DEL Conference

The Mediated Landscape Lab
2024-02-09 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London)
The mediated landscape lab is a studio-based environment where conventional approaches to landscape architecture, ideation, and technology are explored to create speculative futures. Layering the impacts of climate change and demographics become prompts to predict the future. In this In Between session, Marc Miller discusses how he uses AI to image landscapes of the near future inside and outside the classroom.

Guest: Marc Miller, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture at Pennsylvania State University.

Sign up on Google.

Benefits and implementation of using MIRO in the classroom
2024-03-08 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London)
Micca and Rachel will share on the benefits and implementation of using MIRO in the classroom to foster collaboration and enhance student engagement in graphic communication classes at NAFA. The use of MIRO facilitates visual learning and encourages active participation among students. Outside of the classroom, the platform allows students to collaborate in real-time, allowing them to work on group projects seamlessly and simultaneously.
Speakers:

Micca Teo (Lecturer in Graphic Communication, School of Art & Design at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts))
Rachel Lim (Programme Leader (Advertising | Graphic Communication), School of Design & Media at Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts)

Register on Google.

Students on AI
2024-04-12 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London)
(Open the event description to read more.) A panel of art and design students will discuss their experiences and perspectives on the uses of AI.
Panelists include:

Stephany Silva Fajardo (Penn State)
Briana Hacksisombath (Texas)
Tallulah Moynihan (The New School)
Yiyang Lu (UAL)

Read the panelist bios.
Sign up for the DIB.
Check your local time zone.

Inclusive Design & Immersive Technology
2024-05-10 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London)
About:
Danielle Royer will share her development and prototype of an augmented reality (AR) project focusing on removing barriers for disabled students at UAL. She used inclusive design methodologies to inform the use of AR as immersive technology that can be accessed using tablets and phones. It is designed to support students with wayfinding, health and safety, accessing support services and offers a meditation feature.
About Danielle:
Danielle Royer is a Fellow at the Decolonising Arts Institute at University of the Arts London. She is currently on secondment from her role as Studio Manager for Fine Art: Photography, Sculpture and Fine Art at Camberwell. Her work is a vibrant mix of hand-drawn illustrations, 3D models and animations, as well as traditional processes such as printing, painting and sculpture. She is a designer, manager and researcher with a keen interest in modern and immersive technology.
Sign up now.

Welcome to DEL 2024
2024-09-26 09:00 - 09:30 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 3, Studio Theatre
Join us for a welcome to DEL 2024 from Jerry Soo Tah Keng (Vice President (Academic) & Provost, Nanyang Academy for Fine Arts).
About Jerry:
Recipient of the Merit Award for the Singapore Furniture Industries Council Furniture Design Competition in 2000, Jerry Soo, a multi-disciplinary designer, has a wealth of experience working in the building, exhibition and media industries.
Jerry’s recent works include an art installation at the ‘Simple Pleasures’ exhibition at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts (2013) and a cover-page feature of a residential project in ‘Square Room’ magazine (2010). He has also been regularly invited as guest judge for “Best Booth Design” for exhibition events such as Water Week and Asia-Pacific Furniture Fair. He had previously served as a Council member in the Interior Design Confederation (Singapore) for several years.
Jerry brings to NAFA close to 20 years of experience in teaching as well as developing and leading research in arts education, with a particular focus on sociocultural, informational and technological changes that are transforming and impacting the creative industry. This has led him to his interests in planning and developing academic curriculum that aims to ensure teaching and learning remains relevant and current for the students today. His varied interests also encompass writing, photography, painting and volunteer work.
Jerry has been holding the position of Vice President (Academic) since 2016.

