2D Environment Design Track

Build your world-design expertise from the ground up with these courses for environment-focused entertainment design roles

Courses start on April 15th, 2023

TRACKS OVERVIEW

Learn the roles of an Environment Designer

There are few roles quite as liberating as that of the environment designer. This is a discipline where artists have the freedom to conjure up their own visions for entire worlds. Drawing on an understanding and appreciation of nature, architecture, illustration, photography, cinema, and more, environment designers weave together the images that breathe life into a story and set the visual tone for all subsequent art development. In the world of film, visual development artists are tasked with mapping out the locations that–regardless of whether they’re ultimately built physically or digitally–will work hand-in-hand with performance and script to draw the audience in, enhance the drama, and incite specific emotional responses as each scene requires. Additionally, video game environment design involves the unique opportunities and challenges afforded by an interactive medium–one where the player’s actions, perspectives, and gameplay journey must all find a home within the artist’s worldview. Our Environment Design Track has been designed to give artists the skills and know-how necessary to tackle this discipline in any medium, featuring courses that cover all key aspects of natural and solid-surface environment design, matte painting, and sketching narrative illustration, and composition.

As you complete each course you will receive a certificate of completion for that course. In order to qualify for a course certificate of completion, students must complete at least 80% of the class assignment during the duration of the course.

Should you have any questions regarding these courses please contact [email protected]. Additionally, you only pay for the course(s) you take in a given term.

Learn the roles of an Environment Designer
COURSES

Get a better sense
of our courses.

WINTER
January 21st- April
14th 2023
SPRING
April 15th - July
7th 2023
SUMMER
July 8th - September
30th 2023
FALL
September 30th - December
22nd, 2023

As you complete each course you will receive a certificate of completion for that course. In order to qualify for an in course certificate of completion, students must complete at least 80% of the class assignment during the duration of the course.  

Need Options? Let’s talk pricing & schedule.

2023 | Spring Registration Now Open!

MEET THE INSTRUCTORS

Learn from award-winning artists who've worked at top studios around the world

  • Stuart Ayre

    I’ve been taught by many art teachers, and I can say with sincerity that Dzu is a good teacher. Here are three things I liked about Dzu as a teacher: 1) he treats each student in the same manner—in other words, no matter what level you are at, he cares for the student and also doesn’t seem to favour particular students. 2) His advice is concise and practical. 3) He can walk the walk—in other words he can demonstrate how to create great art.

  • Tim Hoh

    One of the best I have ever had. Very knowledgeable and knows how to stimulate thought and creativity in students.

  • James Pickard

    Great instructor, really challenged me to do more and explore my designs more.

  • Allan Boulogne

    Dzu is an awesome guy and a great instructor. He gave some really good insight into how the industry works and how he got his foot in the door. I really wish I had gotten more than 8 weeks to be in his class. Really happy I was able to have Dzu as an instructor—I could talk to him all day.

  • Laurence Carew

    I’d like to really thank Dzu, I think he has been a great help and appreciate his feedback. A great artist I hope to follow in the footsteps of one day!

  • Scott Wood

    I just wanted to say that I really appreciated all the time and help Dzu gave us. I learned quite a bit from him.

  • Lawrence Muller

    Dzu Ngyuen is a straight forward, down-to-earth guy. He did his best at answering questions and gave substantial answers to said questions. He is a very good instructor!

  • Sheryl Soong

    I was pretty paralyzed before taking this class. But I learned a lot and now I feel way more comfortable with approaching environments, even with things outside my visual library.

  • Bavanya Chahat

    One of the best instructor for perspective and his doubt clearing sessions are really great and so much effective.

  • Olesya Kolpakova

    Lane is amazing teacher and he made very deep and long feedbacks.

  • Andreas Jeppesen

    My instructor Lane Brown did an amazing job with the most thorough critique, I have ever seen.

  • Feras A

    I’m happy that Lane was my instructor for this course. I learnt a lot from his constructive feedback.

  • Jacqueline Pichardo

    Kalen excels in both technical expertise and teaching acumen. He’s very much qualified in both fields!

  • Genevieve Franco

    Was really friendly and encouraging; had great suggestions for help in directions that need more work.

  • Daniel Mallada

    Kalen is one of the best instructors I’ve had in my whole life. He is always encouraging people to work hard and explore new stuff. His classes are very well conducted and he has great humor. Definitely a very great experience.

  • Gary Reddin

    Very nice person always showed an interest and maintained high degree of professionalism.

  • Sterling

    Gave me direction and got me to practice, the critiques also helped me become more aware of my mistakes

  • Benaiah

    Super great! His teaching style and critiques were always helpful.

  • Dominique Paynter

    Very friendly and encouraging, Tyler provided really detailed feedback on most of my assignments and I really appreciated that. He also has a great sense of humor!

  • William Ang

    Awesome instructor, I like how he shows enthusiasm in teaching and the content of the lecture is awesome.

  • Laurent Sewell

    Tyler was an awesome teacher and very involved with the learning of his students. He left great feedback and inspired the class as a whole with the techniques he shared and his really great demonstrations. His lectures were well prepared and his Q&A sessions were very entertaining, insightful, and also very well prepared. Not only did Tyler do a great job with his art and concepts, he was an exemplary teacher due to his attention to students and preparedness in lectures.

  • Arthur Hargrave

    Very clear and very informative. A lot of information to study from.

  • Sarah Lewski

    He’s a great instructor and the class was really great. I hope I can keep improving from his feedback.

  • Javier Lopez

    Tyler is a great and engaging instructor. His passion for the subject and teaching really comes through.

  • Xuan-Xabier Huynh

    Tyler showed genuine interest in the student’s work during the feedback and Q&As: he always goes the extra mile to help us with long and detailed critiques, making sure to address all of our points. The lectures were very informative and presented the class materials well

  • Aromie Kim

    Patient and considerate, Tyler did an amazing job at letting me realize my mistakes and using them as steps to better understanding. His feedback made me want to improve and I was inspired to redo my past assignments while doing the one that would be due. All in all, a fantastic instructor whose lessons I’ll remember!

  • Shaun Russel

    I think Tyler is an amazing instructor. He often does extra work to help students understand the course objectives. For example, He provides the opportunity for additional feedback to our assignments in the WIP forum and even has taken the time to create additional feedback videos for work submitted in this forum.

  • Joshua Moya

    Tyler did a fantastic job breaking down the elements of design very clearly.

  • Elvira Mikhralieva

    Tyler is one of the best instructors I have ever studied with. He was super encouraging and very helpful. He answered every single question we had and provided wonderful feedbacks for our assignments that helped with getting better not just at fundamentals of design, but also at drawing, painting, and being a professional in general. If I was rating based on the scale from 1 to 10, I would give Tyler an 11.

  • Barbbara Pozzi

    He is a beautiful person and his work is great. He helped me so much!