Pixel Art for Video Games from Coursera

This course is aimed to give you the tools and knowledge you need to start creating simple art for video games made in the Unity game engine. Through the aesthetic of pixel art we will explore artistic principals like shape language, color theory, and composition as well as show you a step by step workflow for creating assets that you can use to make your own games. The course is broken into 4 main modules, props, environments, characters, and animation. Each of these courses will have a series of video lessons alternating between artistic and technical skills culminating in a peer-reviewed project based assignment. The last module will challenge you to take the knowledge learned in the previous 4 and use it to create your own pixel art asset pack.

This course is aimed at art novices who are interested in creating art for their own games or contributing to game projects. If you are a game designer or programmer, you will find this course helps give you a glimpse into the world of game art. You will be able to better work with artists, or create your own prototype or final artwork. If you are an artist or visual designer who is interested in bringing your style to the world of video game development, this course will give you the workflow to properly interface with a game engine and help contextualize how your artistic sensibilities can enable gameplay.

If you have ever wanted to start making art for video games but have no idea how to start, this course is the perfect for giving you a solid foundation while teaching you usable practical skills. Our goal is to give you a sense of the whole pipeline from creation to setting up in a game engine.

What's inside

Syllabus

Week 1: Introduction to Pixel Art

Week 2: Pixel Art Environments

Week 3: Pixel Art Characters

Week 4: Pixel Art Animation

Week 5: Pixel Art Project

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Teaches the basics of pixel art, which is a popular style in game development

Provides step-by-step guidance on creating assets for video games

Covers various aspects of pixel art, including props, environments, characters, and animation

Instructed by experienced game artists, Ricardo Guimaraes and Andrew Dennis

Emphasizes practical skills and workflow for creating game assets

Helps learners build a solid foundation in pixel art for video games

Reviews summary

Pixel art for video games

Students say that this engaging course will help you deep dive into the world of pixel art and video game design. While it includes difficult exams, learners largely agree that the assignments are engaging and the instructors are great. Note that the final assessment is difficult. Overall, if you are interested in pixel art this is a well received course with a lot to offer. However, students that have little to no design experience may struggle at times.

Instructors are knowledgeable and supportive.

"I am glad that I took this course, thanks to the teachers Andrew Dennis and Richardo Guimaraes for the excellent lessons, I really liked the course"

"Overall, if you're interested in pixel art this is a well received course with a lot to offer."

Assignments are fun and help students learn.

"This course was very in depth and very useful. The course was also fun with assignments/projects being fun to create and present."

"Very useful for beginners; I really enjoyed doing projects and created my very first assets that look even better than in some of the pixel art games I've seen before."

Focuses more on technical skills than artistic skills.

"I think this course was quite bad. There's very little actual teaching and zero guidance."

"more artistic tips would have been very helpful.."

Exams are challenging but fair.

"The final assessment is just too big, requires way more work than is necessary and the student just isn't prepared at all."

"Very challenging for a Beginner's class at times."

Grading is based on peer feedback rather than instructor feedback.

"As someone who went to school for art and design, critiques from your classmates is of course beneficial and I loved the feedback, but it shouldn't be up to students what your grade results in."

"anyone .. litterally anyone who happened to sign up for the course can demolish your motivation by giving false reviews .. how is it okay to let other students decide if a student's doing okay or not ????"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Pixel Art for Video Games with these activities:

Review Pixel Art Basics

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Start by reviewing the fundamentals of pixel art to refresh your knowledge and reinforce understanding of the basics, ensuring you are ready for the course content.

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Go over the principles of pixel art, including color theory, shape language, and composition.
Familiarize yourself with pixel art software and tools.

Follow Pixel Art Video Tutorials

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Strengthen your grasp of the fundamentals of pixel art by following along with these guided video tutorials.

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Identify suitable video tutorials.
Set aside time for focused practice.
Follow the instructions carefully.

Practice Creating Pixel Art Environments

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Enhance your ability to craft pixel art environments through consistent practice.

Browse courses on Background Design

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Sketch out your environment.
Select an appropriate color palette.
Create a variety of tiles and assets.
Assemble your environment.

Ten other activities

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Daily Pixel Art Exercises

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Engage in regular practice to improve your pixel art skills. Consistent practice will help solidify your understanding of techniques and enhance your proficiency.

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Practice creating simple pixel art objects, such as props or characters.
Experiment with different color palettes and shading techniques.

Follow Online Pixel Art Tutorials

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Supplement your learning by exploring online tutorials. Guided tutorials provide structured instruction and allow you to learn from experienced artists, expanding your knowledge and refining your skills.

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Search for pixel art tutorials that align with your interests and skill level.
Follow the instructions carefully and practice applying the techniques in your own creations.

Design and Create a Pixel Art Character

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Challenge yourself to bring a unique pixel art character to life.

Browse courses on Character Creation

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Sketch out your character concept.
Define your character's personality and backstory.
Experiment with different poses and expressions.
Create your final pixel art character.

Peer Review of Pixel Art Creations

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Engage with your peers to share and critique pixel art creations.

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Create a forum or online space for sharing.
Post your own pixel art for feedback.
Provide constructive criticism.

Participate in Pixel Art Study Group

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Connect with other learners by joining a study group focused on pixel art. Collaborative learning can enhance your understanding, provide support, and foster a sense of community.

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Find or create a study group with individuals interested in pixel art.
Meet regularly to discuss techniques, share feedback, and work on projects together.

