Level Designer Specialization
Advanced online game design course focusing on level design led by industry experts
Become a level designer for video games
Take your skills as a game designer to the next level with our advanced specialization course in level design. Gain speed and confidence in a game engine to create immersive game levels that you can add to your portfolio.
Why study game design with us:
- We are an Unreal Academic Partner and Authorized Training Center
- Receive mentorship from game design professionals
- Learn to use industry-standard tools and techniques
With guidance from experts, you'll build on your foundational game design skills to build engaging and appealing game levels that balance aesthetics, gameplay, and functionality.

Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.
Whether straight out of high school, changing careers, or upgrading skills, our career-focused game design courses help you build practical job skills that are required in the industry.
Same Course. Same Mentors. Two Ways to Train.
1:1 Career Mentorship
Train with a working professional focused entirely on you, reviewing your work every week the way a supervisor reviews a junior artist. Immediate, specific, tailored to exactly where you are. You set the pace, push past the set curriculum where you need to, and start the month you are ready.
WHO IS THIS FOR
- Working professionals looking to upskill or pivot without leaving their job
- Experienced artists who need targeted training in a specific tool or technique
- Students who benefit from personalised instruction due to additional learning needs
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Private 1-hour weekly sessions with a dedicated mentor |
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Flexible scheduling and pacing that fits around your life |
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Personalised feedback on your portfolio and career direction |
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Start any month, no waiting for a cohort |
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No prerequisites, assessments, or fixed cohort schedule |
Group Class
Learn in a small group led by a working professional, with everyone's work reviewed every week the way a studio team operates. You grow alongside people chasing the same goals, sharpening your eye on their work as well as your own, and keep the momentum that comes from not working alone.
WHO IS THIS FOR
- Students who learn better in collaborative, social environments
- Career changers who want structure and accountability while they transition
- Recent school leavers looking for an alternative to a traditional university degree
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Weekly 3-hour live classes with a small cohort of peers |
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Collaborative group projects that simulate studio team workflows |
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Structured curriculum with assessments and deadlines that keep you on track |
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Watch your work reviewed next to your peers', and learn from their feedback |
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Credits transfer directly toward a CGSI degree |
Course Curriculum
Level Design Pre-Production
Learn how to build immersive and realistic landscapes that enhance the overall gameplay experience, including the entire process of creating terrains, from initial concept and planning to sculpting, texturing, and optimizing. You will learn to design natural environments that fit various biomes, use heightmaps and procedural generation tools, and integrate terrains seamlessly with gameplay mechanics. By the end, you'll be equipped with the skills needed to create landscapes that are both visually compelling and functional within the game world.
- Gain a deep understanding of biome types and effective design strategies
- Develop technical skills in terrain creation and environmental effects
- Learn to optimize large-scale environments without sacrificing quality
- Enhance ability to tell stories through environmental design
- Idea Assembly
- Designing Levels
- Worldbuilding Levels
- Genre Differences
- Level Navigation
- Landscapes
- Architecture
- Habitats
- Nature Biomes
- Natural Interiors & Dungeons
- Structural Interiors
Level Design Production
This term takes you through the complete process of level creation, from gameplay mechanics to final polish. You’ll design interactive elements, hazards, and objectives to craft engaging player experiences. Learn 2D and 3D visualization techniques to enhance level aesthetics, then assemble and light your world for realism and functionality. Add animation, props, and atmospheric effects to bring your level to life. On completion, you’ll have a fully realized game environment.
- Craft levels with traversal mechanics, interactive objects, puzzles, and hazards that enhance player experience
- Develop 2D and 3D art skills, assemble high-quality assets
- How to add movement, physics-based interactions, and environmental animations
- Refine levels with decoration, sound, and finishing touches
- Meshing Levels
- Environmental Storytelling
- Materials
- Lighting
- VFX
- Psychology and User Experience
- Cinematics
- Audio in Levels
- Integrating Gameplay Systems
- PCG and Design Tools
- Level Testing and Iteration
- Level Polish and Presentation
Game Design Capstone
This final term is dedicated to getting you job-ready! With your mentor’s guidance, you’ll polish your best work for your portfolio and learn how to develop your competitive edge, market yourself, and make the best possible impression in front of employers.
- How to polish your portfolio to impress employers
- Interview and negotiation strategies
- Effective networking and self-promotion
- Accessing the hidden job market
- Developing Project Ideas
- Writing Project Proposals
- Planning Creative Projects
- Making the Most of Professional Feedback
- Research, Development, and Testing
- Preparing and Delivering Progress Presentations
- Rescoping Projects
- Responding to Critical Feedback
- Acquiring Feedback from Creative Communities
- Preparing Online Portfolio Content
- Presenting Completed Projects
- Professional and Creative Reflection
Download the Course Guide
Your creative journey begins here! Download our comprehensive course guide and discover the exciting educational opportunities that await you.Learn Directly From Video Game Mentors
To be the best, it helps to learn from the best. All game design classes are taught by professional game and level designers with years of industry experience.

