Senior year in Drexel’s Game Design & Production (GDAP) program is the grand finale before stepping into the professional world. With co-op experience, technical skills, and portfolio projects under their belts, students spend this year developing their senior capstone projects, preparing for the Drexel Digital Media Showcase, and finalizing their portfolios. This is the time to specialize, network, and ensure readiness for careers in game design, development, or production.
The final year is focused on large-scale projects, portfolio refinement, and industry networking. With senior year wrapping up, GDAP students take their capstone games, portfolios, and professional experience into the real world. Whether entering AAA game studios, indie development, VR experiences, or technical game production, the journey is just beginning.
Core Classes
The final year is focused on large-scale projects, portfolio refinement, and industry networking. Some key classes include Advanced Portfolio (GMAP246) which focuses on building skills for the career-long practice of producing and maintaining a professional creative portfolio while allowing the students the opportunity to create or refine additional student-driven portfolio work that synthesizes their skills and experience from direct class assignments in their other coursework. Digital Media Senior Project (DIGM490) is a course where students create professional media assets for a team-based senior project in a simulated production environment. They integrate academic and practical knowledge, refine digital media production skills, and enhance written, oral, and visual communication through collaboration and industry best practices.
Skills You’ll Master
At this stage, GDAP students refine their professional expertise to prepare for industry roles, including Full Game Production Workflow – Managing development from concept to launch, including QA and optimization, Polished Game Design & Mechanics – Creating balanced, engaging gameplay with player-focused interactions, Team Collaboration & Leadership – Managing group projects and working in structured pipelines, and Presentation & Industry Communication – Preparing for studio interviews, portfolio reviews, and the Digital Media Showcase.
The Drexel Digital Media Showcase: Showcasing the Capstone Project
The Drexel Digital Media Showcase is the highlight of senior year, where students present their capstone projects to faculty, industry professionals, and potential employers. How to Prepare for the Showcase: Finalizing the Capstone Game – Ensuring smooth gameplay, polished UI/UX, and bug-free mechanics, Refining the Portfolio – Featuring the best projects in a professional online portfolio and demo reel, Perfecting the Pitch – Practicing game presentations for an audience of recruiters, professors, and industry peers, and Networking with Industry Professionals – Engaging with game studios, indie developers, and hiring managers. The biggest challenge of senior year is balancing the capstone project with job applications and industry networking. Deadlines become tighter, expectations rise, and refining skills becomes crucial to stand out in the competitive gaming field.
Tips for Success: Start job hunting early. Many studios begin hiring months in advance—don’t wait until graduation. Polish your demo reel. Focus on high-quality work that aligns with your career goals. Practice public speaking. Game designers must be able to pitch and present their ideas confidently. Stay ahead of industry trends. Emerging tech like AI in gaming, virtual production, and real-time rendering can give you an edge.