Innovative Flair: Swinburne University Students Design Tech-Enabled Next-Gen Campus

A pop-up gallery of innovative student artwork has taken pride of place  on the construction fencing of Swinburne University of Technology’s new Latelab and student hub, under construction on our Hawthorn campus.

The artworks are winning submissions from the Decorate your next gen_campus student design competition, exploring collaboration, innovation and technology.

The themes are the major focus of the new Latelab and student hub, a bigger and better, secure study space being constructed in the refurbished 27 John St building.

It is part of the next gen_campus transformation, a series of projects to deliver campuses for the future where we can learn, connect and innovate together.

Expressing the themes of next gen_campus through art

Decorate your next gen_campus encouraged students to unleash their creativity, creating artwork in any medium to decorate campus while the new Latelab and student hub is under construction.

The judging panel included Swinburne School of Design and Architecture Dean, Professor Blair Kuys, Student Experience Framework Director Ian Thomson and Director, Facilities, Assets and Campus Services Director Peter Waite.

Professor Kuys said the entries all impressed judges with their depiction of the themes and Swinburne’s experience and values.

“There were some very clever ideas promoting Swinburne’s strong history in bringing technology and people together to create a better world,” he said.

“There was a great mix of art media ranging from photography, illustration, painting and computer generated imagery.

“It was also nice to see a wide variety of ideas and I congratulate the student winners and look forward to seeing their artwork around campus.”

In addition to the winning students having the opportunity to have their artwork displayed on campus, many prizes including an Apple MacBook, Apple AirPods, VISA gift cards and more were up for grabs.

Thomson said the competition is just one way Swinburne is improving the way students influence the on-campus experience.

“Whether it’s being involved in co-creating new facilities or helping us shape support services and initiatives, we are rethinking the approach to consultation and improving the student voice in university decision making,” he said.

next gen_design award for most innovative artwork: Rin Clancy

Diploma of Library and Information Studies student Rin Clancy won the Most innovative artwork category,  for their creative combination of art and technology and iconic imagery from different areas of science.

In creating their submission, Rin aimed to depict collaboration in STEM and has included binary translation of several quotes such as “what is now proved was once only imagined” and words such as “love”.

next gen_experience award for best showcase of life at Swinburne: Serena Savage

Bachelor of Arts student Serena Savage won the Best showcase of life at Swinburne category, for her depiction of a study picnic in the recognisable Wakefield gardens of Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus.

The feel-good art piece represents Serena’s favourite thing about being a university student at Swinburne, being on campus with friends.

Bachelor of Design student Tanrak Tantayopin was recognised for her artwork depicting three student characters in diverse study areas, connected by gears symbolising innovation and collaboration.

Tanrak’s artwork creatively encapsulated Swinburne’s student life and the themes of next gen_campus.