Promotion: Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar has announced an undergraduate course in game design, combining technological and media teaching with creative practices.

The Bachelor of Fine Arts programme in Kinetic Imaging, which Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar (VCUarts Qatar) launched in August, was designed to appeal to students seeking art and design education incorporating emerging technologies.

Based in Doha, the course gives students insight into game design, creative coding, motion graphics, sound design, interaction design, 3D modelling and animation.

It includes a number of elective classes to encourage interdisciplinary learning and give students the opportunity to develop their individual interests.

The BFA in Kinetic Imaging prepares students for jobs in game design, motion graphics, app design and sound design, as well as artistic careers in the fields of coding, robotics, artificial intelligence, and virtual and augmented reality.

Course chair Levi Hammet explained that jobs in these technology fields increasingly require employees with creative training.

“The jobs of the future will require more than just technical skills and training,” Hammet said.

“Industries such as game design, app design, and the many cultural production sectors will require highly creative individuals who can balance the technical aspects of the disciplines with the design and creative thinking strategies that are key to driving innovation,” he continued

“This new programme at VCUarts Qatar will train the next generation of innovative creatives, who will be prepared to work in the emerging and high-growth industries that will be at the centre of the creative economies of the future.”

As part of the course, students are introduced to new and unconventional tools such as robotics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, computation, large data sets and innovative data capture technology, intending to engage them with the latest industry knowledge.

They are encouraged to apply this knowledge to creative and experimental practices to explore new applications across different fields.

The newly launched degree at VCUarts Qatar gains support from the established Kinetic Imaging department at the VCUarts campus in Richmond, Virginia, US.

To enrol in the BFA in Kinetic Imaging, applicants should have completed a one-year art foundation programme, showcasing creative skills and critical design thinking.

The photography is courtesy of VCUarts Qatar.

Partnership content

This article was written by Dezeen for VCUarts Qatar as part of a partnership. Find out more about Dezeen partnership content here.