The School of Design and Creative Technologies showcased its live design work in multiple large-scale events on campus and in Austin this year. Here are some highlights.
RIDE THE SYNTHWAVE
In November, the Department of Arts and Entertainment Technologies showcased its work in Ride The Synthwave, an ’80s-centric and retro-futurism aesthetic event with live Synthwave music and a coordinated lighting design experience on the outdoor stage outside the Winship Building. Other programming included outdoor game activations, a large Synthwave-inspired UV blacklight art installation with projection content in the Winship Lobby, and a full-scale projection lighting experience on the outside of the building. At the center of the event, a life-size multimedia Lamborghini Countach built in partnership with the Texas Performing Arts Fabrication Studios and dadaLab featured custom lighting, audio and video content produced by students. This event was sponsored by Nelda Studios.
READY TOWER ONE
Organizers transformed the UT Tower into a video game screen through projection mapping for Ready Tower One in November. AET student Marin Clark, Department Chair Michael Baker and Assistant Professor of Practice Andrew Augustin produced the game Tower Tumble to create an interactive experience for students through cooperative and competitive elements on different structures and spaces. The digital interactive experience was designed to work in conjunction with the Tower, rather than simply using the structure as a display surface. The different stone structures were incorporated into the game to allow players to feel as if their characters were moving through the Tower itself. Students, faculty members and anybody who happened to walk past the Tower were invited to step up and play the game.
DISCOVER TEXAS @ SXSW
On March 11, UT alumni, students, faculty members and staffers, along with attendees of the South by Southwest Conference and Festivals, were invited to Discover Texas, UT’s home base during SXSW at Banger’s Beer Garden. The day’s events included expert panels, scholarship presentations and networking opportunities, plus plenty of delicious food and drinks, packed with lots of burnt orange energy. A 10-foot replica of the UT Tower built by Texas Fabrication Studios in Texas Performing Arts re-created the interactive gaming experience from Ready Tower One, and the life-size Lamborghini Countach from Ride the Synthwave featured Discover Texas-themed content on its interactive screens.