QUT’s graduating Creative Industries students will be the stars of their own show next week, in a faculty-wide curated digital initiative as they adapt to the COVID-19-changed landscape of learning.
From 23 November, the works, exhibitions and performances of students from the disciplines of acting, creative writing, dance, drama, technical production, film/screen/animation, music, visual arts, entertainment industries, journalism, digital media, communication, fashion, visual communication, interaction design, industrial design, architecture, interior architecture, landscape architecture will be presented to a virtual audience in a stunning digital showcase.
“It’s been a tough year for so many people on so many levels and our graduates are seeing a massive impact on the creative industries, but they can be proud of their work. They can also take heart in the fact there are still careers for them,” said Professor Mandy Thomas, QUT’s Creative Industries’ Executive Dean.
“Creative industries cover an enormously wide spectrum when it comes to jobs. While live shows and the associated employment of everyone from the performers and the crew to writers, stage managers, costume designers and theatres have been affected, we are seeing the return of theatrical productions and music performances at least in Australia.
“That aside, we still need journalists, designers, architects, writers, artists, actors, filmmakers and all those people who work behind the scenes to enrich our lives through culture.
“When the incredible, diverse work of our 2020 graduates is captured like this for a digital audience, it’s impact is really remarkable, and it highlights how our students have responded to challenges with such flexibility and imagination to adapt their final work for online.”
Professor Thomas added that to do so, the students also had to adapt to online learning and collaboration with lecturers, fellow students, and stakeholders.
Students from the School of Design exemplify such a pivot and their work will be feted in a graduate show exhibition, a live industry panel webinar and industry awards. A taste of it can be viewed on Glimpse, a platform created by multi-disciplinary student journalists.
“QUT Design Festival 2020 presents INTERSPACE 2020, featuring creative works which encompass a wide range of expertise, passions and diversity of talent,” said unit coordinator for Professional Practice for Designers Brett Fyfield.
“Through various innovative digital, print and experience-based designs, we are showcasing this year’s emerging designers from visual communication, interaction design, fashion, architecture, interior design, landscape architecture and industrial design.
“When you consider they are graduating into the worst economic downturn in 30 years, these emerging creative professionals have such hope, self-belief and optimism in their future. They have risen to the challenge of transitioning into a post-COVID reality.
“The graduate show exhibition highlights how this next generation of design professionals have created sophisticated solutions to address social, economic, health and environmental challenges.
“Fashion student Saffron Lloyd, for example, has a created ‘A Wasted World’ project which is aimed at broadening the conversation around waste and sustainability in the fashion industry.”
Mr Fyfield said another graduate, Carmen Tran, who completed her honours in interactive and visual design, took her original concept of a pop-up book and turned it into ‘Wandering, Wondering’, a more accessible interactive, online graphic novel that explores the confusion and anxieties faced in becoming an adult.
“Likewise, industrial design student Alexander Eviston created ‘Viaso’, an immersive, virtual reality system for non-pharmacological pain management for severe burns patients,” he said.
Key dates for School of Design graduating showcase forming part of the Creative Industries digital showcase:
- Monday 23 November – Website launch + People’s Choice award nomination launch
- Tuesday 24 November – Panel Discussion (participants include Marco Eychenne from Romeo Digital, Georgia Parr from Cottee Parker Architects, and fashion stylist Liz Golding, fashion stylist)
- Wednesday 25 November – Industry Award Winners and People’s Choice Award winners announced
