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    • Game Design

    Game Design Courses Online

    Explore game design principles for creating engaging games. Learn about game mechanics, storytelling, and user experience.

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    Explore the Game Design Course Catalog

    • Status: Free
      Free
      T

      The University of Sydney

      Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat

      Skills you'll gain: Design Thinking, Human Centered Design, Innovation, Service Design, Prototyping, Ideation, Product Development, Design, Design Research, User Feedback

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      2.2K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • Status: Free
      Free
      G

      Georgia Institute of Technology

      Introduction to User Experience Design

      Skills you'll gain: User Experience Design, Prototyping, User Centered Design, Usability, Requirements Analysis, User Interface (UI), Interaction Design, Usability Testing, User Research

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      8.8K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 3 Months

    • U

      University of California San Diego

      Interaction Design

      Skills you'll gain: Design Research, Interaction Design, User Experience Design, Statistical Analysis, Ideation, User Research, Graphic and Visual Design, User Interface (UI) Design, Experimentation, Prototyping, A/B Testing, Usability Testing, Human Centered Design, User Centered Design, Mockups, Design, Human Computer Interaction, Human Factors, Telecommuting, Technology Strategies

      4.5
      Rating, 4.5 out of 5 stars
      ·
      4K reviews

      Intermediate · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • Status: AI skills
      AI skills
      M

      Microsoft

      Microsoft UX Design

      Skills you'll gain: Storyboarding, User Research, Information Architecture, User Experience Design, Design Thinking, Prototyping, Usability Testing, Persona (User Experience), Wireframing, Design Research, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Interaction Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Human Centered Design, Usability, User Interface (UI) Design, User Centered Design, Figma (Design Software), Design, Mockups

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      369 reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • C

      California Institute of the Arts

      Story and Narrative Development for Video Games

      Skills you'll gain: Storytelling, Software Design Documents, Ideation, Conceptual Design, User Story, Content Creation, Writing, Creativity

      4.7
      Rating, 4.7 out of 5 stars
      ·
      1.3K reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • Status: New AI skills
      New AI skills
      G

      Google

      Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce

      Skills you'll gain: Media Planning, Search Engine Marketing, Email Marketing, Data Storytelling, Social Media Strategy, Search Engine Optimization, Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Content Creation, Order Fulfillment, A/B Testing, Target Audience, Digital Marketing, E-Commerce, Loyalty Programs, Social Media Management, Customer Retention, Persona Development, Performance Measurement, Marketing Automation

      Build toward a degree

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      39K reviews

      Beginner · Professional Certificate · 3 - 6 Months

    • U

      University of Alberta

      Software Design and Architecture

      Skills you'll gain: Software Architecture, Model View Controller, Unified Modeling Language, Object Oriented Design, Service Oriented Architecture, API Design, Systems Architecture, Web Services, Software Design Patterns, Software Design, Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP), Microservices, Restful API, Software Visualization, Code Review, Solution Architecture, Software Systems, Object Oriented Programming (OOP), Java, Software Development

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      3.9K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • E

      Epic Games

      User Interface in Game Design

      Skills you'll gain: User Interface (UI) Design, UI Components, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, Software Design, Usability, Programming Principles, Interactive Design, Mockups, Virtual Environment, Prototyping

      3.8
      Rating, 3.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      13 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • I

      IBM

      Data Engineering Foundations

      Skills you'll gain: SQL, Web Scraping, Database Design, MySQL, Data Transformation, Extract, Transform, Load, IBM DB2, Relational Databases, Data Architecture, Jupyter, Data Pipelines, Big Data, Database Management, Data Warehousing, Data Governance, Databases, Stored Procedure, Data Manipulation, Automation, Python Programming

      4.6
      Rating, 4.6 out of 5 stars
      ·
      56K reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 3 - 6 Months

    • E

      Epic Games

      User Experience in Game Design

      Skills you'll gain: User Interface (UI), User Experience Design, Usability, User Interface and User Experience (UI/UX) Design, User Experience, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Human Computer Interaction, Interaction Design, Prototyping

      4.1
      Rating, 4.1 out of 5 stars
      ·
      15 reviews

      Beginner · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

    • U

      University of Michigan

      An Introduction to Learning Experience Design (LXD)