Opening keynote
2024-09-26 09:30 - 10:30 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
Title: Fashion Futures: Design-Led STEM and blended learning for creative innovation
Conventional learning and teaching methods are often based on linear thinking following systematic progression. In contrast, design processes are reflective with considerations from multiple perspectives. Design-led STEM curriculum merges creative practice with technological knowledge to foster adaptive problem-solving skills pertinent to real-world challenges. This presentation explores how blended learning strategies are adopted to deliver D-STEM content to bring together authentic studio practice, digital learning, and cross-sector mentorship. Based on two projects conducted with over a thousand beneficiaries, this keynote presentation will discuss how students of all backgrounds can be empowered by interdisciplinary approaches and knowledge support beyond the confines of the conventional classroom. It will share analysed and serendipitous findings from the three-year pedagogical development journey. To engage participants in active discourse, the presentation will further discuss future opportunities in nurturing innovative design practitioners with learning opportunities that balance digital and practice-based learning.

A Tangible Future: Climate Change Education Using Physical Computing-based Design Provocation
2024-09-26 11:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 6-14 (PC)
Environmental education about climate change and adaptation strategies do not have reliable behavioural effects due to the topic’s distance from immediate concerns and reliance on understanding negative consequences that are tangibly felt. To show students how climate futures can be made tangible, we designed a curriculum that creates scenarios for building interactions that express climate change concerns or speculatively design for climate futures. The outcomes produced by students included a polar bear affected by air conditioning use at our homes, a game of what buildings to build or avoid to promote environment well-being, a car that turns recycled rubbish into energy, a device that protects a plant from environmental destruction, etc. This work illustrates how physical computing can foster climate change
education by enabling speculative design.
Presenter: RAY LC, Assistant Professor (City University of Hong Kong)
Session type: Paper
Time listed is Singapore time.

Reimagining Creative Education: A Case Study of Transforming a Photography Course to an Asynchronous Learning Mode
2024-09-26 11:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
This session explores the transformative journey of a large photography course towards an asynchronous learning mode, showcasing a shift in creative education pedagogy. It explores the adaptability and engagement of students in a predominantly digital learning environment, highlighting the course’s evolution from traditional methodologies to a flexible, student-centred approach. By presenting the challenges, strategies for overcoming them, and the successes encountered, this case study illustrates the broader implications for art and design education in embracing digital platforms. It underscores the necessity of innovative teaching models that cater to the diverse needs of students, in disciplines requiring hands-on, creative exploration. The session sparks a dialogue on the potential of asynchronous learning to enhance student autonomy, foster a supportive learning community, and prepare students for the evolving demands of the creative industry.
Presenters:

Donna Cleveland, Deputy Dean, School of Communication and Design (RMIT Vietnam)
Sasha Stubbs, Manager, Online Learning (RMIT Vietnam)

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Improving Blended Learning with online performance statistics.
2024-09-26 11:30 - 12:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
This case studies look into enhancing blended learning within the context of General Studies at the Faculty of Art & Design. The objective is to raise passing rates above 85%, adopting Kolb’s experiential learning cycle, with Canvas quizzes as strategies to simplify the submission process, enhancing engagement, and streamlining grading and performance tracking. The application of the SAM1 model for instructional design to ensure achieving the project’s goals. This case study demonstrates a strategic integration of technology and pedagogy, aiming to overcome the barriers of blended online learning and pave the way for future educational innovations for self-directed online learning.
Presenters:

Angelynn Tan, Programme Leader (FOAD Fundamental Programme) (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts)
Han Lim Chew, Programme Leader (Digital Innovation) (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts)

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Social Documentary Student Film Projects as a Voice for the Under-presented and Vulnerable Groups
2024-09-26 11:30 - 12:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 6-14 (PC)
Media and content creation classes are available at most higher learning institutes, with assessments and final projects leading to a barrage of student films, ranging from short fiction dramas to feature documentaries. However many of these film projects end up being simply technical exercises and are limited in future use. What if these student film could be used for social good? What if they could tell stories about under-presented and vulnerable groups? Students at a local autonomous university’s Introduction to Audio and Video Production class were tasked to explore the topic of social good for their final class assignment and were able to both learn a technical skill and at the same time able to incorporate service learning elements into their story-telling. Their films have become the voice for the under-presented and the vulnerable.
Presenters:

