Concept Art Program

The Concept Art Degree provides aspiring artists with the skills, techniques, and industry knowledge needed to excel in the competitive world of entertainment design. This comprehensive program covers foundational principles through to advanced techniques, focusing on character, environment, and prop design. Students learn from experienced industry mentors while working on real-world projects that simulate professional workflows. Graduates leave with a polished, job-ready portfolio, expert guidance, and the confidence to pursue careers in film, games, animation, and beyond.

Program Highlights

Learn from professional concept artists with real-world studio experience.
Master advanced techniques in character, environment, and prop design.
Build a job-ready portfolio that meets industry standards.
Work on real-world projects to prepare for a creative career.

Take the first step toward your dream career in the entertainment industry. Enroll in CG Spectrum’s Concept Art Degree and gain the skills, portfolio, and confidence to succeed as a professional concept artist.

Get Started

Our Difference

Master Your Skills. Master Your Future.

Our mission is to ensure graduates are the best trained and best prepared for a successful career in their chosen field.

Industry Mentors Learn from the best! Our instructors are seasoned industry pros and bring real-world knowledge to the classroom, ensuring you're equipped with the skills that studios demand.

Outcomes Our goal is to make you job-ready. You'll graduate with technical skills and a deep understanding of the animation industry, making you a valuable asset to any studio.

Community Join an active community and network with peers, mentors, and industry professionals. Our strong industry connections can help you access job opportunities post-graduation.

Course Information

Everything You Need To Know

Quick Overview

Course Structure

What You'll Learn

Tuition & Payment

Our film and game degrees and diplomas seamlessly blend academic excellence with practical industry methodologies to help students pave a steadfast pathway to a successful creative career.

Qualification Diploma (AQF 5)
Bachelor's Degree (AQF 7)

No. of Trimesters Diploma - 2 trimesters
Bachelor - 6 trimesters

Program Length

Diploma - 6 months
Bachelor - 2 years
Part-time study available

Delivery Mode Online live classes
Custom video lectures
Personalised mentor feedback

Course Fees Diploma - $16, 664 USD
Bachelor - $49, 992 USD
Payment options available

Start Dates

January 28, 2025 May 19, 2025 September 8, 2025

Concept Art Major

Designed and taught by experts to prepare you for the creative industries

The Bachelor of Digital Art majoring in concept art covers advanced creature, character, props, and environment design using both 2D and 3D techniques. You will also acquire essential interpersonal skills and both practical and conceptual industry knowledge.

Learn matte painting, photo-bashing, and paint-over techniques as well as how to render and light your work for a more polished finish.
Work with client briefs to ensure you're prepared for roles in the industry.
Discover industry-standard practices, procedures, and workflows.
Develop valuable interpersonal skills such as communication, problem-solving, and leadership.
Dedicated time to building your professional portfolio and getting job-ready.

The below course outline reflects a full-time course load, which comprises three subjects per trimester and three trimesters per year over a two-year duration. Part-time study options are also available.

Trimester 01

Developing Visual Concepts: Props and Characters
Film and Games Principles, Concepts and Innovations: Learning from History
Industry Overview: Pipeline and Production Processes

Trimester 02

Rendering Techniques & Character Drawing
Art and Design Concepts and Principles
Communicate! Mode, Purpose and Context

Trimester 03

Layout, Level Design and Composition
Concepts and Principles of Story and Visual Narrative
Identifying and Solving Problems

Trimester 04

Characters, Creatures, and Enhanced Workflows
Concepts and Principles of Lighting and Cinematography
Managing Projects and Creative Assets

Trimester 05

3D Concept Art Workflows
Leading with Integrity
Establishing and Sustaining Your Business

Trimester 06

Concept Art Capstone Portfolio
Stepping Into Industry: Becoming a Proactive Practitioner
Marketing Yourself and Your Work

This course prepares aspiring artists for successful careers in the entertainment industry. Learn to create stunning characters, environments, and props while mastering industry tools and workflows. Alongside technical training, gain vital soft skills like self-promotion, marketing, and communication to navigate the business side of your career. Graduate with a job-ready portfolio and the confidence to thrive in film, games, or publishing.

