Abertay Digital Graduate Show showcases feast of student talent

Industry partners support three-day celebration of video games, digital art, design and more

The very best of student talent from Abertay University’s School of Design and Informatics was celebrated at the Abertay Digital Graduate Show 2023.

A wealth of student projects covering everything from concept art, character design, animation, applied games, programming and games design, through to UI/UX, motion capture, 3D modelling, virtual/augmented reality, emerging tech and more was on display across a three-day run in the University’s national Centre for Excellence in Computer Games.

More than 100 innovative honours projects were showcased at the public event, with the show beginning with a special session for local schools and also including a VIP awards event recognising this year’s prize-winners. Over 1,000 people attended the showcase over the three days.

Abertay Digital Graduate Show was supported by main sponsors Ninja Kiwi Europe and Team Terrible Games, with individual prizes also sponsored by local industry partners.

Curator Clare Brennan, a lecturer in visual arts practice said: “A massive thank you goes to our sponsors and, of course, to our students for pulling off yet another fantastic event. It’s always massively pleasing to see our friends, alumni, colleagues from industry and city partners engage with our students and I know everyone left the show blown away by the quality of the work. Our graduates will now go on to achieve great things - whether that’s starting their own digital businesses, going on to work for multi-national games companies, or breaking new ground with further academic study or research – so giving them this public recognition is a really fitting end to their time here at Abertay.”

Enter the online showcase: https://www.abertay.ac.uk/abertay-digital-graduate-show/

Abertay’s undergraduate games design courses are consistently ranked among the best in the world and include: BA (Hons) Computer Arts, BA (Hons) Game Design and Production, BSc (Hons) Computer Game Applications Development, BSc (Hons) Computer Games Technology.

Abertay Digital Graduate Show 2023 Prize-winners:

• The D3T Award for Excellence in Art: Alex Williams, Computer Arts
• The D3T Award for Excellence in Engineering: Justin Syfrig, Computer Games Technology
• Rivet Games Excellence in 3D Art: Daniel Tolland, Computer Arts
• Interference Pattern Most Industry Ready Work Example: Alex Williams, Computer Arts
• Dundee Contemporary Arts Prize for Visual Storytelling: Rachael Hogg, Computer Arts
• NEoN Digital Arts Prize for Addressing Gender and Identity Issues: Cameryn Tuliao (Game Design and Production), Charlotte Wilkinson (Computer Arts) and Eleanor Findlay (Computer Arts)
• V&A Dundee Young People's Collective Award for Exceptional Example of Collaborative Work: Paige Wilkie (Computer Arts), Nikola Drousie (Game Design and Production), Jack Teviotdale (Game Design and Production), James Conroy (Game Design and Production) co-awarded with Morgan Finney (Game Design and Production).
• Unesco City of Design Prize: Bridget Casey, Computer Games Technology
• Playground Games Award for Outstanding Achievement: Angus Dale, Computer Game Applications Development
• Blazing Griffin Award for Best Sound Design: Henry Neff, Computer Arts
• Rebellion Accessibility Award: Derek Paton, Game Design and Production
• Kilted Otter Awards for Authentic Cultural Representation in Art or Design: Linda Vet, Computer Arts
• Pocket Sized Hands ‘Most Unhinged’ Award for the Most Wildly Creative Project: Jaromir Stifter, Computer Games Technology
• Ninja Kiwi More Awesomer Award for Game Development: Lochlainn Brindley, Computer Games Technology
• Ninja Kiwi More Awesomer Award for Visual Design: Emily ‘Amelia’ Wood, Game Design and Production
• Hyper Luminal Games Award for Innovation in Character Design and Representation: Dasa Falisova, Computer Arts
• nDreams/Nearlight Award for Game Design Innovation: Dominik Gawron, Game Design and Production
• Creative Assembly for Best Game/Interactive Experience for Health and Wellbeing: Rhiannon Nash, Game Design and Production
• Outplay Award for Game Design: Samuel Chaba, Game Design and Production
• Outplay Award for ‘Fresh Thinking’: Niko Drousie, Game Design and Production