Jonathan Foo, Associate Faculty & Course Lead (Singapore University of Social Sciences)
Peggy Lim (Associate Faculty, Singapore University of Social Sciences)
Keng Hao Chew (Associate Faculty, Singapore University of Social Sciences)
June Tay (Head of Programme, Singapore University of Social Sciences)

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Osmotic Sensoria - a Neurodiverse Learning Space: Cognitive Flexibility through Guided Play
2024-09-26 13:00 - 14:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
In the ever-changing landscape of technology, young generations navigate the complexities of a technological world; hence, it is imperative that we, the educators, understand the conditions that foster enriched learning environments that are truly diverse, equitable, and inclusive. As new technologies emerge—such as Mix Reality, the Metaverse, and AI—we must rethink the educational paradigm; however, despite innovations and efforts to embrace different ways of thinking and creating, the Industrialization Model still stands as the norm. There is a pressing need for a paradigm shift, particularly in diversity, equity, and inclusion, where neurodiverse learners often find themselves marginalized in traditional learning spaces. To contest the status quo, Osmotic Sensoria is a pop-up installation that explores ways to stimulate brain learning systems naturally and organically—neurodivergent and neurotypicals alike—through an immersive experience where multiple participants engage in guided play, kinetic learning, and multisensory stimulation (oral narrative, visual projections, and other) to enhance cognitive flexibility and creative thinking.
This research paper explores ways in which design and cognitive neuroscience intertwine to foster the conditions that create a robust neurodiverse space for enhanced learning. Grounded in principles of human-centered design and informed by research in educational models and cognitive neuroscience, Osmotic Sensoria serves as a design-led research artifact—a living laboratory—that collects people’s learning experience—as individuals and in a collective— to open discourse about the future of education as it relates to neurodiversity within a DEI model.
KEYWORDS: Neurodivergence, DEI, Kinetic Learning, Play, Human-centered, Design-led, Neuroscience, Technologies
Presenter: Gigi Polo, The New School
Session type: Design Your Own (DYO) Session (flexible time)
Time listed is Singapore time.

Beyond Survival: Tactile Technologies and Tentacular Thinking in A Thriving Digital
2024-09-26 13:00 - 14:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 6-14 (PC)
An increasingly alienating 21st century has been exacerbating the fragmentation of values, with cultural capitalism eroding the critical power of art. To disrupt this vicious economy of credit (cf. institutional accreditation), debt (cf. psychosomatic indebtedness), and equity (cf. moral validation), let’s make time to consider what can be shared, shouldered, and sustained in common. This panel discussion offers a collective opportunity for propositional making and prepositional thinking by troubling three entrenched combinatorial binaries —the traditional vs. the contemporary, the tangible vs. the digital, the technological vs. the contemplative—and experimenting with reconfigurations of zeros and ones that can free our pedagogical attention from nostalgic regard and future-proofing to being in and with time together.
Presenters:

Cissie Fu, Head of School, McNally School of Fine Arts (LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore)
Adeline Kueh, Senior Lecturer, McNally School of Fine Arts (LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore)
Hazel Lim, Programme Leader, McNally School of Fine Arts (LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore)
Zarina Muhammad, Lecturer, McNally School of Fine Arts (LASALLE, University of the Arts Singapore)

Session type: Panel
Time listed is Singapore time.