Casey Bradley
Casey is a multi-disciplined designer—he creates levels, designs gameplay systems, and leads design teams. He’s operated in the industry for over a decade and currently works at Traega Entertainment.
Known for America's Army franchise

Chris Kefalas
Chris Kefalas has spent 21 years designing games at studios including Striking Distance, Sumo Digital, Ubisoft, Sucker Punch, Codemasters, Rare, and Radiant Worlds. His credits include The Callisto Protocol, Watch Dogs: Legion, Far Cry 6, Hitman Season 2, Crackdown 3, Kinect Sports, and Operation Flashpoint. He mentors CGSI Game Design students through the design fundamentals that survive long production cycles and platform shifts.
Known for The Callisto Protocol

Eric Jensen
Eric is a Design Manager at PlayStation's Bend Studio. He is excited to share his journey and knowledge he has gained with others.
Known for Days Gone

Glenn Storm
Glenn Storm brings 26 years across game design and feature animation, with credits including Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Sonic the Hedgehog, The Iron Giant, and Sinbad through stints at Realtime Associates, DreamWorks Animation, Warner Bros Animation, USC's Institute for Creative Technologies, and the New York Film Academy. The Iron Giant alone earned an Annie Award and an LA Film Critics nod for Best Animated Feature. He mentors CGSI Game Design students with the rare cross-medium perspective that comes from shipping in both.
Known for Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Jason Barlow
Jason Barlow is Course Director for CGSI Game Design, drawing on 16 years across game design education and production. He shapes the program around the design thinking, prototyping, and shipping discipline that studios actually hire for.
Known for Game Design

Mathieu Bissonnette
Mathieu Bissonnette has spent 20 years designing games at Ubisoft, Eidos, Ninja Theory, and Cirque du Soleil, with credits including Senua's Saga: Hellblade II, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Stories: The Path of Destinies, and Season: A Letter to the Future. He mentors CGSI Game Design students through the rare combination of cinematic storytelling and live-experience design his career has shaped.
Known for Shadow of the Tomb Raider

Michael Cameron
While at award-winning game studio Blazing Griffin, Michael released titles like Murderous Pursuits, The Ship: Remasted, Distant Star: Revenant Fleet and Dino Tribes.
Known for Distant Star: Revenant Fleet

Pascal Luban
Known for Splinter Cell: Pandora Tomorrow

Philippe Baude
Philippe is a Lead Game Designer at Ubisoft. He specializes in 3Cs, Rational Systems Design, Meta-game/Economy Design, and Designer Mentorship. He’s worked on Far Cry, Watch Dogs, and Hyperscape.
Known for Watch Dogs

Ryan Laley
Ryan Laley is a notable figure in the game development community, known for his expertise in using Unreal Engine, a popular game development platform. He has gained recognition for his comprehensive tutorials and educational content, which he shares on various platforms such as YouTube and Twitch. Through his detailed and accessible tutorials, he has helped many aspiring game developers learn the intricacies of Unreal Engine, covering topics from basic concepts to advanced techniques. His approach is characterized by his clear and concise explanations, making complex topics more understandable for beginners and experienced developers alike. His contributions to the community extend beyond tutorials; he often engages with his audience through live streams, Q&A sessions, and community forums, providing personalized guidance and support. In addition to his educational content, he is actively involved in the game development industry, working on his own projects and collaborating with others. His hands-on experience and continuous engagement with the latest developments in Unreal Engine technology keep his content relevant and up-to-date. Overall, Ryan Laley is a respected and influential educator in the game development field, dedicated to empowering others through knowledge sharing and community engagement.
Known for Mimic

Tim Huntsman
Tim is in his fourth decade of designing and producing video games. He has a number of top-selling and award-winning titles to his name.
Known for Disney Infinity

Tom Oliver
Tom Oliver is Course Director for CGSI Game Design, with 13 years across game development and credits including Stuntfall. He shapes the program around the prototyping, iteration, and shipping discipline that turns design ideas into playable products.
Known for Stuntfall