Create Pixel Art Assets

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Apply your skills by creating your own pixel art assets. Hands-on creation allows you to put your knowledge into practice, experiment with different styles, and build your portfolio.

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Choose a theme or idea for your pixel art creation.
Sketch out your design and begin creating the pixel art.
Experiment with different techniques and effects to enhance your artwork.

Contribute to Open Source Pixel Art Projects

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Contribute to the pixel art community by collaborating on open source projects.

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Identify a suitable open source project.
Review the project's guidelines and requirements.
Create and submit your pixel art contributions.

Create a Pixel Art Asset Pack

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Apply your skills to create a comprehensive asset pack for use in your own projects.

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Plan the contents and scope of your asset pack.
Create a cohesive set of pixel art assets.
Export and organize your assets in a user-friendly format.

Seek Mentorship from Experienced Pixel Artists

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Identify experienced pixel artists who can provide guidance and support. Mentorship can accelerate your learning, expose you to industry insights, and help you develop your skills to a higher level.

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Attend industry events and meetups to network with pixel artists.
Reach out to artists whose work you admire and inquire about mentorship opportunities.

Develop a Pixel Art Asset Pack

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Challenge yourself by creating a comprehensive pixel art asset pack. This project-based activity will test your skills, encourage creativity, and provide a tangible outcome to showcase your abilities.

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Plan the theme and scope of your asset pack.
Create a variety of pixel art assets, including props, characters, and backgrounds.
Organize and present your asset pack in a professional manner.

Career center

Learners who complete Pixel Art for Video Games will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Game Animator

Game Animator is the career path for you if you have ever dreamt of bringing characters to life. This course will introduce you to pixel art, the style most often applied to animation in game development, and teach you how to apply it to your own creations. You will learn how to implement these creations in the Unity Game Engine, which is one of the most popular in the industry and found in many commercial games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Animator

Game Artist

Game Artist is a broad and exciting career that can have many different foci. This course will give you the chance to dip your toes in a number of them, as you learn about pixel art, the style most common to 2D games, and also learn to implement your creations in the Unity Game Engine. You will learn the same engine and many of the same techniques used in commercial game creation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Artist

Game Designer

Game Designer is a varied and interesting career that can involve many different responsibilities. In this course, you will have the chance to understand some of the artistic concepts and skills that go into game design. You will learn about pixel art, the style most common to 2D games, and learn to implement your creations in the Unity Game Engine, one of the most common engines used in game design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Concept Artist

Concept Artist is a great career choice for those who love to create and design new worlds and characters. This course will introduce you to pixel art, the style most often applied to these concepts in game design, and teach you how to apply it to your own creations. You will learn how to implement these creations in the Unity Game Engine, which is one of the most popular in the industry and used in many commercial games.

See salaries and explore the career path for Concept Artist

Art Director

Art Director is a senior-level position that involves leading and overseeing other artists. This course will introduce you to many of the concepts and techniques you will need to be familiar with in this role. You will learn pixel art, which is a style used in many games, and also learn how to implement it in the Unity Game Engine. This is one of the most popular engines used in game design, and a valuable tool in the arsenal of an Art Director.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art Director

Graphic designer

Graphic Designer can be an excellent career path for those who have artistic talents and an eye for design. This course will help you to build upon your existing artistic skills as you learn pixel art, a style commonly used in game design, and how to implement your creations in the Unity Game Engine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic designer

Web Designer

Web Designer is a creative and dynamic career that often requires knowledge of many different kinds of software and techniques. This course will teach you how to do pixel art, a style often utilized in web design, and how to implement your creations in the Unity Game Engine. This is one of the most popular game engines, and these skills and knowledge will be valuable to you as a Web Designer.

See salaries and explore the career path for Web Designer

UI/UX Designer

UI/UX Designer is a fantastic career for those who want to create engaging and easy-to-use interfaces and products. This course may help you to build some of the artistic and conceptual skills required for this position. You will learn pixel art, which is a style often used in user interfaces, and how to implement your creations in the Unity Game Engine.

See salaries and explore the career path for UI/UX Designer

Art teacher

Art Teacher is a great career for those who love to teach and share their artistic knowledge. This course may help to expand your artistic repertoire as you learn pixel art, which is a style often used in teaching art to children. You will also learn how to implement some of your creations in the Unity Game Engine, which could help you teach children about game design.

See salaries and explore the career path for Art teacher

Animator

Animator is a varied and exciting career that can have many different foci. This course may introduce you to some of the concepts and techniques that go into animation. You will learn about pixel art, the style most common to 2D animation, and learn to implement it in the Unity Game Engine, one of the most common engines used in animation.

See salaries and explore the career path for Animator

Photographer

Photographer is an excellent career path for those who love to capture the world around them. This course may be somewhat helpful as you build some of the artistic skills needed for photography. You will learn about pixel art, a style that can sometimes be used in photography, and you will learn how to implement your creations in the Unity Game Engine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Photographer

Fashion Designer

Fashion Designer is an excellent career path for those who love to create beautiful and stylish clothing. This course may be somewhat helpful as you build some of the artistic skills needed for fashion design. You will learn about pixel art, a style that can sometimes be used in fashion design, and you will learn how to implement your creations in the Unity Game Engine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Fashion Designer

Interior designer

Interior Designer is an excellent career path for those who love to create beautiful and functional spaces. This course may be somewhat helpful as you build some of the artistic skills needed for interior design. You will learn about pixel art, a style that can sometimes be used in interior design, and you will learn how to implement your creations in the Unity Game Engine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Interior designer