What happens when technology meets art?
UNIVERSITY OF LETHBRIDGE
When the U of L installed the motion-capture lab in 2001, it was one of the first such systems in North America. The lab offers students, like Brandie Dunn (left) and Xi Li (right), the relatively rare opportunity to use a professional motioncapture system similar to the Vicon systems used in such movies as Star Wars: Attack of the Clones. The lab has research and performance applications for students and faculty in various disciplines.
NEW MEDIA THINK ABOUT IT |
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The U of L has graduated more than a hundred
Dr. David Clearwater (BA’93, BFA ’93) says
design, video and cinematic work, 3D modelling
alumni with bachelor of fine arts degrees in new
students are benefiting from the University’s liberal
and artistic practice. Many alumni have gone on to
media since introducing the program in 1999.
arts focus. “We provide students with a number of
successful careers in the video game, television, film
Approximately eight per cent of new media
different skill sets and a knowledge base that they
and advertising industries.
graduates go on to post-secondary programs. Of the
can apply in a variety of different areas. Employers
graduates who enter the workforce, 94 per cent are
want people with research, writing and technical
employed in their field. Alumnus Nate Smith (BFA
skills as well as the ability to do creative conceptual
’02) exemplifies the new media alumni’s success. At
development,” says Clearwater.
the 2006 Canadian New Media Awards, Smith was named Designer of the Year and his multidisciplinary design firm, The Vacuum Design, was a finalist in the Most Promising New Company category. Department of New Media Acting Chair
“The new media program combines mass communications tools and the artistic and creative process. Traditional artists have an almost one-toone relationship with the people viewing their work
New media students have access to a motion-capture
in galleries. New media alumni working in special
lab, sound engineering room and high-end computer
effects houses or advertising firms could have their
labs outfitted with dual monitors and full software
work exposed to tens of thousands of people,” says
suites.
Clearwater.
The diverse ambitions of new media students can be loosely categorized into web design and graphic