Designing a different future

We talk to Thiago, MA Game Design student, about making the change to find a new career and his experience as an international student in Plymouth
Thiago Sena

I decided to pursue a masters in Game Design here in Plymouth as part of my plans to change my career, expand my network, improve my knowledge and build a good portfolio

Chasing a dream

My name is Thiago Sena, I’m 35 years old and I’m from Brazil. I was a National Marketing Manager in the fashion industry, in Brazil, but I decided to leave my nice life behind and chase my dream to work with games and creation.
In my home country, I graduated from courses in Social Communication, specialising in Advertising and Marketing and Digital Games, before obtaining an MBA in Project Management. I speak five languages (Portuguese, English, Italian, French and a little German) and have worked for some big companies in Brazil. But even having this nice life and a career with my name in the national market, something was still missing... So, I decided to save my money and pursue a masters in Game Design here in Plymouth, as part of my plans to change my career, expand my network, improve my knowledge and build a good portfolio.
International Game Design student Thiago with friends
 
 
 

Choosing Plymouth

There were many reasons I wanted to pursue a masters: to be more prepared for the job market, construct a network of people in the industry and so that in the future I would be able to teach at a university in Brazil, where having a masters is mandatory. I want to be a game designer so a masters in Game Design seemed logical.
The attention the Admissions team gave me when I applied was amazing. My course leader called me on Skype to answer all my questions and concerns and I researched the course programme (which is really amazing!) to see the labs and how up to date everything on the course is.
Besides this, the fact that the team is extremely LGBTQ+ friendly was very important to me, not only because I am a gay person but also because making games for that particular audience is a goal of mine.
I've always been a creative person and have loved video games since I was a little kid.
When I was a manager, I had to deal with reports, meetings, planning, budget and so on – manager stuff! I felt I was missing a creative part: I wanted to not only have ideas but also to be able to put them out into the world myself. So, I decided I didn’t want to live my life without trying to realise my dream. I started studying Digital Games in Brazil alongside working and saving my money.
After graduating and saving enough money, I then made the plunge to move to Plymouth! I love creating, and I'm so happy I made that choice and that I'm here right now.

Facilities

After researching other universities, Plymouth was the one that gave me the most attention through the admissions process and had all the labs and equipment for an up-to-date course. Now I’ve started, I know the facilities are very good, with powerful computers and the game lab itself is completely awesome! We have lots of modern equipment like 4D mapping, 360 degree projectors, movement sensors, 3D printers and so much more. It is like a dream!

Postgraduate experience

As a postgraduate student, I have some awesome places to study: the labs for my course are very important for technical things, but also the general postgraduate study spaces are great like having an area in the library especially for us. It’s a really comfortable space and knowing it’s just for postgrad students is really cool and definitely makes me feel valued as a student. For me personally, on my course, the building we work in is amazing. It's not only super modern and well equipped but has everything we need for daily studies.
MA Game Design student Thiago in front of the Roland Levinsky Building, University of Plymouth campus
MA Game Design student Thiago with other students on a University photoshoot
MA Game Design student Thiago presenting

Gaining support and friendships

Everyone has made such an effort to answer my questions and make me feel welcome. When I’ve struggled with English, people have done their best to find other ways to help me understand. If they haven’t had the answer when I’ve asked something, they’ve gone out of their way to point out someone or a sector that would be able to help.
There are so many ways to contact the University if you need help. I personally talk to people through emails and calls, and there is always someone to help; whatever I need, someone has been there to help me. This has made me feel way more secure and like I can really get out there to explore and “see the world”.
I have had really great experiences with different members of University staff from the library, Careers and Student Hub teams, to my lecturers and staff around campus from reception to cafeterias. They are all amazing and have been so kind to me.
Building a new community can be very difficult sometimes, but here at the University there have been many activities to help me socialise. For example, I even made friends with someone at the workshops run for writing academic English.
There is also The HELLO Project , where the University matches international students to home students, as buddies; they showed me around the Uni and the city which was really helpful. The Welcome Events also helped me to get in touch with new people and continue to increase and build friendships.
Now I have settled into my university life, I have my main friendship group, and these connections were made at these events at the start of my degree and from studying with other postgraduate students.

I know that a good opportunity can change your life, so I want to help and inspire other people to show their talents and take on anything, like I am trying to do!

Making connections

A masters, like any other course, doesn’t make for itself. But it is a tool in our hand – utilising the labs, tools and knowledge shared can make you a better professional. My professors have great industry connections and can point us in the direction of companies. Using the work I have developed here and the University name to help promote myself has been great, as it’s a very respected course in the industry.
I would like to be a huge game designer, known and respected in the industry, mainly for making games about minority groups, especially linking back to indigenous people from my country and the LGBTQIA+ community.

The feedback I'm getting on my work from my professors is great, and they’re helping to direct me to the companies and paths I should be pursuing to achieve my goals.

Another goal of mine is to build my own company, in my home city, to grant more opportunities to the poorer communities that live there, especially in the area of creativity and game design. I came from a very humble family, and I know that a good opportunity can change your life, so I want to help and inspire other people to show their talents and take on anything, like I am trying to do!