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Student Profiles
The Bachelor of Creative Technologies degree is based on integrating the different sectors of the creative industry, in this aspect this is integrating the four schools within the Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies: Art and Design, Communication, Engineering and Computing and Mathematical Sciences.
The programme is strongly studio/workshop and project-based where you’ll meet and work with other creative-like minded people to imagine a future that is being transformed by new technologies. Students with strengths in communication or design, for example, will work collaboratively in research-based teams with students who have skills in engineering, mathematics or computer sciences- effectively bringing together different talents and knowledge to work towards a common goal.
In other words it is an interdisciplinary course where students fuse their skills, experiences and talents on the project.
The outcome of obtaining the technical skills and knowledge of all four disciplines is a Bachelor of Creative Technologies graduate- a multi-skilled graduate ready for the real world.
*the following characters are fictional examples of potential BCT students.
The Artist: Sam, 18 A bit of a dreamer, and a compulsive doodler since the age of two. Wants a job through which he can pursue his love of art. He dabbles in sculpture and photography, but right now he’s mainly into illustration- both the old-fashioned way (with pencils and pens) and using vector illustration and image editing software. Loves Graphic novels and Japanese manga.
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The Coder: Kezia, 18 Maths skills that are off the scale. Into philosophy and would like to work in artificial intelligence development. Dreams of building robots and living in a smart home where everything is automated. Believes an elegant piece of code that executes well is as beautiful as any Michelangelo sculpture. Favourite Book: Snow Crash by Neil Stephenson. Favourite film: The Matrix.
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“I can pretty much draw anything but I want to work with people who can come up with the stories to match. AUT has courses covering all these other areas, but doing a BCT will be a good way of putting it all together” |
“I realise the out in the real world writing great codes isn’t enough. You have to have a project and you have to work with other people. It’ll be great to learn from others who are good at marketing and that type of thing. They’ll help me get better at what I enjoy- finding creatie solutions to technical problems” |
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The Communicator: Rebekah, 18 Interested in how people think and what motivates them. Good with words. Debated and frequently won prizes for her school. Previously considered studying law, psychology, journalism or advertising. Kept a blog on-and-off for the past couple of years, and recently started a regular video blog on YouTube. Loves building connections and networks online. |
The Entrepreneur: Vinnie, 24 Earns money buying low and selling high on TradeMe: spotting bargains, cleaning and re-photographing them, and writing great descriptions. A media junkie and regular participator in the 48 Hour Film Festival. Favourite TV shows: The Apprentice, Dragon’s (he reckons some of the ideas he’s had are as good as some of the contestants- and he’s right). |
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“As much as I’d love to, I can’t do everything. That’s what appeals to me about the BCT- right from the beginning you’re teamed with other creative people working towards a common goal” |
“I know lots of talented people how need help turning their ideas into real products. I see that as my role. Through the BCT I will hone my business and management skills as well as learn about the production side of things and make great contacts with creative people” |
THE PROJECT
To design an interactive computer game that can be played on mobile phones, which ties in with an advertising promotion for a sports drink manufacturer.
THE STUDIO
Where the group brainstorms ideas and collaborates to produce the game.
In the studio, students gain awareness of the skills and disciplines used within creative technologies, and work with each others’ strengths to create a produce they could not have imagined or executed alone.
Game mechanics, visual arts, programming, narrative and project management are equally important, and decisions made in one area affect and constrain the others.
The students work together, always communicating and moving towards the same goals. They work to their strengths, while learning about the skills that complement their own.
Vinnie gets the low-down from the drinks manufacturer and makes sure the project development fits the brief, keeping in mind copyright issues and the game’s franchise potential. He keeps team members focused and makes sure deadlines are achieved.
Rebekah develops the background story and narrative that ties back to the advertising campaign and target market, before writing up a game design concept and treatment.
Sam sketches characters and the game world. The look of the game, right down to the colour palette, is a vital part of appealing to the target market. He must ensure the graphics don’t require too much bandwidth, so they’re capable of running over the mobile phone network.
Kezia develops level design, game play and the game architecture, making it is suitable for the mobile platform. She makes the code as open as possible so that the game ca be easily migrated to other platforms such as PC or gaming consoles in the future.
CAREERS AFTER GRADUATION
Vinnie is managing several up-and-coming artists and musicians and is getting ready to launch a website that sells and promotes their work internationally. He is aiming to open a physical gallery ad workshop where people can buy and create local art, magazines, comics, film and music.
Sam is part of the art collaborative Vinnie is promoting. He is becoming known for his elaborate mechanical sculptures, developed and tested with 3D modelling software. Until the art pays off, he earns a living designing websites, logos and branding.
Rebekah is a copywriter at a multinational advertising agency, working mainly on interactive and online campaigns. She’s working on a viral marketing campaign and is hoping for a transfer to one of the agency’s overseas branches next year- perhaps in Japan or South America.
Kezia looked at several job offers from local and international software companies but has decided to continue with postgraduate studies. She is still pursuing her dream of working in the field of artificial intelligence and is doing a PhD at AUT’s Knowledge Engineering and Discovery Research Institute (KEDRI).