23-year-old student from Brazil who made ‘best decision ever’ moving to Liverpool

Originally from Brazil, Felipe Lorenz moved to Liverpool with his mother at the age of 15 in search of better educational opportunities.

At just 23, Felipe has already made a significant impression on the staff and students at The City of Liverpool College with his extraordinary passion and talent for games design.

Despite the language barrier, Felipe has thrived in his new environment and is now on the brink of completing his BA (Hons) degree in Games Design.

Felipe’s journey to Liverpool was a bold and ambitious move. Determined to pursue his dreams, he and his mother chose Liverpool for its thriving sectors and the myriad opportunities it offers to aspiring young talents.

After completing a BTEC Diploma in IT, Felipe decided to pivot towards a BA (Hons) Games Design degree, a field that perfectly marries his love for gaming with his creative abilities.

Felipe Lorenz said:

“I knew I wanted to explore a tech-based career, and when I discovered the world of games design, I knew that was where my passion truly lay.

“Being a creative person who loves drawing and gaming, the games design course at The City of Liverpool College was the perfect fit for me.”

Felipe added:

“What I love most is that I’ve been offered the creative freedom and guidance to truly excel, but my journey hasn’t been without its challenges.

“The biggest hurdle I faced was the cultural shock and the struggle to make new friends in a completely unfamiliar environment. Everything from the language to the way people interact was so different from what I was used to back home. I pushed through the tough moments and eventually found my footing – making lifelong friends at the college.

“Liverpool has become my home, a place where I have learned to adapt and thrive in an environment that once seemed daunting. The journey may have been tough, but the rewards have been amazing and the college has been a huge part of my journey.”

With a wide variety of gaming-related courses, The City of Liverpool College has a ground-breaking Digital Academy, with industry-leading partnerships at the forefront of shaping the city’s £220m gaming industry.

The Digital Academy aims to give students like Felipe a learning environment that matches the real world, including a fantastic motion-capture studio that captures real-life movements and turns them into graphic animations for use in games and film, virtual reality equipment and more.

One example of this is the virtualisation project for Clatterbridge Cancer Centre, led by college students like Felipe. This project, integrated into the curriculum, involved students creating detailed animations and audio recordings to showcase each step of the journey a patient takes when visiting the radiography department.

This immersive experience gives patients a visual understanding of what to expect during their treatment, helping to reduce anxiety and ease their fears. The success of the project has been remarkable, with the videos produced by students now being shown to every single person receiving radiography treatment at the Clatterbridge Cancer Centre.

Chris Butler, who oversees the Digital Academy, has been a pivotal figure in Felipe’s journey, offering invaluable advice and support. Butler, who has years of experience in games development and virtualisation, recently won the Innovator of the Year award at the LCR Culture and Creativity Awards 2024.

Chris Butler, Digital Academy Project Manager at The City of Liverpool College, said:

“Felipe’s journey from Brazil to Liverpool is a story of courage, determination, and resilience. As he approaches the completion of his BA in Games Design, Felipe stands as a shining example of the success that can be achieved through hard work and dedication.

“His story is a reminder that dreams know no boundaries and that with the right support and opportunities, anything is possible. It’s been fantastic working with Felipe and watching him grow, and I’m looking forward to continuing to see him flourish after his course ends.”

Felipe added:

“Studying here has been a fantastic experience. The teachers are amazing, and they give us the space and freedom to explore our creativity. I have truly found my passion in games design, and I am grateful for the guidance and support I have received from the college.”

As Liverpool’s gaming sector continues to grow and evolve, thanks to the support and collaboration of the Liverpool City Region and its burgeoning community of independent and major studios, opportunities for talented individuals like Felipe are on the rise.

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