3D Digital Game Art Competition

Overview

The 3D digital game artist creates three-dimensional models and assets that differ depending on the type of game. They are responsible for every aspect, from taking a designer’s brief to using creative, technical and specialist skills to deliver assets in a marketable game.

The 3D digital art competition has been designed to reflect the role of a 3D digital artist within the game industry and what standards are expected when developing a AAA game.

The challenge is to take a concept and transform it into a 3D mesh which harnesses a wide range of skill sets from good geometry decisions to symmetry and texture. The competitor needs a full understanding of concept art skills, 3D modelling in Autodesk Maya, 3D Studio Max or Blender, UV Layout, and texturing skills with Substance Painter. Demonstrating a solid understanding of effective topology on their 3D meshes, UV layout and appropriate texture creation based on the style and theme of a given brief.

The skills you need to demonstrate

Concept Art
3D Modelling
UV Unwrapping
Texturing
Rendering
File naming
File management.

Useful resources

Prepare for competition success

Enhance learner preparation for competition with pressure tests (part of our benchmarking resources) to help master their technical skills, and mindset masterclasses to build personal skills.

Access on the Learning Lab

Contact details

iain.mccluskey@ccsw.ac.uk

Entry criteria

This is an individual competition
There is no limit to the number of entries per organisation
At the National Qualifiers stage, only the top 4 competitors from each organisation will be allowed to compete
Competitors should be familiar with the core competencies (these can be found in the in the National Standard of Excellence ‘Useful Information’ section below) and must be working towards, or recently completed in the last 12 months, a relevant Level 3 qualification if in the England or Northern Ireland, a Level 3 CQFW if in Wales, a Level 6 SCQF qualification if in Scotland.

Competition timeline

1. Register

Registrations open 9am Monday 3 March and will close midnight Friday 28 March.

2. Entry Stage

Entry Brief released on Monday 7 April, 2025 (after registration window), competitors have up to Wednesday 30 April, 2025 to submit their work.

3. National Qualifiers

Live Qualifier (via Zoom) will take place on Friday 6 June, 2025.

4. Training and Development

To help finalists prepare ahead of the UK Final, we will provide relevant technical training and share mindset development techniques, to support them to remain focused on achieving success.

Prepare students and apprentices by engaging with our benchmarking resources to master their skills and mindset masterclasses to build confidence and resilience on the WorldSkills UK Learning Lab.

5. National Finals

The National Finals are scheduled to take place in Wales during the week beginning 24 November, 2025.

6. Squad UK

The 3D Digital Game Art national competitions also form part of the selection process for WorldSkills International Competitions and the 2025 finals will be used to identify UK squad members for the WorldSkills International competition in Japan in 2028.