      Skills you'll gain: Multimedia, Persona (User Experience), Learning Theory, Program Evaluation, Instructional Design, Web Content Accessibility Guidelines, Instructional and Curriculum Design, Educational Materials, Course Development, Experience Design, Design, Professional Development, Disabilities, Brainstorming, Consultative Approaches, Motivational Skills, Communication, Design Elements And Principles, Lifelong Learning, Content Creation

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      66 reviews

      Beginner · Specialization · 1 - 3 Months

    • M

      Michigan State University

      Game Design and Development 3: 3D Shooter

      Skills you'll gain: Prototyping, 3D Modeling, Visualization (Computer Graphics), Augmented and Virtual Reality (AR/VR), Virtual Environment, Software Design, Computer Graphics, Multimedia, Design Elements And Principles, Computer Programming

      4.8
      Rating, 4.8 out of 5 stars
      ·
      64 reviews

      Intermediate · Course · 1 - 4 Weeks

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    In summary, here are 10 of our most popular game design courses

    • Innovation Through Design: Think, Make, Break, Repeat: The University of Sydney
    • Introduction to User Experience Design : Georgia Institute of Technology
    • Interaction Design: University of California San Diego
    • Microsoft UX Design: Microsoft
    • Story and Narrative Development for Video Games: California Institute of the Arts
    • Google Digital Marketing & E-commerce: Google
    • Software Design and Architecture: University of Alberta
    • User Interface in Game Design: Epic Games
    • Data Engineering Foundations: IBM
    • User Experience in Game Design: Epic Games

    Skills you can learn in Design And Product

    User Interface (18)
    User Experience (16)
    Software Testing (13)
    Game Design (11)
    Agile Software Development (10)
    Graphics (10)
    Virtual Reality (9)
    Design Thinking (8)
    Web (8)
    Video Game Development (7)
    Web Design (7)
    Adobe Photoshop (6)

    Frequently Asked Questions about Game Design

    Coursera's Game Design courses offer learners the opportunity to acquire a diverse range of skills critical for creating engaging and immersive video games:

    • Fundamental principles of game design, including storyboarding, gameplay theory, and character development.
    • Techniques for creating interactive game experiences, focusing on user engagement and retention.
    • Skills in using game development tools and platforms, such as Unity or Unreal Engine.
    • Best practices for level design, ensuring games are challenging yet accessible.
    • Understanding of game aesthetics to enhance visual storytelling and player immersion.
    • Insights into the business of games, including market analysis, distribution, and monetization strategies.‎

    Game Design courses on Coursera are accessible to learners with varying levels of experience:

    • Beginners interested in game design can start with introductory courses that do not require previous programming or design experience.
    • Those with some background in related fields like software development or digital art can deepen their knowledge of specific aspects of game creation.
    • Advanced designers and programmers can enhance their skills with specialized courses in advanced game mechanics, engine-specific training, or professional game development practices.‎

    Upon completing Game Design courses, learners can obtain credentials that may support their career advancement in the game industry:

    • Professional certificates that may demonstrate a comprehensive understanding and hands-on skills in game design.
    • Specializations that focus on particular aspects of game design and development, offering a deeper dive into subjects like virtual reality (VR), artificial intelligence (AI) in games, or multiplayer game settings.
    • Certificates that can showcase the learner’s capabilities to potential employers or collaborators within the gaming community.‎

    Skills acquired from Game Design courses can open doors to multiple career paths within the gaming industry and related fields:

    • Game Designer, crafting the core concepts and gameplay elements of new games.
    • Level Designer, focusing on the creation of engaging game environments and player progression.
    • Narrative Designer, developing storylines, dialogues, and character arcs within games.
    • Game Developer, implementing the technical aspects of game mechanics using programming languages.
    • Game Artist, designing visual elements such as characters, assets, and textures that define the game’s aesthetic.‎

    Looking to enhance your team's Game Design skills? Coursera provides tailored enterprise solutions for teams ranging of 5-125 employees. Our offerings include advanced analytics, customized learning paths, and collaborative tools. To explore our Game Design training options and make a purchase, please visit our Coursera for Teams page.‎

    This FAQ content has been made available for informational purposes only. Learners are advised to conduct additional research to ensure that courses and other credentials pursued meet their personal, professional, and financial goals.

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