Image: Arun Verma, Policy Press (27 Jun. 2022)
Areas of Activity
Climate, racial and social justice initiatives
Research and developmental strategies
Knowledge exchange initiatives
Consultancy and Partnerships
Introduction
As part of UAL's BIG Innovation project ETRG partnered Dr Arun Verma, a leading figure in implementing and integrating inclusion, impact and intersectionality into higher education and public sector systems, policy and programmes(1). The resulting partnership challenged us to utilise emerging technology research to translate Vera’s book ‘Anti-Racism in Higher Education: An Action Guide for Change’ into an exploratory immersive experience. Building on skills and knowledge acquired on the Accelerate Project(2), ETRG set about creating a virtual learning space providing individuals and teams with the opportunity to engage and interact with anti-racism themes and issues to challenge current thinking whilst cultivating learning and reflection.
Image: Kristina Thiele
Test Space
Inspired by key components of Verma’s writing we created a ‘Change Domain’, adopting the visual concept of a prism to consider perspectives and promote change. Any visual language could not distract or overpower the meaning of the text and needed to adopt a feeling of visual neutrality. To enable this we looked to the neutral colours and expansive landscapes of French fantasy/science-fiction artist and writer Mœbius. The prism motif is often found in Mœbius’ work in the form of monoliths standing as a beacon on the horizon. To unite future facing visual forms with larger structures resistant to the pace of change we turned to the work of contemporary architect Daniel Libeskind for reference. This helped to provide insight as into how two, often opposing, forms can come together to form a reimagined whole. Whilst the ‘Change Domain’ represents the first steps in this collaborative journey, the early results show the potential for emerging technology to challenge established practices.
Images: Kristina Thiele
Moving Forward
The project offered an excellent opportunity for staff to develop personal knowledge and skills. Graduate Diploma staff attended workshops with the students to help aid the integration of emerging technologies on the project and beyond. This proved invaluable to staff when discussing concepts and development opportunities and further enhanced knowledge of the contemporary creative landscape. Staff were also able to feedback to ETRG and suggest opportunities to combine technical and pedagogy experiences.
Team
Project Leader: Darryl Clifton
Art Direction & Concept Design: Matthew Hawkins
Spatial & Immersive Experience Design: Kristina Thiele
Climate, racial and social justice initiatives
Research and developmental strategies
Knowledge exchange initiatives
Consultancy and Partnerships
Introduction
As part of UAL's BIG Innovation project ETRG partnered Dr Arun Verma, a leading figure in implementing and integrating inclusion, impact and intersectionality into higher education and public sector systems, policy and programmes(1). The resulting partnership challenged us to utilise emerging technology research to translate Vera’s book ‘Anti-Racism in Higher Education: An Action Guide for Change’ into an exploratory immersive experience. Building on skills and knowledge acquired on the Accelerate Project(2), ETRG set about creating a virtual learning space providing individuals and teams with the opportunity to engage and interact with anti-racism themes and issues to challenge current thinking whilst cultivating learning and reflection.
Image: Kristina Thiele
Test Space
Inspired by key components of Verma’s writing we created a ‘Change Domain’, adopting the visual concept of a prism to consider perspectives and promote change. Any visual language could not distract or overpower the meaning of the text and needed to adopt a feeling of visual neutrality. To enable this we looked to the neutral colours and expansive landscapes of French fantasy/science-fiction artist and writer Mœbius. The prism motif is often found in Mœbius’ work in the form of monoliths standing as a beacon on the horizon. To unite future facing visual forms with larger structures resistant to the pace of change we turned to the work of contemporary architect Daniel Libeskind for reference. This helped to provide insight as into how two, often opposing, forms can come together to form a reimagined whole. Whilst the ‘Change Domain’ represents the first steps in this collaborative journey, the early results show the potential for emerging technology to challenge established practices.
Images: Kristina Thiele
Moving Forward
The project offered an excellent opportunity for staff to develop personal knowledge and skills. Graduate Diploma staff attended workshops with the students to help aid the integration of emerging technologies on the project and beyond. This proved invaluable to staff when discussing concepts and development opportunities and further enhanced knowledge of the contemporary creative landscape. Staff were also able to feedback to ETRG and suggest opportunities to combine technical and pedagogy experiences.
Team
Project Leader: Darryl Clifton
Art Direction & Concept Design: Matthew Hawkins
Spatial & Immersive Experience Design: Kristina Thiele