Data Self-Portrait: Representing Self and Others Through Computational Graphic Art with AI Collaboration
2024-09-26 14:15 - 14:45 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 6-14 (PC)
This paper explores the creative potential of using computational graphic art and artificial intelligence (AI) to generate data-driven self-portraits that reveal insights about the individual and the broader human experience. Through the “Data Self-Portrait” project, we examine how students collaborate with AI assistants like ChatGPT to not only collect, analyse, and visualise personal data but also to enhance their
understanding of the underlying computational graphic art techniques and coding required to bring their data-driven self-portraits to life. By engaging with this emergent practice in art and design pedagogy, we demonstrate the power of data and AI as mediums for self-expression, storytelling, and creative exploration.
Presenters:

Xiaoqiao Li, Senior Lecturer (Department of Creative Arts, School of Arts and Social Science, Hong Kong Metropolitan University)

Session type: Paper
Time listed is Singapore time.

AI for Educators: Creating and curating an open-access asynchronous course
2024-09-26 14:15 - 14:45 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
AI in Education has been a growing hot topic over the past several years. But how do you learn to navigate it in a sector where original thinking and creation is key to success? In this session, we’ll explore and discuss a case study about the creation and development of an asynchronous course designed for those in Art and Design Higher Education to learn how to use AI in their teaching, learning and student-support work.
Presenter:

Hannah Hyde, Digital Learning Engagement Coordinator (University of the Arts London)

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Activating Digital Learning: A Case Study of an Interactive Pre-sessional Online Module
2024-09-26 14:45 - 15:15 (Europe/London) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 6-14 (PC)
Digital learning is an important way for students to learn alongside in-person sessions, but students can be reluctant to participate in digital learning environments. Asynchronous learning can be key to inclusive, flexible, accessible teaching, supporting peer to peer interactions and reinforcing learning. To explore student engagement in digital learning this case study presents the development of an online pre-sessional module for creative students that introduces them to digital learning tools and concepts of blended learning, supporting student reflection on their personal approaches to learning; this study serves as a starting point for a wider discussion reviewing engagement in digital learning.
Presenter: Frania Hall, Senior Lecturer and Course Leader (University of the Arts London)
Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Decoding Brutalism in UI Design: Trend or Timeless? Exploring its Pedagogical Significance, Appeal and Application.
2024-09-26 14:45 - 15:15 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
Today’s UI design landscape is rich in ever-evolving visual sensibilities and considerations for emerging designers. Amidst the backdrop of visual appropriation juxtaposed against established design norms propagated by Big Tech, young designers are discovering an unexpected sense of solace and assurance in Brutalism. But what makes Brutalism so appealing, and why are so many digital interfaces embracing this design aesthetic? This case study will unravel the principles, techniques, and underlying historical contexts of Brutalism as seen in UI design, while also providing a platform to categorize this design aesthetic in its various forms. Its potential, as well as its impact on contemporary UI
design, will be explored beyond the surface trends and into the honest precepts that shape digital adoption and application by a new generation of design students.
Presenters:

Shawn Meek, Associate Professor & Program Coordinator, Communication Design (Metropolitan State University of Denver)

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

RAiSE your inclusivity game – extending the RASE pedagogical model with inclusive practice
2024-09-26 15:30 - 16:15 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
Educators in higher education (HE) are at an important moment of time to re-consider the affordances of blended learning (BL) following the covid-19 pandemic. One way to consider BL is by using the RASE pedagogical model. RASE is “a practical, evidenced-based learning design model with applications of technology to improve student learning outcomes and satisfaction” (Churchill et al, 2013). RASE stands for resources, activities, support and evaluation and posits that these four elements are needed for successful BL and online learning. As educators we need to consider inclusive learning and teaching practices to support our students. At my institution I have found the need to consider many inclusive practice factors such as diverse learning needs as well as practical day-to-day needs like the cost-of-study and balancing of work-study-personal commitments. This DYO session proposes an extension of RASE to RAISE thereby explicitly adding inclusivity to the centre of the model. Through a series of prompts, participants of this session will be able to consider art & design inclusive practice prompts against the four RASE elements.
Reference: Churchill, D., King, M., Webster, B. & Fox, B. (2013) ‘Integrating Learning Design, Interactivity and Technology’, Ascilite: Electric Dreams, Sydney, 2013. pp.139-143. (Accessed: 6 March 2024)
Presenter: Sheldon Chow, Associate Dean Learning Teaching and Enhancement (University of the Arts London)
Session type: Design Your Own (DYO) Session
Time listed is Singapore time.

