Training Game Designers: One University's Approach to This Sector

The World University of Design (WUD) has rapidly built a reputation as a pioneer in animation and game design education, offering a unique blend of creative storytelling, asset development, and technical training. Vice Chancellor Dr. Sanjay Gupta’s vision is to produce flexible creators who shape original intellectual property, embrace emerging media, and drive India’s transition from outsourcing in design to global content leadership.

According to Dr. Gupta, WUD’s programs such as B.Des and B.Tech in game design offer a rigorous grounding in character design, UX, AR/VR, scenario development, and mechanics. Students gain training that combines both creative and technical learning.

“We don’t just make technicians. We equip students to handle every aspect of game development, from storytelling and animation to industry-standard engines and asset creation,” he said. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that graduates can move fluidly between games, film, comics, and immersive technologies.

For Dr. Gupta, game design is ultimately an extension of design thinking: shaping new ideas, creating engaging experiences, and solving problems through creativity. Students first build strong fundamentals in color, narrative, and perspective before specializing in asset creation, interactivity, and platform-specific skills.

WUD constantly adapts its curriculum to keep up with changing platforms and tools. Dr. Gupta noted that while technologies evolve, from Unity to Unreal, and now AI, creative direction and original thinking remain central.

AI is treated as a powerful assistant to speed up workflows rather than a replacement for imagination. “AI handles repetitive work and speeds up iteration, but original vision and critical thinking remain the student’s responsibility,” he said. This enables faculty to push students into deeper, research-driven projects, cultivating agility in a fast-changing industry.

Game design in India is now a serious career path with international placement opportunities. WUD graduates have found roles across gaming, simulation, film, advertising, and XR, often entering at salaries above industry entry levels.

Some career trajectories of WUD alumni include:

• 3D Artist roles at studios like Amazon (India) and Ikarus 3D, contributing to AR shopping, immersive experiences, and content pipelines.

• AR/VR positions at firms like Threye and Altoura (US), where graduates work on flight simulators, training systems, and digital twin platforms.

• Creative positions in animation at studios like Studio Eeksaurus and People Media Factory, spanning the commercial, VFX, and entertainment industries.

• Global opportunities at firms like Ticketmaster, Cvent, and IMAGIN.studio, where Indian-trained graduates work on arenas, stadiums, or photoreal automotive imagery.

Graduate packages vary by industry and role, with alumni typically entering between INR 4.5 and INR 7 lakhs annually in India, and significantly higher in international placements, where some have started at INR 12–14 lakhs.

Dr. Gupta stressed that WUD intentionally trains its students beyond basic asset creation roles, preparing them not just for employment but for leadership and entrepreneurship. “We do not pigeonhole anyone. Our graduates work everywhere—games, films, comics, advertising, VR—but are always ready to lead or innovate.”

As India’s creative economy grows, with more than 3,000 design colleges now active nationwide, WUD aims to stay ahead by focusing on adaptability, AI integration, and original thought. For aspiring game designers, WUD positions itself as both a launchpad for global careers and a driver of India’s rising presence in gaming and digital media.