Diploma in Concept Art

Master drawing, digital painting, and visual storytelling. At USV, you’ll gain the skills to create compelling characters and environments — and a portfolio that opens doors in games, film, and animation.

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 On-Campus or 100% Online

A figure in a spacesuit stands beside a futuristic, red hover bike on a sandy dune, overlooking a vast alien landscape with towering cloud formations and a large planet looming in the bright blue sky.
A lone traveler in a futuristic suit sits on a red hoverbike, gazing at a vast desert landscape with towering, fluffy clouds and a large, partially visible planet in the sky, creating a scene of sci-fi exploration and adventure.
A figure in a spacesuit stands beside a futuristic, red hover bike on a sandy dune, overlooking a vast alien landscape with towering cloud formations and a large planet looming in the bright blue sky.
A lone traveler in a futuristic suit sits on a red hoverbike, gazing at a vast desert landscape with towering, fluffy clouds and a large, partially visible planet in the sky, creating a scene of sci-fi exploration and adventure.

ALUMNI SUCCESS

Program Overview

The Concept Art diploma is designed to help you build the foundations of a creative career. You’ll develop your skills in traditional and digital art, character design, and storyboarding while creating professional portfolio pieces. This program also serves as a direct pathway into USV’s BA in Digital Art & Animation, so you can continue your studies without losing momentum.

What you'll learn:

Drawing, perspective, and rendering

Digital imaging and painting

Character and environment design

Storyboarding and visual sequencing

Portfolio development

A tattooed artist in a black t-shirt focuses intently on sketching a design on a digital tablet using a stylus, with tattoos prominently displayed on his forearms.
A tattooed artist in a black t-shirt focuses intently on sketching a design on a digital tablet using a stylus, with tattoos prominently displayed on his forearms.
A tattooed artist in a black t-shirt focuses intently on sketching a design on a digital tablet using a stylus, with tattoos prominently displayed on his forearms.
A hand is drawing an animated character with curly black hair, wearing a blue hoodie and glasses, using a blue marker on white paper.
A hand is drawing an animated character with curly black hair, wearing a blue hoodie and glasses, using a blue marker on white paper.
A hand is drawing an animated character with curly black hair, wearing a blue hoodie and glasses, using a blue marker on white paper.

Learning Outcomes

Graduates of the Concept Art diploma will be able to:

Apply principles of traditional drawing and rendering.

Transform sketches into polished digital artwork.

Create expressive characters and immersive environments.

Plan visual narratives through storyboards and sequential art.

Assemble a professional portfolio for entry-level opportunities.

Diploma in Concept Art Course Highlights

A detailed and intricate black and white drawing features a serene face surrounded by an elaborate headdress of organic shapes, patterns, and plant elements, suggesting themes of nature and creativity, with colored pencils and a drink can visible on the wooden table background.
A detailed and intricate black and white drawing features a serene face surrounded by an elaborate headdress of organic shapes, patterns, and plant elements, suggesting themes of nature and creativity, with colored pencils and a drink can visible on the wooden table background.
A detailed and intricate black and white drawing features a serene face surrounded by an elaborate headdress of organic shapes, patterns, and plant elements, suggesting themes of nature and creativity, with colored pencils and a drink can visible on the wooden table background.
A detailed and intricate black and white drawing features a serene face surrounded by an elaborate headdress of organic shapes, patterns, and plant elements, suggesting themes of nature and creativity, with colored pencils and a drink can visible on the wooden table background.

Drawing & Rendering Principles

Build a strong foundation in form, perspective, and traditional drawing techniques.

A person uses a stylus on a tablet to create a vibrant abstract digital art piece featuring bold red and pink shapes.
A person uses a stylus on a tablet to create a vibrant abstract digital art piece featuring bold red and pink shapes.
A person uses a stylus on a tablet to create a vibrant abstract digital art piece featuring bold red and pink shapes.
A person uses a stylus on a tablet to create a vibrant abstract digital art piece featuring bold red and pink shapes.

Digital Imaging & Painting

Use industry tools to develop digital artwork with color, lighting, and texture.

Whimsical image of a painterly settings featuring a winding river amongst pink trees.
Whimsical image of a painterly settings featuring a winding river amongst pink trees.
Whimsical image of a painterly settings featuring a winding river amongst pink trees.
Whimsical image of a painterly settings featuring a winding river amongst pink trees.

Character & Environment Design

Design characters, props, and worlds that bring stories to life.

Black and white hand-sketched storyboard art.
Black and white hand-sketched storyboard art.
Black and white hand-sketched storyboard art.
Storyboard art.

Storyboarding & Visual Sequencing

Plan and illustrate visual narratives for animation and film pre-production.

CAREER PATHS

The USV Difference

USV students take 3 courses per term instead of the traditional 4. That means:

Deeper learning

You’ll dive deeper into each subject, with more time to absorb concepts, apply them in projects, and build lasting mastery that goes beyond memorization.

Better Balance

Fewer concurrent courses means less stress and more focus. You’ll have room to manage school, work, and life — without sacrificing academic performance.

Higher Success

With improved retention and a healthier pace, students are more likely to graduate on time and enter the job market prepared with real skills and strong portfolios.

Flexible Learning

You can earn your diploma on-campus or online. This program also stacks directly into the BA in Digital Art & Animation, so you can keep building your skills and expand your career opportunities.

A person is drawing a digital illustration of a woman with vibrant orange hair and a purple sweater on a tablet using a stylus pen.
A person is drawing a digital illustration of a woman with vibrant orange hair and a purple sweater on a tablet using a stylus pen.
A person is drawing a digital illustration of a woman with vibrant orange hair and a purple sweater on a tablet using a stylus pen.
A person is drawing a digital illustration of a woman with vibrant orange hair and a purple sweater on a tablet using a stylus pen.

Faculty Spotlight

Black and white photo of a male USV faculty member.

"Our students get real industry experience and skills—a tremendous benefit that sets them apart from other graduates."

"Our students get real industry experience and skills—a tremendous benefit that sets them apart from other graduates."

Julius Dobos
Distinguished Professor

Julius Dobos
Distinguished Professor

View Our Faculty

View Our Faculty

View Our Faculty

A lone samurai, silhouetted against a vibrant cyberpunk cityscape of neon blues and fiery reds, stands on the edge of a weathered rooftop, gazing at the sprawling urban expanse below.
A lone samurai, silhouetted against a vibrant cyberpunk cityscape of neon blues and fiery reds, stands on the edge of a weathered rooftop, gazing at the sprawling urban expanse below.
A lone samurai, silhouetted against a vibrant cyberpunk cityscape of neon blues and fiery reds, stands on the edge of a weathered rooftop, gazing at the sprawling urban expanse below.
A lone samurai, silhouetted against a vibrant cyberpunk cityscape of neon blues and fiery reds, stands on the edge of a weathered rooftop, gazing at the sprawling urban expanse below.

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