Digital Culture & AudioVisual Challenges

In the rapidly evolving landscape of global design education, the University of the Sunshine Coast in Queensland, Australia has been exploring interdisciplinary and unique approaches through its Bachelor of Design, particularly in its 'Sensing Environments' course within the Digital Culture major. This abstract presents an overview of this new course and its alignment with the themes of the DCAC-2024.

'Sensing Environments' explores a new paradigm in immersive design education in Australia. The COVID-19 global pandemic has resulted in major disruptions, challenges and rapid changes in the higher education sector globally which has provided an opportunity for more innovative learning models and exploratory environments for interdisciplinary practice.

Design education globally is shifting at rapid paces as designers continue to play an increasing important role in navigating the uncertain future. The world's leading design institutions have identified the need to pursue a model that is interdisciplinary, evolutionary, diverse, experimental, and iterative (Meyer and Norman, 2020). The reimagined design program at UniSC has developed a series of inquiry-based interdisciplinary courses and experiments responding to local environments. These programs allow emerging practitioners to make discoveries and connections and see design and research as a living entity that can plant the seeds of curiosity, critical thinking and creativity.

The course traverses a diversity of local ecosystems across the Sunshine Coast UNESCO listed biosphere reserve, exploring this inquiry-based method of discovery from a non-human perspective. This includes satellite imagery from the perspective of a Black Cockatoo in flight to sensing soundscapes as migrating whales in the depths of the ocean to reveal the multiplicity of contemporary design education that is deeply connected to place and community. As artists that recognise we rapidly need new ways of being that rupture the deeply unsustainable ways of thinking and acting, this paper offers a series of provocations for design futures and climate actions. What does it mean to navigate the rainforest canopy from the perspective of a microbat? how can we learn from the temporal complexity of seasonal insects? How do how senses change when we listen from the perspective of plants? We recognise our species is in deep conflict and offer an experimental design course at the intersection of art and science that looks to answers and solutions in the natural environment.

The 'Sensing Environments' course at UniSC epitomises the integration of technological innovation, artistic expression, and ecological sensitivity. Designed to equip students with an ecocritical understanding, practical fieldwork skills, and advanced audio-visual documentation techniques, the course emphasises interdisciplinary practices. It merges sound, photography, and design, leveraging emerging technologies like spatial audio, XR, drone photography, and locative media. This approach not only fosters creative exploration but also deepens the understanding of diverse environments and ecosystems.

UniSC's legacy as a greenfield university and a driver of regional socio-economic and cultural growth is encapsulated in the design program. Launched in 2022, the revitalised program, shaped by industry experts, focuses on work-integrated learning and strong community engagement, including respectful collaborations with First Nations artists and designers. The program's commitment to embedding Indigenous knowledge and protocols in design education is noteworthy.

The Digital Culture major is characterised by its interdisciplinary and problem-solving approach, addressing the complexities of today’s technological and environmental challenges. Students engage with real-world issues, developing solutions through collaborative design thinking. The major’s emphasis on ecocritical awareness and practical fieldwork, particularly in sensing and documenting changing environments, aligns with global SGDs in sustainability and conservation.

The integration of creative technologies in the Digital Culture major prepares students for diverse career paths. The focus on environmental knowledge and creative skillset enhancement reflects UniSC's dedication to producing graduates equipped for the future demands of creative industries, geography, and environmental sciences. The program's innovative tools and techniques for exploring environments position UniSC graduates as pioneers in their respective fields.

The 'Sensing Environments' course within UniSC's Digital Culture major is a prime example of how technology, art, and ecological awareness can be integrated in higher education. It aligns with the DCAC-2024's goal of exploring the confluence of technology, art, and culture in the Digital Era. We believe that this course not only embodies the spirit of interdisciplinary creativity but also serves as a model for future-oriented design education.