AI-driven TAs for Personalized Learning
2024-09-26 15:30 - 16:30 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 6-14 (PC)
Note: If possible, attendees to this session should bring a device such as a phone or a laptop to use with ChatGPT.
Explore the transformative potential of AI-driven Teaching Assistant (TA) Agents in a hands-on workshop. Through readily available means such as prompt engineering, AI-driven TAs can offer diverse support mechanisms, enhance software proficiency, provide tailored feedback and expand the breadth and depth of instructors’ knowledge base. In arts and design courses, AI TAs can help tailor software application to
students’ individual project use cases, help prepare and strengthen projects for critique, and prepare students for exams. In a 60-minute DYO workshop, we will use an example scenario to help educators practice how to create impactful TAs in the classroom, fostering collaborative learning and skill development.
Presenters:

Emily Chu, Assistant Professor (Parsons School of Design)

Session type: Design Your Own (DYO) Session
Time listed is Singapore time.

Using Behavior Design to Reduce Faculty Stress
2024-09-27 10:30 - 11:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
In this interactive session, participants will be guided through a behavior design exercise to create healthy habits that reduce faculty stress. Using a framework developed by Stanford University researcher B.J. Fogg, PhD., faculty will learn the key steps in behavior design and the Fogg Behavior Model. Trained by BJ Fogg, the presenter will help faculty identify their most effective behaviors and those they will most likely do. Participants will engage in a focus-mapping exercise and identify their Golden Behaviors related to stress reduction. Educators will leave this session with a set of actionable habits they can integrate into their daily lives. This session could benefit faculty in higher education and support their professional development.
Presenters:

Judy Oskam, Director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (Texas State University)
Claudia Röschmann, Associate Director for Design Innovation, MARC and Professor, Communication Design (Texas State University)

Session type: Design Your Own (DYO) Session
Time listed is Singapore time.

Crafting the Future: Exploring Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Sustainability in Fashion Education
2024-09-27 10:30 - 11:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 10-02 (PC)
This case study delves into three noteworthy graduation projects amalgamating entrepreneurship, sustainability, and craft practice within a fashion education context. The projects epitomize groundbreaking strides in social collaboration and digital platforms. Insights from alumni shed light on project motivations and educational strategies fostering student development. Fashion education’s blend of tradition and innovation equips students for dynamic industry landscapes. The archiving of student work becomes a valuable educational resource, with potential plans for broader dissemination pending evaluation.
Presenter: Adrian Huang, Lecturer (LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore))
Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Crystal Balls & Classrooms: Can We Prepare Students for the Unknown?
2024-09-27 11:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
This session explores a key question: are we preparing students for an unknown future? It argues that embracing new technologies, like AI and GenAI, is crucial. Case studies will showcase programmes integrating these tools, highlighting how AI can personalise learning, enhance critical thinking, and develop responsible digital citizens. The presentation will explore both the benefits and challenges of AI/GenAI in
education, emphasising the need for a future-oriented approach that equips students not just to use technology, but to drive its responsible development.
Presenters:

Dr. Damaris Carlisle, Lecturer-in-Charge, The Learning Centre (LASALLE College of the Arts, University of the Arts Singapore)

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Mirǒurnauts: exploring reflective and creative digital practice to navigate pedagogy, academic identity and professional change in the era of artificial intelligence and spatial computing.
2024-09-27 11:00 - 11:30 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 10-02 (PC)
During the pandemic I considered we were engaged in an accidental form of the therapeutic practice of self-mirroring; observing ourselves and our teaching through live synchronous video platforms, which is now ubiquitous. (mirǒur: a mirror, a lens, to examine oneself) The potential impacts of this self-observation on our future teaching practice and academic identity are broad but profoundly personal journeys. (naut: a traveler, an explorer) As we confront new pedagogic and professional fears, I’m exploring how to use artificial intelligence and spatial computing to create an experiential process of reflection and journaling, drawing on meditational and therapeutic methods, to help us
understand our changing roles as contemporary educators.
Presenters:

Andy Lee, Learning & Teaching Innovation Lead (University of the Arts London)

Session type: Paper
Time listed is Singapore time.

