Course Overview

Course Details

Course Delivery: Online Course

Course Availability: On Demand

Instructor: Don Hileman – Unreal Authorized Trainer

Course Description

GD 205: UI/UX Design for Games focuses on the design and implementation of intuitive, visually compelling user interfaces and player experience systems that serve as the bridge between the player and the game world. Using Unreal Engine’s UMG (Unreal Motion Graphics) UI Designer alongside industry-standard UX research methods, students learn to craft HUDs, menus, and feedback systems that communicate clearly, reinforce game tone, and enhance the overall player experience without interrupting immersion.

What You’ll Learn

By the end of this course, students will be able to:

1. Apply core UI/UX design principles including hierarchy, readability, affordance, and feedback to game interface contexts
2. Design and implement functional in-game HUDs, menus, pause screens, and inventory interfaces using Unreal Engine’s UMG system
3. Connect UI elements to live gameplay data through Blueprints and data binding techniques
4. Conduct UX research and usability testing to evaluate and improve interface designs based on player behavior
5. Design diegetic and non-diegetic UI systems that align with a game’s visual identity and narrative tone
6. Create and maintain a UI style guide ensuring visual consistency across all interface elements
7. Prototype and iterate on interface designs using wireframing and mockup tools prior to implementation

Topics Covered

UI/UX design theory · Player communication & feedback systems · HUD design & layout · Menu systems & navigation flow · Unreal Engine UMG & widget Blueprints · Diegetic vs. non-diegetic UI · Accessibility in game interfaces · Motion & animation in UI · Usability testing & iteration · UI style guides & documentation

Course Format

This course combines lecture-based instruction with weekly hands-on labs in Unreal Engine. Students will complete milestone-based projects designing and implementing a full suite of UI/UX assets for an original game concept, culminating in a polished, fully functional interface system presented during a final showcase.

Who This Course Is For

GD 205 is designed for students who have completed GD 204 or have equivalent experience with Unreal Engine and game design fundamentals. It is ideal for aspiring UI designers, UX researchers, and game developers who want to master the craft of player-facing design and build interfaces that are as thoughtfully designed as the game worlds they support.