Key learning outcomes include:

Fundamentals of Design: Learn the core principles of composition, color theory, and perspective.
Character Design: Master techniques to create unique, engaging characters with personality and style.
Environment and Prop Design: Develop immersive worlds and detailed props that tell a visual story.
Digital Painting: Gain expertise in industry-standard tools and workflows to create polished, professional artwork.
Visual Storytelling: Learn to convey narratives through compelling visual elements.
Portfolio Development: Build a job-ready portfolio that showcases your best work and demonstrates your expertise.
Industry Insights: Understand the concept art pipeline and gain knowledge about studio workflows and expectations.

The program also includes career preparation through mentorship, networking opportunities, and job readiness workshops.

Get More Info

CG Spectrum’s courses are eligible for FEE-HELP, making it easier for aspiring creatives to access industry-leading training without upfront tuition costs. This Australian government loan program allows students to study now and pay later, helping them focus on developing job-ready skills. By removing financial barriers, FEE-HELP opens doors to world-class mentorship and career opportunities in film, gaming, and virtual production.

Brandon Reimchen

Brandon brings almost 20 years of experience as a video game concept artist with a long client list that includes EA, Activision, Capcom, Gree, and Disney Interactive.

Known for Resident Evil

Tyler James

Award-winning artist Tyler has worked with major clients like Cryptozoic and Blizzard on titles including Heroes of the Storm, Warhammer, Rift, Star Wars, Hex, Warcraft, and RWBY.

Known for Heroes of the Storm

Brian Huang

Brian is an illustrator and concept artist for video games with expertise in art direction, visual development, and concept art. His credits include World of Warcraft, Diabolo, and Starcraft.

Known for Diablo III

Fang Jing

Possessing a degree in concept art, Fang has produced many concept designs for projects including Minecraft Dungeons and Prison Architect. She currently works at Sony Playstation Studios.

Known for Concord

Humza Khan

Humza has worked for EA, Microsoft, Activision, LucasArts, Wargaming, Ubisoft, Fischer Price, Hasbro, Mattel. Credits include: Call of Duty, The Division 2, and the Sims.

Known for Tom Clancy's Splinter Cell

Bernie Kang

Now art director at Phoenix One, Bernie created creatures, characters, weapons and FX concepts for cinematic trailers for World of Warcraft and more while at Blizzard.

Known for World of Warcraft

Mike Thompson

Award-winning artist Mike has worked with clients such as Marvel, Hasbro, Dimension Films, HBO, Electronic Arts, Warner Bros, Mattel, DC Comics and Cartoon Network.

Known for Black Panther

Peter Ocampo

Peter is a freelance concept artist and has worked at DNEG as an in-house concept artist on diverse projects for film and TV. He has a particular passion for designing dark horror creatures.

Known for Annihilation

Jonathan Li

Jonathan currently works as a Concept Artist at Square Enix. He has a passion for narrative arts and loves creating worlds, characters, and the stories they can tell.

Known for Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers

Kinman Chan

Known for Rogue One: A Star Wars Story

Joel Carpenter

Known for Kitti Katz

Catalin Laie

Known for Brother in Arms 3

Dio Lee

Known for Halo Infinite

Student Testimonials

Get The Education Your Deserve

"I have nothing but great things to say of CG Spectrum!

I was a bit unsure when I signed up for the concept art course because I had no prior experience, but it changed my life. I had a great mentor, Brandon, who would always push me to do better and I learned valuable things in each class."

erika-horinkova-headshot
Erika H | Concept Art & Illustration

"Thank you CG Spectrum for giving me exactly what I needed to get started in this competitive industry.

I started the Concept Art & Illustration Course to create a stunning portfolio to apply for an internship. Without CG Spectrum I would never have been able to create a portfolio on a level that got me an amazing internship in Beijing."

Victoria-Pascual
Victoria P | Concept Art & Illustration

"Not just for people wanting to break into the industry, it's also for professionals already in it.

I am a concept artist at Paradox Interactive in Sweden, and I wanted to expand my illustration skills, so I decided to take the Digital Illustration Course. I am loving it!! If you're a professional and want to learn a new skill, I would say go ahead! Expand your set of skills!

Ahmed-Albastaki-BW
Ahmed A | Concept Art & Illustration

"I was approached by Skybound North, and after a couple of months freelancing, I was offered an in-house job on a new animation project.

I went to a game art school after I graduated, but it wasn’t really what I was looking for. At the same time, I had started CG Spectrum’s concept art course, which is where I met my mentor Brandon Reimchen. He was an amazing teacher!"

april-prime
April P | Concept Art & Illustration

"I have never experienced such an explosive evolution in my art since attending CG Spectrum.