The possibility of things: A teaching case study on addressing global responsibilities in postgraduate education through an interdisciplinary, collaborative, large scale, and blended learning unit.
2024-09-27 11:30 - 12:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
The launch of a new academic model in a specialist postgraduate institution provided an opportunity to ‘try the possibilities of things’ through the introduction of a core unit that invites over 2,200 students to respond to wicked global problems on themes such as Being Digital; Caring Society; Climate Crisis; Justice, Equality and Misinformation. This case study introduces the context for this new unit, delivered to most taught Masters students. It explores the institutional and pedagogical challenges in this ambitious blended unit, and reflects on the ways the unit has enabled students to make connections, and inform the stories that we tell about the role of higher education in identifying and responding to societal change.
Presenters:

Tom Snowden, Assistant Dean (Education) (Royal College of Art)
Barbara Brownie, Assistant Dean (Education) (Royal College of Art)
SandraDenicke-Polcher, Assistant Dean (Education) (Royal College of Art)
Martin Newth, Head of School of Fine Art (Glasgow School of Art)

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Exploring Learning Strategies in a Digital Age
2024-09-27 11:30 - 12:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 10-02 (PC)
Hybrid and Blended learning has seen growth following the COVID-19 pandemic, as traditional learning methods need to be resilient in emergency situations. Therefore, education must be prepared for such circumstances. This case study serves as an example of how workshops between Singapore and Thailand were conducted during the most severe outbreak since the beginning of the pandemic by mid-2021. Technology, programs, and online platforms were utilized as communication tools, for data collection, and as real-time working platforms for participants to produce their work. Additionally, instructors acted as facilitators to provide appropriate programs for both students and those involved. This online workshop can serve as a case study for future learning without boundaries.
Presenters:

Kiat Ng, Programme Leader (3D Studies) (Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts, University of Arts Singapore)
Purina Nolim, Lecturer (King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT))

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

A Teaching Case Study: Expanded Life Drawing
2024-09-27 13:00 - 13:30 (Europe/London) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
Questions around our bodies are constantly evolving. Within the fine arts, life drawing practice and the study of the nude form has had a long pedagogical history, tracing back to Pliny the Elder’s recounting of Zeuxis and his models. While classical academic training has lost relevance in the post-modern art education, life drawing practice continues to persist in areas such as media arts, liberal arts and the figurative arts. How do we adapt and tune classical fine art pedagogies towards global contemporary relevance? This case study session will share interdisciplinary strategies developed in the past decade of teaching life drawing in Higher Education, across fine arts, liberal arts, and media art tertiary environments, in collaboration with medicine and science.
Presenter: Yanyun Chen, Professor of the Practice (School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Tufts University)
Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

“Still You Bloom in this Land of No Gardens”: The Black Female Artist in the Age of AI
2024-09-27 13:00 - 13:30 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 10-02 (PC)
The explosion of generative AI tools and immediate access to generative AI image software at the end of 2022 sparked seemingly new and urgent conversations about the role of images, the maker and our networked cultures. Would humans now be sidelined? How would we discern what was real? And what of the potential for AI Hallucinations, inaccurate outputs creating nonsensical iterations of reality? Drawing on the works of artists Lynette Yiadom-Boakye and Njideka Akunyili Crosby the paper suggests the strategies employed by these two artists in their attempts to explore the experience of the African diaspora, provides us with a possible framework with which to consider the process of image making in the age of AI.
Presenters:

Natasha Bonnelame, Programme Director: Digital Learning (London College of Fashion, University of the Arts London)

Session type: Paper
Time listed is Singapore time.