Troy Dunniway
Troy is an award-winning game designer and executive with over 25 yrs of game development experience at major companies like Microsoft, Ubisoft, Insomniac, EA, Disney, and Samsung.
Known for Resistance: Fall of Man
Get The Education You Deserve
"Having someone that is part of the industry personalizing your training, and providing honest feedback backed up by years of experience is something very valuable you won't get in other Game Programming Courses.
My mentor assisted me in realizing a game prototype I had in mind for quite a long time, and that was amazing. I highly recommend anyone interested in the course to spend that extra money and go for the 1-to-1 formula, because that's where you'll see the biggest difference with other online resources."
Luca Piedrelli | Game Development
"CG Spectrum has exceeded my expectations in terms of quality of learning, support, and continued guidance from mentors and peers.
Also, the community at CG Spectrum is amazing! People are passionate about what they study and do. It's a great study and work environment."
Alexios V | Game Development
"Having a mentor definitely helped! It was awesome to have someone I could reach out to when I was stuck.
Getting the weekly feedback also helped in terms of what to improve and what to focus on next. In Term 3, we learned Unreal Engine; I implemented the knowledge I gained in that course to my Advanced 3D Modeling Course to create some additional renders that demonstrated my understanding of using and integrating game-ready assets into an actual game engine.
Benjamin O | Game Art & Animation
"My experience at CG Spectrum was second to none, and taught me so much more than I initially anticipated.
My mentor took me from being barely computer literate to an animator working at a studio in only a year and a half. The information and level of teaching at CG Spectrum will absolutely not be found anywhere else."
Kieran L | Game Art & Animation
"CG Spectrum prepares you to work as a professional game designer from day one.
The most impressive quality CG Spectrum offers is a course that makes study as if you were on your first job. If you are willing to put the energy into studying and do the assignments as if you were on the job, and if you are ready to hear your mentor's suggestions and challenge yourself to push your limits, you will get an experience very similar to the workplace. "
Loris C | Game Development
"I chose CG Spectrum because I wanted to take my learning to the next level & ensure I was working on the most efficient way to get into the industry.
Chris Swain was the guiding force that kept me headed in the right direction with his sage advice. He was also a calming presence that kept me relaxed during what was often an overwhelming experience.
Thank you Chris for being a friend, a motivator, and a teammate during my time at CG Spectrum and beyond."
Luke Williford | Game Development
"CG Spectrum is the perfect place to gain focus, understanding, an encouragement for your journey.
If you are looking for a supportive place to gain or hone skills in game design or other verticals, CGS is a fantastic and worthy place to dive in."
Shaul H | Game Design
"I highly recommend signing up with CG Spectrum!
I was looking for a final push to bump my skills and finally start applying for jobs as an artist. Shortly after finishing my Advanced 3D Modeling Course I landed my first job as Junior Environment Artist, which was my dream!"
Kasia P | 3D Modeling
"A cornerstone for your career.
I can honestly say that even by having experience in the field, I've gained a mind-blowing volume of understanding, even when considering the most basic of aspects behind Game Design and Development! Concepts I thought I knew now look so different in a new light. Lessons are challenging, and assignments and classes engaging. A must for any professional looking to up their game a notch or 73."
Fritz M | Game Development
"CG Spectrum's training got me hired in the industry.
CG Spectrum helped me build the skills and connections that directly resulted in getting hired as a Gameplay Programmer at New World Interactive."
Jeff G | Game Development
Join Our Alumni at World Class Studios
Our mission is to train highly skilled graduates ensuring they are prepared for a successful career. Take the first step towards joining our alumni at world-class studios creating work that inspires.












Questions? We Have Answers
This course requires the successful completion of the Game Design Foundations Career Track or a portfolio submission demonstrating professional experience and an accompanying reel/resume.
Age Minimum
The general minimum age to be able to enroll in our industry certificate courses is 16. We require parent or guardian consent during the enrollment process for applicants under 18.
Students under 16 will require a further assessment before they can officially enroll. This may include an interview with a course advisor and the creation of a study plan to ensure they have considered how they will manage a college-level workload.
English Proficiency
We expect our students to have a good understanding of written and spoken English. There’s no specific ’level'; however, you must be able to understand video tutorials in English (no subtitles) and speak with your mentor in English during your live Q&A session.
Computer Literacy
To be successful in this program, you will need basic computer skills and a computer that meets the minimum specifications (see next question).
Software:
This course requires you to purchase/download the following software:
- Unreal Engine (free)
Optional additional software:
- Photoshop (Krita is a free alternative)
- Blender (free), Maya, or 3ds Max
Hardware:
We recommend a minimum of 32GB RAM. See below for more info on hardware specifications.
- Unreal Engine
- Adobe Photoshop (optional)
Please note: as the software we use is regularly updated, please check the specs against the latest available version at the time of enroling.
On completion of the Game Design Career Track (Foundations of Game Design + Level Designer Specialization), you will have greater confidence in your abilities and a portfolio to show employers.
You will also have personalized career services with our career development team, which can help when applying for junior game design jobs such as:
Discover more about these game development jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:
Ready to take the next step toward your future? Head to our application page to get started. Whether you're looking to learn something new, build on your existing skillset, or nurture your creative side, begin your application today to start your creative journey with us!
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