3D Environments &
Art Direction
A 10-week live remote programme teaching you to think like an art director - thumbnailing, concepting and crafting cinematic game environments that stand out in any portfolio.
Think Like an Art Director
This programme teaches you to see environments the way a game art director does - through composition, mood, colour and narrative. You'll develop the skills to thumbnail, concept and craft cinematic scenes that look intentional and portfolio-ready.
Working with an industry mentor across 10 weeks, you'll cover everything from reference gathering and modular kit design through to lighting, post-processing and portfolio presentation - with weekly live sessions and 1-2-1 support throughout.
Entry Requirements
This course is designed for graduates and those currently applying to their first role in the industry. You should have a working knowledge of:
- Unreal Engine 5
- A 3D modelling package (Blender covered extensively)
- Substance Painter or equivalent
- Krita, Photoshop or equivalent for 2D work
Not sure if you qualify? Apply anyway - we'll review your work on your fit call and let you know.
Everything You Need
Industry mentor
Najim Filali Saksak - Principal Environment Artist at Beyion.
Weekly live sessions
Group sessions each week covering new topics, with time for questions, critique and peer feedback.
1-2-1 support
Personal feedback calls tailored to your work and brief, on top of the weekly group sessions.
Long-term support
Career support, CV reviews, mock interviews and portfolio crits continue until you land your first role.
Course Structure
Each week builds on the last - from seeing like a director to presenting your finished portfolio piece.
Seeing Like a Director
Reference & Ideation
Gathering cinematic references using Shotdeck, ArtStation and Pinterest. Analysing composition, colour, mood and lighting to develop your directorial eye.
What Your Scene Says
Visual Language & Worldbuilding Foundations
Shape language, colour psychology and environmental storytelling. How props, architecture and cultural details communicate narrative before a word is spoken.
Build Smart, Not Hard
Modular Kit Design, Asset Planning & Modelling
Modular environment design, kit planning for walls, floors, trims and props. Naming conventions, pivot points, snapping, and practical modelling and sculpting workflow.
Surfaces Tell Stories
Materials & Texture Art Direction
Material storytelling through wear and erosion patterns. PBR workflow basics, Quixel Bridge/Megascans, and Substance Painter usage for convincing surfaces.
Light Is the Invisible Character
Lighting as Emotional Language
Key, fill and rim lighting. Colour temperature, contrast ratios, natural vs. artificial lighting. UE5 Lumen and Ray Tracing basics for cinematic results.
Framing the Feeling
Composition & Camera Language in UE5
Rule of thirds, leading lines, depth layers, camera height and FOV psychology. Cinematic vs. gameplay camera approaches for portfolio shots.
Story Is in the Details
Detailing, Storytelling Props & Mock Interviews
Purposeful clutter, props as exposition, scale and placement. This week also includes mock interview sessions and CV review.
The Final Emotional Brushstroke
Post-Processing & Mood Polish
Colour grading (LUTs), bloom, vignette, depth of field and lens flares. Using post-FX to shape the emotional impact of your scene.
Make It Shine (Without Breaking)
Optimisation & Presentation Prep
Level optimisation, LODs, culling, instanced meshes and Nanite best practices. Balancing frame rate and fidelity for a professional final result.
Own Your Vision
Critique, Polish & Portfolio Presentation
Giving and receiving critique, articulating your art direction choices, and structuring your portfolio presentation to tell the story of your work.
Who You'll Learn From
Najim Filali Saksak
Principal Environment Artist - Beyion
Najim brings over 10 years of experience as both a Principal Environment Artist and Art Director. Currently at Beyion, he has shipped titles across AAA studios and brings the same rigour he applies to professional production into his teaching - sharing real workflows, honest feedback and industry-level expectations.
Selected Credits
What our students make
A few of the portfolio pieces from past cohorts. Each one started as a blank scene at week one.
Alumni Work - Before & After
A look at where our students started and where the course took them.
Junayd came to us straight out of university. We worked with him through our 6-week 3D art programme, then he came back for the full 10-week Environment Art course - pushing his work further each time.
Joshua came to us having already completed another art programme, with a clear stylised direction in mind. Over 10 weeks, we worked with him to sharpen his composition, lighting, and environment storytelling - taking his work from strong to portfolio-ready.
Lucas joined us shortly after finishing university, already with solid technical foundations. Over 6 weeks we focused on pushing his modelling, texturing, storytelling, and lighting - helping him build the kind of atmospheric work that stands out in a portfolio.
Common Questions
Apply Now
Fill in the form below and we'll be in touch to book your fit call.
3D Environments & Art Direction
10 weeks - Live remote
£699total
£100 deposit + £599 remaining tuition fee
£100 deposit locks in your place on the cohort. Non-refundable.
£599 remaining tuition fee payable any time up until your first lesson.