Online Dexterity—Applications for Enhancing Teachers’ and Students’ Competence and Confidence in Online Spaces in Tertiary Art and Design Education
2024-09-27 13:30 - 14:00 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 5-36 (SU)
Digital tools and artificial intelligence are disrupting and transforming pedagogies in higher art and design institutions. In this session, we introduce research that advances the notion of ‘online dexterity,’ framing the technological proficiency of university educators and students not as fixed abilities but as immediate, flexible responses to the evolving landscape of online learning. Utilising phenomenology and grounded theory research methods to examine the experiences of 55 university teachers and students, we chart the strategic adjustments that constitute their online dexterity. In this session, we encourage participants to discuss potentially integrating these practices into the higher education sphere of art and design.
Presenters:

Joyce Hwee Ling Koh, Professor of Learning Design and Technologies (University of Otago)

Session type: Paper
Time listed is Singapore time.

Fabricating ‘the skull of Thotsakan’ using virtual reality sculpting
2024-09-27 14:15 - 14:45 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 10-02 (PC)
Global megatrends predict that virtual reality will transform numerous facets of human existence. Sculpting is currently feasible with the aid of this technology. Could the spatial interaction capabilities of virtual reality be advantageous in the context of sculpting? By employing a practice-based methodology, the investigator has constructed a virtual reality sculpting framework in this investigation.
The study aimed to accomplish two goals:

assess the viability of Medium by Adobe, a virtual reality sculpting software, through a comparative analysis of its tools and traditional clay sculpting; and
implement the methodology to fabricate a physical sculpture using 3D printing.

The research revealed the following:

the virtual world’s tools employ a comparable sculpting methodology to their physical counterparts; and
the investigator produced the skull of Thotsakan, a prominent antagonist in Thai Ramakian epic.

Sculptors can use virtual reality creation tools to gain vantage points while sculpting at any scale and experience an immersive virtual sculpting experience unrestricted by gravity.
Presenter: Gomesh Karnchanapayap, Assistant Professor (Silpakorn University)
Session type: Paper
Time listed is Singapore time.

Authorless Futures: Redefining Authorship. AI, Synthetic Creativity, and the Future of Design.
2024-09-27 14:15 - 14:45 (Asia/Singapore) | NAFA Campus 1, Towerblock Room 10-02 (PC)
Authorless Futures” examines the evolving role of AI in art and design, presenting it as a pivotal partner in creative processes. It scrutinizes the impact of synthetic creativity on authorship and artistic expression, envisioning a future where AI and human creativity merge, blurring traditional roles and boundaries. This study advocates for a paradigm shift towards a co-creative synergy between human intuition and
algorithmic precision, inviting you to reconsider creativity in the digital age and highlighting the potential for a new era of collaborative intelligence.
Presenters:

Jeannie Joshi, Visiting Assistant Professor (Pratt Institute)

Session type: Case Study
Time listed is Singapore time.

Space for Many: Designing Soft, Pliable Public Spaces
2024-10-11 14:00 - 15:00 (Europe/London)
Description:
Within the realm of design (interiors and architecture), there is a prioritization of westernized ideals that dictate materiality, spatial organization, interaction and form. Often, the messiness of the domestic sphere is excluded from these conversations, in favor of modernization, cleanliness, and hard materials. By centering and prioritizing the body within our approach to interiority and interior design pedagogy, we aim to produce spaces that are softer, more experiential, and more materially diverse as a way of allowing for nuance. We present three primary examples of student design work that bridge domesticity and public performance, utilizing soft and temporal materials, in order to promote more meaningful and sensorially rich social interactions.
Presenters:

Hannah Dewhirst (Assistant Professor at University of Kentucky, College of Design)
Aanya Chugh (Assistant Professor at University of Kentucky, College of Design)

Sign up
Reserve your space on Eventbrite.
