome 4).

This module will prepare students for the creation of modular environment art within Unreal Engine. Students will employ workflows of modularity, the grid, trimsheets, and shader creation to form a piece of environment art based on real world and concept art references.

Students will research and consider the following skills / areas:

Established industry best practices

Modelling to the grid

Tiling materials and trimsheets

Modularity

Shader development in Unreal Engine

Face weighted normals

Lighting and presentation in Unreal Engine

This module will prepare you for the creation of an environment art project using modularity. You will employ workflows of modularity, the grid, trimsheets, shader creation, and lighting to form a piece of environment art based on a real world and concept art references.

The module will be delivered through weekly lectures and workshop sessions.

Freeman, M (2017), The Photographer’s Eye: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photos: Composition and Design for Better Digital Photographs

Visai, G. (2024) Cinematic Photoreal Environments in Unreal Engine 5: Create Captivating Worlds and Unleash the Power of Cinematic Tools Without Coding. 1st edn. Birmingham: Packt Publishing, Limited.

Yosifov, I. (2022) Unreal engine 5. Environment design. [First edition]. Place of publication not identified: Packt Publishing.

Yosifov, I. (2022) Unreal Engine 5¿: sci-fi environment design. [First edition]. Place of publication not identified: Packt Publishing.

Harris, D, (2022), Making Videogames: The Art of Creating Digital Worlds Hardcover

Gurney, J, (2010), Color and Light: A Guide for the Realist Painter (Volume 2) (James Gurney Art)

Jones, P, (2022), Game Artist: The Ultimate Career Guide

Unreal Engine

Autodesk 3D Modelling Programs

ZBrush

Houdini

Marvellous Designer

Substance Suite

Video Editing Software

Wacom Tablets

Digital Academy Forum

Digital Academy Upload System

1. Demonstrate knowledge of 3D environment creation in relation to industry-related design principles and based upon informed decision making.

2. Investigate and apply appropriate industry-related real-time 3D game environment creation techniques.

3. Identify key visual features in the reference and investigate solutions for recreating them in unreal engine.a game engine.

4. Communicate and critically review the development of the game environment evaluating the effectiveness of your chosen techniques in the pipeline.