From DMU to a TIGA Awards nomination - here’s how Ciaran did it

Ciaran Lennon, a recent graduate of De Montfort University, has been nominated for Graduate of the Year in the Designer category at the TIGA Awards, recognising his outstanding creative development and emerging impact within the games industry.

Final Major Project- Times passed

During his time at DMU, Ciaran studied Game Art, where he developed a strong foundation across both environment art and concept design. His work evolved through a balance of technical training and creative experimentation, allowing him to build a versatile portfolio that reflects both visual storytelling and production-ready skills. Alongside his academic studies, he also benefited from close guidance from lecturers who helped refine his artistic direction and prepare him for industry expectations.

UnderWood No.5 Typewriter

Ciaran credits the course structure and studio-style learning environment at DMU for helping him grow in confidence as an artist. Regular feedback sessions, industry-informed briefs, and collaborative projects encouraged him to push his ideas further and develop a professional approach to his workflow. This support played a key role in shaping his ability to move between concepting and environment art with ease.

Nordic Forge

Looking ahead, Ciaran aims to continue expanding his work across both concept and environment art roles, with a focus on creating immersive, visually rich game worlds. His journey reflects the strong industry focus of DMU’s Game Art course and the impact of sustained academic and creative support in preparing students for careers in the games industry.

Learn more about this year’s nominees and the awards here: https://www.dmu.ac.uk/about-dmu/news/2025/september/industry-award-nomination-for-game-development-at-dmu.aspx

View Ciarans full portfolio here: https://www.artstation.com/ciaranlennon6