I have learnt an incredible amount, not only from my amazing mentor Eric Wilkerson but from the entire CGS community. Being part of such an amazing program has opened my eyes to techniques that have streamlined my process and increased my confidence tenfold. I highly recommend the Advanced Illustration Course. Buckle up, and knuckle down – this could be the course that changes everything for you."

oliverh-rounded
Oliver H | Concept Art & Illustration

"Thanks to CG Spectrum, I am a lot closer to my dream of being a concept artist.

The curriculum structure is very reasonable, with both academic basic theories and useful suggestions for career paths. Thanks to my mentors, Brian Huang and Victoria Sarkissian, who not only taught me drawing skills and design techniques, but more importantly, they also gave me the confidence to continue working hard."

xinliu-rounded
Xin L | Concept Art & illustration

"I've never improved as an artist so quickly.

Great course! They teach you what you need to know and don't waste your time with stuff that just fills out a course. It was specific to what I needed to know. The classes are very personable and the mentors are industry professionals that never hesitate to put in the effort to help you out. I definitely would recommend this to people interested in getting into the industry."

tomgarden-rounded
Tom G | Concept Art & Illustration

FAQ's

Questions? We Have Answers

What are the entry requirements?

Details for both domestic and international applicants can be found on our Entry Requirements page.

Is this degree accredited?

CG Spectrum Institute is registered with the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA).

All CGSI degrees and diplomas are accredited, providing students with credible and recognized qualifications.

About TEQSA:

TEQSA stands for the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency. It is an independent regulatory body in Australia responsible for assuring the quality and standards of higher education institutions.

TEQSA-accredited qualifications are widely recognized, allowing students to pursue further studies or employment opportunities around the world.

What software will I need?

Your studies will require you to download and get acquainted with a variety of software, including:

Core Subjects:

Shotgrid - educational license
Canvas - free license

Concept Art Major:

Adobe Photoshop
Blender - educational license
ZBrush by Maxon

What are the hardware requirements?

Students will require a MAC/PC and a compatible graphics tablet. We recommend a minimum of 32GB RAM. See below for more info on hardware specifications based on the required software.

Please note: Mobile OS tablets can not be used because the software we teach is not available on these devices.

Core Subjects:

Concept Art Major:

Adobe Photoshop
Blender
Zbrush by Maxon

Please note: As the software we use is regularly updated, please check the specs against the latest available version at the time of enrollment.

Do you offer financial aid?

CG Spectrum Institute ensures that individuals can access high-quality education and professional development without significant financial barriers, empowering them to achieve their goals and excel in their chosen fields.

Australian Students:

All higher education AQF Award Courses offered at CGSI are supported by the Australian Government’s FEE-HELP program.

Domestic students who meet specific eligibility criteria can access FEE-HELP, which allows them to borrow money for all or part of their tuition fees and repay the loan through the tax system once their income reaches a certain threshold.

For more information, please head to the Financial Aid on our website.

International students:

There is a range of financing options suited to your situation and country. Please contact our friendly admissions team for more information on how we can support your learning journey.

What concept art careers can I explore post-graduation?

On completion of the Bachelor of Digital Art (Concept Art Major), 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 Manager, which can help when applying for junior concept art jobs such as:

Discover more about these jobs, tips, and salary expectations on our careers page:

EXPLORE CONCEPT ART CAREERS

Will studying for the Bachelor of Digital Art guarantee me a job?

While our past CGS students have a high job success rate, we cannot offer guaranteed employment as the film and game industry is competitive, and there is no way of knowing what the market will demand.

The students who experience the greatest success are those who take responsibility for their career, put in the hard work to get their skills and portfolio up to industry standard, leverage their mentor's invaluable expertise and the networking opportunities provided through the CG Spectrum community, and take advantage of every opportunity to excel.

To help students find employment, we have a range of career services and a dedicated Career Development Manager who regularly hosts exclusive career-focused webinars, Q&As, artist interviews, and workshops for students and alumns and is available to answer career-related questions.

Degree students receive additional 1-on-1 career support, CV/portfolio reviews, and help with application/interview preparation.

If you have any questions about our career services as they relate to your personal career goals, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

How do I apply?

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!

APPLY NOW

Your Path to Becoming a Professional Concept Artist Starts Here