What makes now the best time to study VFX, Video Game & Digital Arts?

At Catalyst, we want our students to understand not just how to use creative tools—but how to think critically, adapt quickly, and build careers in industries that are always changing.

Visual storytelling is evolving fast. From animated films and immersive installations to real-time gaming and virtual production, visual effects and digital arts now shape nearly every corner of media and culture.

That’s why our Bachelor's in Visual Effects, Video Games & Digital Arts course is designed to prepare you with the skills, mindset and experience needed to thrive in this multidisciplinary space.

According to Precedence Research, the global visual effects (VFX) market was valued at $10.6 billion in 2024—and it’s projected to nearly double to $20.3 billion by 2034. That means more opportunities in film, games, advertising, streaming and beyond.

• Animation projected to reach $632 billion by 2034
• Virtual production expected to grow by nearly 15% annually
• The gaming industry serves over 3.2 billion players, growing at 7% annually.

From Netflix originals and independent cinema to cinematic advertising, music videos and virtual reality, there’s a growing demand for creatives who can build worlds, shape stories and adapt across formats.

Technology is transforming how stories are made and experienced. And this means that there’s a real need for people who can blend creativity with technical fluency.

What we teach at Catalyst —and why

We believe the best way to learn is by doing. That’s why our programmes are based on project-based learning, where you develop your skills by applying them in real-world creative contexts.

At Catalyst, you’ll gain practical, hands-on experience using the same software and techniques that professionals use:

• Unreal Engine for real-time rendering and virtual production
• Blender for modelling, rigging and animation
• ZBrush and Substance Painter for detailed asset creation
• TouchDesigner for generative and interactive art
• Adobe Creative Suite for post-production and motion graphics

But we’re not married to any specific software or pipeline. Our tools evolve constantly—we update, change, experiment, and invest in new gear to reflect the fast pace of the industry. What matters most is that our students develop a strong foundation in how to approach creative technology, so they can adapt, explore and innovate with confidence—no matter what tool comes next.

Through hands-on projects, you’ll learn to design immersive environments, create visual effects sequences, build interactive games, and tell visual stories in your own voice.

Our campus brings together creators from across disciplines—film, music, sound, acting and writing. We want our students to experience the kind of collaboration that happens in real creative industries.

This means that as a VFX, video game and digital arts student, you might find yourself:

• Designing a world for a short film
• Building visual assets for a live performance
• Collaborating on a game prototype
• Exploring interactive storytelling with sound designers

It’s a model that not only builds your creative range—but gives you confidence to work with others on complex, ambitious projects.

A degree in Visual Effects, Video Game & Digital Arts prepares you for a wide variety of creative and technical careers, including:

• 3D Artist
• Motion Designer
• Game Environment Designer
• Visual Effects Supervisor
• Compositor
• Interactive Media Artist
• Virtual Production Designer
• Interactive Media Artist
• Digital Art Director
• And many others across film, games, advertising, immersive media and creative tech

You’ll graduate ready to work in studios, agencies, startups or freelance roles—or build your own path entirely.

By the end of their first year, students are already building complex 3D environments, designing game mechanics, and experimenting with animation and interactivity.

Take second-year student @mo_digital_arts, who made Awoken—a cinematic short built in Unreal Engine that explores ambition, distortion and reality. The work combines game tech with visual poetry—an example of how diverse the outcomes can be.

This is the kind of learning we believe in: where the work itself is the learning.

Then our Bachelor's in Visual Effects, Video Game & Digital Arts at Catalyst will give you the tools and support to explore, specialise and launch your career as a visual artist with confidence.